Clicker Training And Multiple Dogs, What Do You Do?

[ZAUBISTAR]

Yes, I should know truth is I've only just started thinking about clicker training.

My thing is, I want to use it to create a desired behaviour in Acteon. While he is very quick to learn, he gets very excitable. I can still get him to work very well when he's 'up' but the noise is too much at times. Verbal lessons to learn 'quiet' and 'settle' only work in the house or when we're out by ourselves, I need this when he's in the car and getting Roxy out or vice versa so I've started clicker training him.

Little bugga knows me so well that he understood click = treat after 2 clicks, I had him working quietly round the house in 5 mins so he is learning mum + click = focus and quiet. :D that's all I've done because I want to really reinforce this behaviour (start we something we know).

so.......

• How do I progress to working in and out of the car/house/crate with the other dogs around?
  

• If I start rewarding Acteon using this conditioning, what do I do with Roxy?
  

• She is really very good, quiet and at most does a little dance for me but rarely plays up when I leave her and take Acteon. If this does change how do I not accidentlly reinforce bad behaviour?
  

• If I do want to start using a clicker with her, do I get a different tone clicker or does it only work with one dog at a time?
  

Thanks in advance, and yes, I think I will get some books

Edited March 27, 2010 by brigidstarr

[TerraNik]

Both my two are clicker trained... I often train one with the other in the room. My two both know when it's 'their turn' so having the same marker (or clicker sound) isn't an issue. They have a "Jedi's turn!" or "Ahsoka's turn!" cue so they know who is going to get rewarded for behaviours... and they have a release word when we're done.

Do you mean how do you progress training focus with the clicker? Or how to do you use the clicker outside of the house?

[OSoSwift]

I have a clicker per dog, but usually one is locked up while the other is working, or one is tethered on their bed while the other is working. So it probably wouldn't matter. I also have a seperate clicker for my horse.

I guess you are wondering if you can use the clicker in the same manner out and about.

I use one click = treat,

so it is conditioned that click will get a treat. When you are out and about he may be more distracted so you may need to go in baby steps so you still have a high dgrees of his succeeding and therefore getting the reward. If you are training him, ignore the other dogs. I do find it hard to train both as in they are both trained by me and are both trying to get the reward. This is why I train sperately.

Basically if you see something you like click and treat. Doesn't matter where it is. The higher the reward history for a behaviour the more likely they are to repeat it.

Not sure if I have helped in any way, but I am sure you will love the work you can get with a clicker.

[ZAUBISTAR]

I do find it hard to train both as in they are both trained by me and are both trying to get the reward. This is why I train sperately.

This is more of what I was afraid of. My problem is I need to rewarding Acteon for calm behaviour, this of course is exaggerated for both dogs when for eg. getting one out of the car or getting the collar to take one for a walk.

I guess what I should ask is this: If I progress with training 'stay calm' with Acteon this way, what is the best way to AVOID reinforcing Roxy if she's playing up. Do I only clicker train him and ignore her? As she is normally quieter, this is what I'm doing at the moment.

I just don't know how to go from click=good Acteon vs click = Roxy getting worked up because she's staying in the crate.

Am I getting more to the point? I'm finding it really hard to get across my fear of positive for one dog could be unintentionally

a) reinforce bad behaviour in the other due to the timing and situation for both dogs

or

b) de-sensitize the other dog to the effects of the clicker because to her click does not = treat

I don't know, is it actually more simple than this?

[RallyValley]

Use another 'clicker' for the other dog maybe then? You can use a word or even something like a bike bell.

I am clicker training both my dogs atm but the dog in the crate/not in the room is not being trained and understands.

Edited March 28, 2010 by valleyCBR

[OSoSwift]

Is Roxy already clicker trained?

DO you use the same clicker for both?

If she is not already clicker trained then the noise will not mean much to her as it has not been coupled with a secondery reinforcer yet.

[ZAUBISTAR]

If she is not already clicker trained then the noise will not mean much to her as it has not been coupled with a secondery reinforcer yet.

Yeah pretty much where we are at. Roxy had no formal training when I got her so I'm happy with her working how she is. I'll map the progress with Acteon and If I change my mind and decide to clicker Roxy then I might seek some more advice then.

Thank you

[corvus]

I use a clicker for Erik and "ping" for Kivi. I changed Kivi's from the clicker to "ping" when I started with Erik, mostly because I thought it would be easier to change Kivi's cue than Erik's. They will butt in on each other's training sessions if given the chance, but the ears only perk up for their specific bridges when we are out walking or at the park. I think it makes it easier to have two obviously different sounds, but that's just me.

