I've decided to marker train Hambone. I make every mistake Ed and Cindy talk about in the DVD, but at least I know I am making the mistakes and am trying to correct them.

That being said, the clicker shut down Hambone to the point
a. he ran away and hid
b. he came when called and he assumed a submissive posture: head down, tail tucked close, body closer to the ground, eyes averted. (He has never assumed a submissive posture with me like this and it broke my heart).

This could be due to leftover behaviors to sudden sharp noises or something else could be going on...the clicker does sound like a bolt on a rifle being moved. (He doesn't like guns).

Anyway, I am never going to use the clicker on him again. I have worked too hard to desensitize him to noises (and yes, I should have anticipated this, I am an idiot ).

I am posting to find out if anyone has ever had a dog shut down to a clicker like Hambone and if they did, what did you do about it? I won't use it with Hambone again, but I would like to try it with future dogs.

use a verbal marker like YES instead of a clicker.

Jo, you might also try a ball-point pen that has a push thing on the top. The click is much less startling that the typical clicker sound.

Do like Cindy said, or why not take this opportunity to desensitize him for good, teach him that scary noise is good, not bad, confine him somewhere so he can't run away, like in a corner, he must confront his fear and not run away, once he figured out that nothing happen to him with noise that are scary to him then you are halfway there, everytime you click= rostiserie chicken, click= cheese click= hot dogs, must be high value reward to take him out of shutting down.This is how you desensitize him, not from never use the clicker again, that is just pushing the problem aside.

 Quote: jo harker

I am posting to find out if anyone has ever had a dog shut down to a clicker like Hambone and if they did, what did you do about it? I won't use it with Hambone again, but I would like to try it with future dogs.

Yes... one of my 4 dogs HATES the click. It's funny because though he's pretty much semi-feral, he's generally not noise sensitive. WHen I click, he runs away. I didn't expect that from this dog.

I bought the i-Click clicker (comes with one of the clicker books sold from Leerburg). It is quieter than a regular clicker. I put it in my pocket to click it and had a PARTY when I clicked. After about 5 sessions he would run away when I clicked but immediately come back to get his IRRESISTABLE treat. I haven't really worked with him much lately. We are not working on any type of training just yet, just getting him used to the fact that click=treat.

You can also use a ball-point pen as your clicker at first.

Or do as Cindy suggests and just say "yes". (I'm insisting on using a clicker since my dog is up for adoption and will not be only hearing my voice and style for the rest of his life! But you can use whatever your dog is most comfortable with)

All good information.

Cindy...I began the yes last night instead of clicker, and he is beginning to learn touch my hand. (I do love the Marker training DVD!)

Pham and Lynne..he is almost 11 (in March) but I think I will incorporate the ball point pen WHILE walking on through our woods on a collar and short leash and dropping food right after the click . There is sufficient distraction in the wood, that if he shies, he will settle down quickly. Then, much later, try the clicker in a deep pocket later during a walk in the woods...and dropping food right after the click.

Angela...glad to know he isn't the only one. :smile:

I just needed to know others shied away and or were terrified. It will be something I will need to remember later.

 Quote: Jo Harker

... Angela...glad to know he isn't the only one. :smile:

I just needed to know others shied away and or were terrified. It will be something I will need to remember later.

Oh, no, it must not be uncommon, because the book Behavior Problems in Small Animals has a section about fear-of-clicker-noise, and clicker newsletters I receive have addressed it, too.

At our club, an owner of one switched to a mini-stapler with no staples.

Updating old thread.

I adopted a beagle/border collie mix and have been using a clicker for her. At first click, Hambone almost ran through the door so I let him out. The next time (training in the living room), I made him wait (ignoring him ) until about 3 to 5 clicks, then let him out. From that time on, I would ignore him and work with Lucy, leaving Hambone to decide if he wanted to
hide in the house or stay. After a while, he figured out Lucy got really GOOD treats whenever the clicker clicked. He started hanging out in the same room. Now, I tell him sit, and click, and reward--only one time using a clicker then the yes marker after that. In a week, I will use touch and sit with the clicker-one time each. If he responds well, then I will increase use of clicker. (I just want to desensitize him to it.)

By having you all respond to my post, I figured out how to confine him without driving him into a fight or flight response and still give him some control over his decision.

Thanks for giving me ideas that I can alter/use to help Hambone.

Nicely done!

Even my scaredy dog has improved. After many sessions we are still working on loading the click - I never ask him to perform any behaviour to get the click YET. However, he no longer leaves the room when he sees the clicker - he comes over to check out what kind of yummy food I have. He still jumps back when I click, but immediately gets wiggly and puts his "I did it!" face on.

For a food driven dog - they CAN figure it out

GOOD WORK. Ingenious idea of having him watch Lucy get treats. Just curious why you think she has BC in her, she looks pure Beagle to me.