Click!
December 1, 2008 – 3:00 pmThe metal chair is small and the warehouse smells distinctly like dog. And not in a good way.
Do I really need to be here? I wonder. But it’s too late to leave… I’m committed.
I look around at the other people. Beside me is an older man with a wool cap, and in front and to the left is a mother and her six year old daughter. There’s a middle-aged couple directly in front of me and a younger couple beside me. The thing we all have in common is that we are dog owners. And we’ve signed up to learn how to train them.
A slim woman with short hair and a hip pack stands at the front of the room. At six o’clock on the dot she says, “Welcome to orientation. My name is Becky and I’m a Certified Pet Trainer and a Certified Clicker Trainer. I have clicker-trained rats and chickens.”
I glanced around at the other humans, who look equally impressed.
If this Becky can train a chicken, surely she can teach me to train my dog to stay.
At this point you may be wondering what this “clicker” is that I’m talking about. Let’s pause for a brief lesson in clickers.
And now, back to our story.
“Clicker training is a very effective method,” Becky tells us. ”It’s fun for humans AND for dogs.”
She then announces that we’re going to play a game where we’ll learn the POWER of the clicker. We’re supposed to pair up. I choose Mr. Wool Cap to be my partner.
The game goes like this:
One person is the human, the other is the dog. (For the first round I call human.)
The person who’s pretending to be a dog looks around and acts distracted. Then, the person pretending to be a human says the dog’s name, and when the person pretending to be a dog makes eye contact, the person pretending to be a human CLICKS! and gives the person pretending to be a dog a treat.
It’s sort of like speed dating. Only weirder.
When I get home, I google Clicker Training. I want to be prepared for the first class with Bella.
I learn that Clicker Training is a very effective method and has been used on a wide variety of animals. Many movie animals are trained this way.
Here’s a selection of the animals that you can train with a clicker:
Yes, clicker training is an amazing, miraculous thing.
The things you can do! The creatures you can train!
There’s just one question that plagues me as I hunch over my laptop….
Of course they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But I have to wonder.
Imagine the possibilities!
Oh, and Jay, if you’re reading this? When I say “dog” I mean fox. Because you totally are. *click*
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By sheila on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Funny post! How/why would you clicker train a chicken? lol. hmmmmmmmmmm?
Anyhow, I watch that Ceasar dude the Dog Whisperer. His technique even helped train our dog that is only fixated on his balls (tennis balls - get your mind outta the gutter! lol)
Good luck with the training! Should be fun! Should also be some good bloggy stuff! Yea!
sheilas last blog post..Why not start a business?
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By midwest mommy on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
I think my dogs are beyond training. They would probably chew the clicker :-)
midwest mommys last blog post..History Does Repeat Itself.
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By Ashlie- Mommycosm on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
My dog was way too beyond the clicker. We ended up needing a shock collar when he was a puppy.
Perhaps I should have gotten him a Bushman instead??
Ashlie- Mommycosms last blog post..Help pick our Christmas picture
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By scarlett on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
jen - you do know that doggy training class is just as much about training the humans as it is the dogs, right?
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By Eternal Sunshine on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Does it sound cynical when I wonder if you got a dog so that you would have more blog fodder??
I SO gotta get me a dog!
Eternal Sunshines last blog post..FINALLY - The Weekend Update
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By the planet of janet on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
ah, if it works on — ahem — foxes, can i send my crew to you???
or at least my 2 rat dogs.
who are beyond help, i swear.
sigh
the planet of janets last blog post..Weekly Winners: November 23-29
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By Kerrie on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Cute post! We clicker trained our boxers. It worked for all the stuff we really don’t need them to do — high five and waving — and not so much for the stuff they should know — sit-stay, not pulling during a walk, come …
Kerries last blog post..The I’m-Too-Tired-To-Write Post
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By Stacy (mama-om) on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
It’s like the Force… only louder.
Stacy (mama-om)s last blog post..Orange
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By Dumblond on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Hahahahaha!
I wish I had learned about clicker-training awhile back…I think my dog is too old to learn new tricks.
Dumblonds last blog post..On the first day of Christmas….
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By Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
I’ve never heard of Clicker Training. Let us know if it works for Jay, your “dog”, or I mean, your FOX.
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By katherynei on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Ok, that just made my whole day. I’m going to do some *research* now.
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By Mrs. G. on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the gut laugh!
Mrs. G.s last blog post..Finally! The Thanksgiving Movie
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By Brillig on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Hahaha. You’re funny. I’ve missed you.
Brilligs last blog post..Augenstein-in-Progress
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By Kathleen on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Ha! Nice recovery - foxy :-)
Love the photo of the horses!
Go clicker.
Kathleens last blog post..Make Me Laugh Monday - Kids
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By Trenches of Mommyhood on Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
Lemme know if it works! I’d certainly purchase one to train the male inhabitants of the Trenches!
Trenches of Mommyhoods last blog post..The Trenches 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways! DAY 2
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By Just Jiff on Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
LAMO.
You crack me up.
Just Jiffs last blog post..Joys of Motherhood.
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By T with Honey on Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
Forget the husband. Imagine the money you could make by teaching clicker training on kids. Potty training? Cleaning up their toys? I’d sign up in a heartbeat.
T with Honeys last blog post..Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me
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By Reluctant Housewife on Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
HAR!!!!
So funny I spontaneously turned into a pirate! Har! I say, Har!
Reluctant Housewifes last blog post..It’s Christmas Time at SITS!
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By Jessica Bern on Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
I love this story. Is it a waste of time to train a pig, I’m just saying for the amount of time they’re going to be around it seems like a bit of a waste, no? :)
Jessica Berns last blog post..WHEW!!
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