Well, hopefully anyway :)

Tomorrow,Channel 4, 9pm - Faking It.

About a man who fakes trying to be a dog trainer/competitor in dancing with dogs. I understand he takes on a new dog (may have been a rescue, can't quite remember) and Mary takes him under her wing :D

Could be fun to watch, and may be interesting for anyone wanting to learn about clicker training. I hope they will show that, anyway, but you never know with the way programmes are edited.

Lindsay

Looking forward to this - but I do think it's a bit hard on the chap - after all the conductor didn't have to teach the orchestra as well, and the polo player didn't have to break his pony in.......

Saw some of it being filmed at Richmond Champ show. Have to admit I didnt see the guy in question, but was convinced one of the others was the novice - should be good.

Thanks Lindsay,
I would have missed this otherwise.  It looks good!

Sarah

Dog is a rescue and best of all it's a Beardie X :) Really looking forward to seeing it :)

                                                                               Anne
                                                             

I know this will cause some comment but:  why clickers? personaly I don't like them. Who does and who doesn't??

What would be interesting is to ask WHY you don't like them as often I find that people who don't LIKE them do not fully understand their function.  :D

Also asking whether you like clickers or not is, IMHO, irrelevant; you are focusing on the tool rather than the system.

The clicker system is "operant conditioning" and it matters not whether you use a clicker, whistle, voice etc

If your question is "who likes operant conditioning?" then that is another matter.  If you don't like operant conditioning why not and what do you prefer and why?

regards

Interesting......

Personally, i love clicker training.....and so does my dog Rocky...his eyes light up, ears prick and he knows whatever he is going to learn is going to be all laid out for him, with very little frustration, but also i think he likes having to think about things.......

Other methods of training dont suit him nearly so well, he needs to know INSTANTLY what it is right, and what is wrong....or he gets wound up and frustrated, and then he switches off......with clickers, he is switched ON!

My other dog, Dill, he isnt so keen......not sure why, although im fairly certain the fault lies iwth me..... we will get there!

Em

I love clicker training, have only been doing it for a few weeks but my dogs seem to adore it!!  You do have to be shown properly how to train you dog though.  I hear so many people say ooh, my dog won't like it but don't even try.  Of course it doesn't suit all by my spanish seem to.

I didn't like the idea of clickers at first, then i loved it; then i thought "so what is the fuss about?" when i had done some basics with the clicker. But it's when you start to go beyond the basics that it gets fascinating and totally amazing :)

And it is so exciting to watch your dog actually offer behaviours and so on.... i love it!! ;)

Lindsay

I was very sceptical at first but decided to give it a fair try went on a course and was hooked. I love the way you can see light dawning as the dog realises what is wanted. Also it's so quiet and calm and it makes you really think about how to break down what you teach.

But if people don't like/get on with it that's their decision and fine by me :)
                                                                                                Anne

We love clicker training here.  Dogs, cats, kids, husband.  No only joking - just the dogs and cats.  :D
Sally

But clicker training has been used on people, was used on a man with a disability (can't remember what) and he improved by using clicker training in the same technique of an animal!!!

Rox

Why just the dogs and cats???  I use operant conditioning with my Cub Scouts (and hubby as well, but he hasn't realised that 'little red number' is actually a clicker in disguise <G>)

But of course.   I use the same principles on the old man.  Don't actually use a clicker though or he would realise I was doing it.  ;)

http://www.apdtuk.f9.co.uk/alpha/shop/index.html?target=videos.html

This is an excellent introduction to clicker training.  Lots of fun, lots of breeds and Joanna Hill is a brilliant trainer!

I am new here but I have to agree Jo is an exellent trainer. I have been training with her for two years now, and the dog I thought I would never get in the ring is in April.

So jumbuck you have not said why you do not like clickers?

Will certainly watch it but for clicker training the best I've come across is Karen Prior's books - Don't Shoot the Dog and Clicker Training for Dogs.  The best!!

I'm hoping Lana is alseep by 9pm :rolleyes: - The Brits are out of the question at the mo!

missed first 20 mins, but didnt see any clicker training - was disappointed cos was hoping to see if it would help my nutty 5 month old Gordon, he's fab at all sorts when its just him and me, but put in any kind of distraction!!! liver cake works wonders, but he needs that something extra.Thought that the guy and the Bobster were really cute tho - I too would have said the woman with the dalmation were the novices too, sweet ending

I have to say, i was rather disappointed; i can't believe they didn't show him training Bobbie! :(

Ah well - the dog was very sweet, and it seemed the guy's life was changed for the better due to the programme and finding out about dogs. So that's good anyway :)

Lindsay

I've been up all night, gone through four pound of sausages and Norman still can't do a simple waltz!  Swapping him for a Bobster :)

How did they teach the Bobster to jump up into his arms like that?  My cocker has started jumping to shoulder height when I put her food out and I have to make sure she is sat before I even bring the bowl out, to keep her under control.  It did occur to me that if I could actively train her to jump into my arms then I would have more "control" over her jumping.  Any ideas?

I must admit i was a little disappointed with the programme, having looked forwards to it for ages! They didn't show anything about them actually training the dog the routine, or when they practised with Mary's dogs. I was hoping i could find out how to train a dog to jump through looped arms!

I taught my Una by starting with my arms low to the ground and carried on from there. you can also start with a hulahoop and progress to arms
                                                         Anne

Yup, don't teach her to jump at all.  Teach her to keep her paws on the ground.    

All your dog has to do is jump and come down on a slippery or uneven surface to do serious damage to a leg by tearing ligaments or breaking a bone.

Stacey