Toilet Training With Clicker

[clayton.lee]

I have a new puppy (9 weeks) and have just started click training.

He is doing very well with sitting (although the command hasn't quite got there yet), and I have also started click training his toileting.

This is going very well, he has gone from wandering and sniffing for 15 minutes on the first night to peeing pretty much the moment his feet hit the ground and I tell him to "go pee".

The question I have is with number twos. Sometimes he seems like he can't quite (to be a little too descriptive) pinch one off, so he goes, has a bit more of a sniff and goes again.

Now I am not sure when to click and treat him on this - I suspect if I click as he starts to go it will distract him. If I wait until I am absolutely sure he is done (probably 15 seconds) I am sure it is well past the time for him to associate the act with the click.

So I guess that leaves me clicking when I *think* he is done - any input from anyone?

Clayton

[helen]

although I love clicker training I wouldn't use it for toilet training, just praise and say the word you want the dog to associate with going to the toilet when he is in the act. If I was to use it though I would click while he is eliminating.

Edited May 5, 2008 by helen

[Erny]

I agree with Helen. The 'click' is supposed to mark the end of the exercise .... treat is coming. The equivalent of the verbal marker for this would be something like "yes!". However, for encouragement (to indicate to the dog that it is on the right path towards doing what you want it to do) I use a low/soft level "good dog".

When a dog is in the teaching phase of toilet training I will use verbal encouragement even more softly. Likewise if I am adding a toilet command and am in the 'pairing word with action phase', I use the words "quick quick" softly - so as not to distract.

[Leema]

I don't think it's necessary to use a clicker when toilet training, but apparently the place to click (if you do want to use it) is just as the dog is finishing. An earlier click can disrupt the peeing.