The Magic of the Clicker

We're several weeks into our training with Wendy and I'm just really starting to get the hang of something called clicker training. Generally speaking, clicker training is a psychology based method of training using a clicker to mark desired behavior.  Although it sounds complicated, it's actually pretty basic once you get the hang of it. (Here's a useful website Q&A on clicker training, including what it is, how it works and different applications of the method.)

Wendy demonstrated the power of the clicker for me at one of our early in-home training sessions.  I had been trying to get Charlie to walk through a hula hoop but he was absolutely spooked by the hoop.   Wendy sat down with hoop in one hand, clicker in the other and just waited for Charlie to come to her.   Every time he came closer, she'd click and treat.  Then she'd wait for him to make the next step, closer to the hoop, before she clicked.  Then she'd wait until he touched the hoop before clicking.  She kept this up until eventually, Charlie was scooting through that hoop as though he'd been doing it forever.   The power behind the method is that it gives the dog some control - he "decided" to approach the hoop instead of being forced to do so under duress - and was rewarded for his decision.

I've been working with Charlie, the clicker and the hoop and thought it would be a fun experiment to see how well Tim could take over the reins.  Check him out:

First, he needed to get Charlie's attention ...

... a few more lures, ...

... and finally, voila!

I don't know who was more surprised, me or Tim, but this was a great feat for all of us!