[alpha bet]

It is possible to work two dogs with a clicker. They don't need to have separate clickers or different sounds. It is all about how you use to focus and direction to individual dogs. However it is not something that is easy to explain in this format. The best thing to do is go and work with someone who has experience in clicker work. Save yourself a lot of time.

[kiesha09]

Both my dogs are trained using a clicker when we are working on new individual behaviours or those which are very specific. But both dogs are also trained using a marker word (exactly the same concept as the click just verbal) so that I can still reward if I don't have a clicker on me or for good behaviour around for everyday life behaviours around the house. Each dog has their own marker word for eg Chips is 'tag' and Kieshas is 'yes'. Therefore in the situation you were talking about re the car I would use the individuals marker word and reward the respective dog.

It works really well and neither dog responds to the others marker word.

[Prydenjoy]

I only use the clicker when I am doing specific work with one dog or the other, usually for day to day obedience I'll use a marker word.

As for Roxy, just reward her for good behavior as well. If either of them gets jealous and hassles you for the food just IGNORE them, when they stop hassling you reward them for being good.

Berri used to bark every day in the car the whole way to the dog park. Now he doesn't let out a squeak. He knows that if he's quiet, every now and again a treat will appear through the side of the crate for him (and I'll slowly and gently say "Good quiet Berri" as it appears). He also knows, when we get there (and he is most excited and used to bark the most) that I do not unbuckle my seat belt, open my car door, open the back door, open the crate door, release him from sitting and waiting in his crate (you get the picture, I'll stop at each point and not move an inch or look at him) unless he is quiet. I don't need a clicker, just me moving vs not moving during getting him out of the car to run with the other dogs is enough of a signal to him that if he is not behaving something had better change or he'll be stuck barking in the car forever. He's great now

Hope that makes sense!

[ZAUBISTAR]

I use a clicker for Erik and "ping" for Kivi. I changed Kivi's from the clicker to "ping" when I started with Erik, mostly because I thought it would be easier to change Kivi's cue than Erik's. They will butt in on each other's training sessions if given the chance, but the ears only perk up for their specific bridges when we are out walking or at the park. I think it makes it easier to have two obviously different sounds, but that's just me.

Where do you get a "Ping"?

It is possible to work two dogs with a clicker. They don't need to have separate clickers or different sounds. It is all about how you use to focus and direction to individual dogs. However it is not something that is easy to explain in this format. The best thing to do is go and work with someone who has experience in clicker work. Save yourself a lot of time.

Yeah, sort of figured I'd need one on one help, so far a lot of good starters advice here. I might run a bit of a scan over clicker classes, if any exist down here.

Both my dogs are trained using a clicker when we are working on new individual behaviours or those which are very specific. But both dogs are also trained using a marker word (exactly the same concept as the click just verbal) so that I can still reward if I don't have a clicker on me or for good behaviour around for everyday life behaviours around the house. Each dog has their own marker word for eg Chips is 'tag' and Kieshas is 'yes'. Therefore in the situation you were talking about re the car I would use the individuals marker word and reward the respective dog.

It works really well and neither dog responds to the others marker word.

Also something to look at :D

I only use the clicker when I am doing specific work with one dog or the other, usually for day to day obedience I'll use a marker word.

As for Roxy, just reward her for good behavior as well. If either of them gets jealous and hassles you for the food just IGNORE them, when they stop hassling you reward them for being good.

Berri used to bark every day in the car the whole way to the dog park. Now he doesn't let out a squeak. He knows that if he's quiet, every now and again a treat will appear through the side of the crate for him (and I'll slowly and gently say "Good quiet Berri" as it appears). He also knows, when we get there (and he is most excited and used to bark the most) that I do not unbuckle my seat belt, open my car door, open the back door, open the crate door, release him from sitting and waiting in his crate (you get the picture, I'll stop at each point and not move an inch or look at him) unless he is quiet. I don't need a clicker, just me moving vs not moving during getting him out of the car to run with the other dogs is enough of a signal to him that if he is not behaving something had better change or he'll be stuck barking in the car forever. He's great now

Hope that makes sense!

Thanks Jeanne, I do something similar with Acteon, however now that there's competition in the car I need a quicker more precise marker. I think it's going to be a slow process with plenty of reinforcement time with each individual dog.

Thanks to all of you, helps me keep to the right track.

Any good books to follow up on?

[Prydenjoy]

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson is a FANTASTIC book full of ways to solve problem behaviors, as well as heaps of ideas for mental stimulation and other preventative measures. Can't recommend it highly enough.

[ZAUBISTAR]

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson is a FANTASTIC book full of ways to solve problem behaviors, as well as heaps of ideas for mental stimulation and other preventative measures. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Thanks I'll look it up