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by Adela

by Lily5

by JesusGirl4Him

by Livanne33

EagleGirl's Clicker Club Training Column

In this column we are going to look at the basic tool of clicker training, the clicker.  The clicker is a tool, albeit a very valuable one.  It enables the smooth implementation of the "clicker training" philosophy. The sound is clean, audible, and precise.  Once you learn how to use it, you will be able to deliver a uniform "click" at precisely the moment that your animal offers the desired behavior.  The ability to exactly mark each tiny step in the process is what makes clicker training, in my opinion, so practicable and unique.  In other words, it can be done successfully by just about anyone and is without compare in the training world. 

There are people who use the same sort of training philosophy, with a different sound marker.  Some of the markers that may be used include a tongue click, a finger snap, a word (such as "good"), etc.  However, the clicker really cannot be beat for precision.  By the time your mouth forms a word or your tongue clicks, the moment may have passed.  And once you condition yourself to "click" at "the moment", you will find yourself doing it without thinking about it.  The sound is clear and exact, and loud enough so that the animal can hear it.  Sometimes you might have an animal that is spooked a bit by the clicker, but with familiarity will come comfort.  My mule spooked at it off and on for several months.  He was a special case, and had been abused, so he was afraid of pretty much everything.  But he finally got used to it, and the "click" became his lifeline.  No matter what we were doing, he knew that he just had to hold on until he heard the click, and once he heard that it was his assurance that whatever was happening would stop. 

When using a word, it is virtually impossible to say it exactly the same way every time you use it.  Your voice might be pitched higher or lower, have a different inflection, be at a different volume.  The way you feel will influence the way your voice sounds as well.  A clicker sounds the same every time you click it.  It also provides the advantage of uniformity when an animal goes from one trainer to another.  The animal knows exactly what the click means.  This can help keep continuity in an animal's training, and also can help calm a nervous animal.  Also, sometimes you need to be talking to your animal, and if you are, then you will not be able to get your "word" in at exactly the right time.  With a clicker, you can continue talking soothingly or giving instructions, and you can "click" at the right time.  You can certainly use a word, such as "good" after you click, especially if your animal associates that word with doing something right.  But the clicker is your best bet for delivering a marker that very definitely identifies the exact behavior you want to reinforce. 

My little mule is still very scared of men.  When the farrier came out I used the clicker.  The farrier was fortunately very patient, and was willing to allow my mule all the time he needed.  It took about an hour and a half, but the farrier was eventually able to lift my mule's front feet and give them a trim.  It wasn't a full trim, but at least he was able to handle the feet and do a little work on them.  Without the clicker I am certain that would never have happened. 

That being said, you will find times when it is really inconvenient to use the clicker, such as when you have to have both hands occupied.  This might occur when you are riding, if you are holding the reins with both hands.  It depends on what kind of riding you do and how your mount reins.  Once your animal is used to the clicker, you can substitute a tongue click if you need to.  I sometimes use an "alternate" when I am working with my mule's feet.  If I feel that he needs to hear a click before I can get the clicker situated, I just pop my lips.  I do not tongue click very well, so I use a lip pop so that he can hear it.

If you drop your clicker, it can be tricky, or sometimes even dangerous, to retrieve it.  I have found that putting my clicker on a stretchy wristband (the "curly" kind, like a phone cord) keeps it safe.  If I let go of it, either intentionally or accidentally, it is right there on my wrist.  If I need to click, I can always use a lip pop, but then I can get the clicker back easily and safely. 

So, can you use a different sound marker than a genuine clicker?  Yes.  But will the other marker possess ALL of the benefits of the clicker.  No.  It just depends on what you are doing, what you have already done, and what you are physically able to do at the time. 

Until then, happy clicking!
EagleGirl

Member Photo Gallery

from AlexandraAlways

My own hamster-breeding called "Criceta"
(Criceta is meant "Hamster" in Latin)

from Emma12990

from Poalover

Sear

Moe

Magic

Duke

Bucket

from Britnie

Hi! Here are some pictures of my new horse, Yuniya. The one where she is trotting in a field is an older one that I found, The other one is recently took - by me.
~ Britnie and Shadow + Yuniya

Member Art Gallery

by Tjacko3

by Crusinpaint123

by Nat2

Here is another Harley cartoon!

Horse Pasture

Warriors - Tigerstar's Last Battle

by Maid Mairain

by Haily Horse

by Tamikia

by Keely

by Moonlight Sonata

by JesusGirl4Him

by Hannahxx

by Adela

 

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