Clicker training- a few questions?

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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So after doing some research and speaking to a few experienced people briefly I have decided to start clicker training with Andy. Partly for a bit of fun but also to make is manners even better (they're pretty much impeccable now.)

So a few quick questions:
1. Having looked online for clickers they seem to vary in prices- what's a reasonable price to pay?
2. Should I be starting out with someone experienced to help out or am I alright doing it from info from the web etc?
3. Once he understands the concept of the clicker and is used to it is it possible to get him over his fear of ditches?
 
Beezie Madden clicker trained one of her horses past his fear of water so I should imagine ditches could be overcome too :)

If you are looking for a book I have only heard good things about Alexandra Kurland's book, I haven't read it myself but a few friends highly rate it.

Edited to Add, The horse in question was Judgement I think
 
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Alexander Kurland is excellent, very clear and precise, also full of anecdotes. Good book.

You do NOT need a clicker at all.
I had one, I have no idea where it is now.
I get the same results by just making a clicking sound, no fiddling about with a little box, or wondering where you put it.

You may find this helpful, there is a short intro to clicker training too, scroll to the bottom:

http://www.theclickercenter.com/

Oh, and a plea/polite reminder, seeing as pms don't work, to the person who borrowed my A.K Clicker training book, it would be lovely if you sent it back to me, or even said, "sorry, I've lost it", or "I forgot about it completely". You know who you are and I know you are on here - daily
 
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Will look into the book thanks!

I suppose making a click sound is so much easier, durr! :p Saves me forking out some money as well, thank you. :)
 
I cant click with my tongue either very well so I say "X"


books are great ..... Ben hart also does a nice little book (which I lent out and have not seen for quite a while :rolleyes:) ...... but the best thing really is to find someone who does it to come and show you really. Its hard to remember what you have read when trying to put it into action with both you and the horse being new to it ....... and if pone has not read the book he might not do what it said in the book :p



The main thing is not to start doing it till you have a clear plan on what you are going to do and the precise behaviours you want to reinforce...... it can be very easy to get the timing wrong and reward something you did not want and its hard to undo sometimes

eg if you were wanting a horse to pick its own feet up and hold them up. If you missed the up part and "clicked" just as the horse was putting it down.... you might get a horse that thinks you want him to stamp !



It is also a good idea to read (or discuss with someone), before you start, about "mugging" which most horses will do for a short time till they get to know the rules..... planning ahead so you know how to respond is much better than wondereing what the heck is going on and saying it makes for nippy equines when its just a phase of learning.




Yes is possible to CT a horse to change the emotions around certain actions ...... but its a good idea to not only get the concept of cT established but to teach a few positive things before you tackle a task he finds difficult.

have fun .... its a great skill to have imo
 
Thank you tazzle for a very helpful reply, some very interesting points. :)

Luckily I don't think he'll ever try to mug me, he has pretty good manners as it is and he isn't greedy about food. I suppose he's what a lot of people call a gentleman. :p
 
sounds like he wont be grabbing the treats then .... but he might do that Taz does ... offer a behaviour to prpompt you to give one ( technically still mugging as you have not asked for it)

Thats why it is best to put behaviours on cue asap ;) ...epecially at the beginning of training when you reward the behaviour when its offered rather than physically prompting .... and also if you freeshape a lot ;)


Do you have anyone local to you to give you a little support ?

I am not too far away ( next county) .... but have PM'd ;)
 
1 - Just buy a dog clicker from a pet shop, mine was £4. Wouldn't try to make the noise myself as couldn't be consistent enough and timing and consistency are essential with clicker training.

2 - Would be preferable to start with someone, I had my friend come over to show me the basics and after that just read some books about it.

3 - If he's really food oriented like mine you could get him to do just about anything!

The clicker is just a tool rather than a whole new method if that makes sense? So somebody who is great at training would be great with the clicker, and someone who has no sense of timing or positive reinforcement wouldn't get on with it. But it can be great fun :)

What I have to do is wear the same waistcoat (a bright pink one) while I do it, so he doesn't try to grab for food when I'm not doing clicker training. He gets so excited when I put the waistcoat on!
 
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