Clicker Training - Any tips or advice? ?

I want to start my dogs on clicker training.


I've seen it used on 'its me or the dog(s)'


But I was wonderin if there was any advise or tips you could give me other then the basic idea of click and treat.


Clicker Training - Any tips or advice? ?
You start with ';click and treat'; everytime the dog does what you want, but over time, as the dog gets good at something, click less.





Example: You're training the dog to ';wave Hello';. At first, everytime the dog picks up it's paw, you click and treat. Eventually, you only treat for actual waving. As the dog gets good at waving, treat less so that he'll keep waving until he hears the click.





Also: Once the dog gets good at doing something you want click more randomly. If he learns that 2 ';waves'; get a click, he'll quit everytime he waves twice. If you treat him after 2 waves, then 8 waves, then 6 waves, then 3 waves, then 12 waves, then 1 wave, etc. He'll never know when to ';give up'; and quit on his own.





';Jackpots'; are double insentives to pay attention and learn. It's when you offer a ';two-fer'; for 1 trick. Example: You click and treat him for waving, but toss an extra treat or 3 out for him for just the 1 trick.





All of this is called ';Operant Conditioning';.


By randomly treating and using ';Jackpots';, he'll keep working, and paying attention.





Another tip:


Break down big tricks into small steps.


Example: Getting into a bed and covering up with a blanket.


First step is getting him to learn what a click means.


Then, you want him to go to the bed


Then, lay on the bed.


Then, pick up a blanket.


Then, pull the blanket over himself.


Then you have to start getting them all together. Each step will be it's own set of lessons, THEN you need more lessons to put it together in order, on command.Clicker Training - Any tips or advice? ?
Start with the click/treat so she associates the click with the treat. Repeat it several times to get it in her brain that the two go together. Then when you put training with it your timing has to be good, the second her butt hits the ground in a sit you click, same for any other behavior. Works great if you time it right.
Start out by just clicking when she's being good and giving her the treat so she begins to ascociate the noise with the treat. Move on to asking her her commands. When she does them, instantly click and treat. Never click to call her to come, though.
timing is everything. make sure you click right when its needed or the dog will get confused.