can any one give me any information on clicker training have seen it mentioned on other messages.i did buy dvd on labrador training today and we go to puppy party next week but the more advise the better.

Have a look at the Karen Pryor site here, there is some good background reading to fill in the gaps.  You can also often buy her books from eBay or some libraries stock them too.  I did a bit of reading beforehand but found I understood much more when shown in demonstration at the training class.

I go to an APTD class and after the Puppy Foundation bit we went straight into KC Good Citizens Bronze training using a clicker.  My boy is very responsive to the clicker and whenever I get mine out he is a bit inclined to run through his entire repertoire in 3 seconds flat with excitement!!  We're halfway through Gold now so we have to just slooooow doooown a bit...

I have just got home from a Mary Ray Demo.  It is amazing seeing her get brilliant results from dogs using clicker training in minutes!  She is an inspiration.  Her dogs work for her with energy and enthusiasm and enjoy every moment!  I taught one of my dogs tricks using the clicker and after tonight I am inspired to do loads more stuff with them tomorrow!  Mary has written several books inclusing a quick start guide written in lamens terms!  I have also bought books from www.crosskeysbooks.com  which have been a help in all matters dog related!  Mary's website is www.maryray.co.uk Good Luck and have fun!

All our dogs are clicker trained and it is just so effective and great to do! Here is the link to an excellent short on-line course... their ebook is great too.

http://www.canisclickertraining.com/newsletter/

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thanks its sounds really good,our pup is still getting nasty when take things of him i got nasty bite last night still hurts,all because he wants computer cable, ive tried swaping.getting up walking away when he bites, tried saying ow and walking away but no not interested.when we go to garden he has now started running away and making me go after him and wont come in at wits end

Often when people try the methods you mentioned they get their timing and body language wrong. I teach people to train their dogs and the problems you mentioned are very common.  If I were you I would look at finding a local trainer who can help you with your timing and issues you are having with your dog before things get out of hand.  The 'ouch' method is usually very effective when you get your timings and body language right.  Training starts in the home a trainer would be able to help you with all the issues your having.  Good luck!

thanks we got puppy party this week so will try find local trainer. the ouch has worked with my husband but not the rest of us , what makes it hard is we got twins aged two he has started jumping up at them and trying to get there bottle.when we know he is going to jump at us we turn our bodies but they dont understand.,it is his only faults.

Sounds like someone needs some house rules! (your dog not you!) :-)  Your right to want to get things sorted now.  With kids it can get out of hand but I'm sure a Trainer will be able to help.  Good luck!

With young children this age they don't always react if they have been nipped/scratched - whereas older children will cry or squeal ;) this is why it's important that you physically supervise all interactions between the children and your pup ;)

Until you find a trainer to help, give him 'time out' in a different location, in the kitchen, behind a baby-gate is good, if pup is not responding to your ouch or leaving things you want him to not chew, or just generally being over the top ;)

Remember, puppies can get over tired and overwrought or over excited just like babies and need time to calm down or sleep ;) all playtimes with your children should be of the calm variety, that way he'll learn to be calm with them ;)  If they're running around have him on a lead or behind a gate as children running about is very exciting to a pup and this causes them to jump up and grab at them as they would the other pups in their litter ;)

yes  cant wait for training.he always tries to take their dummy or bottles ,he does get put out living room when he gets out of hand, one of our children has a tracheostomy and since we have had him she uses her sign language more so he is great to have around her it has helped her come along,he is excellent with been clean in house,just got to stop his mouthing.

thanks its sounds really good,our pup is still getting nasty when take things of him i got nasty bite last night still hurts,all because he wants computer cable, ive tried swaping.getting up walking away when he bites, tried saying ow and walking away but no not interested.when we go to garden he has now started running away and making me go after him and wont come in at wits end

Get a copy of Gwen Bailey's Puppy school book if you can as it's very useful and more updated than her original "Perfect Puppy" :)

See here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Puppy-School-Perfect-Hamlyn-Reference/dp/0600610810 she also has schools around the country:
http://www.puppyschool.co.uk/ (just seen you can get the dvd and noise cd on there with the book as a package).

I suspect you are being too interested in what he's doing when he's "naughty" :) . If he's lying calmly, remember to praise then and give attention.

Also the golden rules - if you can ignore or distract when he is chewing an item, do so. (by distract, I mean ring the doorbell for example, and when he runs to see what is going on, ask someone else to calmly take whatever he was chewing when he isn't there to see it). Also give him a dog chew to take his mind of what he "lost".
If you can sacrifice the item, do so if it's not important or dangerous and give him no attention whilst he's chewing it (no eye contact etc).

I am a big fan of clicker training too, but IMO you do need a dvd or good clicker class to really "get it".

Lindsay
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If you can sacrifice the item, do so if it's not important or dangerous and give him no attention whilst he's chewing it (no eye contact etc).

Unfortunately, chewing things has its own reward for dogs, so i doubt whether ignoring the behaviour would stop it in this instance. Though in the case of running off in the garden, not engaing in the 'game' would be a step towards improving matters.

I wrote previously: If you can sacrifice the item, do so if it's not important or dangerous and give him no attention whilst he's chewing it (no eye contact etc).

Reply: Unfortunately, chewing things has its own reward for dogs, so i doubt whether ignoring the behaviour would stop it in this instance. Though in the case of running off in the garden, not engaing in the 'game' would be a step towards improving matters.

If the behaviour is due to the dog wanting attention (and in this case I suspect it may be, although I'm only going on what I've read) then ignoring in this particular instance can be very helpful. I've known dogs chew an item,  and then drop said items when the owner goes to do the washing up or picks up a book. It does "depend" on various factors but it is worth trying. It has to be done properly - even a sigh from the owner may be seen by the dog as attention and the owner wanting the item...

I completely agree that if a behaviour is self rewarding to a dog, then ignoring won't work :)  .

It goes without saying that the dog should always be rewarded for behaving well, even if it's just relaxing and lying down. Too many dogs get ignored when they are behaving nicely :) Understandably because often the family is knackered and really enjoying the peace <g>

Lindsay
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thank you for advise,was thinking of getting clicker to see how we get on, i have put him out room today as someone advised on message board ,then let him in after few mins.didnt do much good ,he gets so nasty when u try to stop him then he barks at you and snarls.when he is lying down i ngo and sit beside him he loves his tummy rubbed so will lie there for ages having that done.he has got this thing about jumping up at little ones all time most of time they get on with what their doing and ignore him but  he still jumps at them ,i dont want to keep putting him out incase he gets distressed by this,i will welcome a dog trainer with open arms lol.