Quote: sheila buckley

... After charging a verbal cue it occassionally slips out at inappropriate moments so though I don't forget the marker I forget that it IS the marker; for this reason I like the clicker.

Yes, Cindy mentions that in the Q&A. Careful what word you choose!

For this reason, I didn't choose "good" or any other word that I say often to the dogs. (I use "yes," and I did have to put some attention onto reserving it for its marker use.)

I use a clicker when I am free-shaping a behavior so I can remain totally neutral, I have a hard time keeping my tone consistent. I use word markers for everything else.

Isn't it amazing how well they cope with our human clumsiness and airheaded moments!!!

I also use a clicker in the beginning and to polish up certain behaviors. For instance my bad timing reinforced Yote raking his teeth down my arm everytime I put him in a "down"

I had to go back with a clicker and fix this, trying to time the verbal cue just didn't cut it.

I also find the clicker is really great for teaching my super sensitive dog, he has a tendency to shut down if I show the slightest amount of frustration, and that is so easy to let slip through in your voice no matter how hard you try not to.

Once I started using the clicker he went from what I thought was a not so bright but sweet boy, to a quick and eager learner who just needed the right tool. He won't be winning any competitions but he is expanding his horizons and becoming more confident in the process. He my positive only experiment and with his temperament it is working well.

The other issue is that I talk, a lot!.... and I talk to my dogs. So it makes it easier for them to distinguish my usual yammering from exactly what I want them to do. I use more hand signals than verbal cues for the same reason.

I've used both, but now prefer the clicker for shaping and training behaviors. While words work pretty well, the consistency of the clicker can never be duplicated by you voice.

ETA - after reading the above post I realized another reason I prefer the clicker - it makes me keep my mouth shut so I don't add in words that may confuse my dog when I'm trying to teach him something

I like putting the spiral key chain holders on my clickers. That way when I'm using it I can slip it on my wrist and not worry about dropping it.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

... The other issue is that I talk, a lot!.... and I talk to my dogs. So it makes it easier for them to distinguish my usual yammering from exactly what I want them to do. I use more hand signals than verbal cues for the same reason.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

I realized another reason I prefer the clicker - it makes me keep my mouth shut so I don't add in words that may confuse my dog when I'm trying to teach him something

Great posts. Hmmm. Could this be something I should take to heart?

Nah ......

you could also just make a click sound with your mouth.

Im not that coordinated.

I will say though that it is rather easy to get used to using the clicker, sometimes even with a fistful of treats. I have also used my mouth to click it.

Mine all have little hooks on them so I have them on lanyards and one on my keychain so I have one with me when we are out and about.
It came in handy when I spontaneously decided to take Loki to the pet store for a little socialization this week!

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Great posts. Hmmm. Could this be something I should take to heart?

Why bother? The dogs stopped listening years ago.

I prefer words for most things up until this point on my little ones who have a moderate to low food drive but very high desire to be in groups, although my lab seems to have adapted much better to clicker I think because it was so easy to establish the pattern in her mind with her lab bottomless stomach.

I've decided however my next dog (a few years away) will be trained almost completely on shepherd's whistle if I can get good enough with this thing.

I use the clicker with one dog and my voice with the other. I'm not a real cheerleader type, pretty monotone most of the time. My 1 dog is pretty sensitive to my mood so the clicker is perfect. The other one isnt bothered by my stress levels so it's not a big deal, how I say it.

My Rott, I used the clicker for the dumbell and tracking articles because when I tried it, it just seemed very clear to him. Try them both Jose and see how your dog responds.