Tuesday, September 30, 2008
How's everyone doing this week?
Use the comment link below to let me and the rest of us know how practice is proceeding this week and if you have questions or concerns.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Wednesday Night KDTC Class: Report on what you want from class
Behaviors Listed By Two People: Fronts, Stand, Watch/Attention, Calming, Clean Up Toys
Behaviors Listed By One Person: Sits and Downs, Heeling, Finishes, Retreiving, Targeting, Zen, Dog to Dog, Twirl, Paw Cross, Speak, Play Dead, Roll Over.
Goals and comments about other behaviors to include:
4 paws on floor; start comp obedience/rally; use up energy; mainly dog to dog interactions; pay attention to me and not distractions; clicker skills for rally and agility
So I organized these into three tracks, noting some basics that got mentioned that might be needed for some of the more complex behaviors. So I added a fourth track for key basics.
“Good” dog behaviors: calming when excited, dog to dog interactions (watch and zen are basics)
Dog sports and competition: Heeling, fronts, finishes, stand, retrieve, (watch and targeting are basics)
Tricks: clean up toys (retrieve as basic); twirl (targeting as basics); paw cross, speak, play dead, rollover (targeting as basic on last two)
Key basics: watch, targeting, and zen.
So we will focus on these behaviors and use them as we help hone your overall clicker skill.
Behaviors Listed By One Person: Sits and Downs, Heeling, Finishes, Retreiving, Targeting, Zen, Dog to Dog, Twirl, Paw Cross, Speak, Play Dead, Roll Over.
Goals and comments about other behaviors to include:
4 paws on floor; start comp obedience/rally; use up energy; mainly dog to dog interactions; pay attention to me and not distractions; clicker skills for rally and agility
So I organized these into three tracks, noting some basics that got mentioned that might be needed for some of the more complex behaviors. So I added a fourth track for key basics.
“Good” dog behaviors: calming when excited, dog to dog interactions (watch and zen are basics)
Dog sports and competition: Heeling, fronts, finishes, stand, retrieve, (watch and targeting are basics)
Tricks: clean up toys (retrieve as basic); twirl (targeting as basics); paw cross, speak, play dead, rollover (targeting as basic on last two)
Key basics: watch, targeting, and zen.
So we will focus on these behaviors and use them as we help hone your overall clicker skill.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wednesday Night 6PM Class--Please Introduce Yourselves Here
Welcome to the students in the new Fall 2008 KDTC Wednesday night 6PM clicker class!! We will have students new to dog training, new to clicker training, not new to dog training, and not new to clicker training, or any combination thereof, in this class. So it is even more important that the instructors, and other students too, get to know each student and their dog. This will allow us to individualize what we do in the class more and meet everyone's needs better.
FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE CLASS ONLY: Tell us your name and your dog's name and well as the appearance, breed or breeds of your dog. Then tell us about you and your dog's experience with dog training generally and with clicker training in particular. Finally let us know some things you are wanting to get out of class. Feel free to share whatever else about yourself or dog that you think is relevant.
So look below and click on the comments link. Type your comment as per the paragraph above in the block that will appear in the right column of the page that will open. Type the verification letters under the block as instructed. Then (if you are not logged into google) check the circle by "name/url" and type in your name and your dog's name. Then either click the orange box to publish the comment immediately or click the blue box to preview it first.
FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE CLASS ONLY: Tell us your name and your dog's name and well as the appearance, breed or breeds of your dog. Then tell us about you and your dog's experience with dog training generally and with clicker training in particular. Finally let us know some things you are wanting to get out of class. Feel free to share whatever else about yourself or dog that you think is relevant.
So look below and click on the comments link. Type your comment as per the paragraph above in the block that will appear in the right column of the page that will open. Type the verification letters under the block as instructed. Then (if you are not logged into google) check the circle by "name/url" and type in your name and your dog's name. Then either click the orange box to publish the comment immediately or click the blue box to preview it first.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Welcome to the Tuesday Night 7PM Summer Clicker Class of the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club
Welcome to Jean and Cricket, Marissa and Ginger, Jane and Nikki, Janet and Kendra, Barb and Lexie, Sandy and Maddy, Robin and Montana, Laura and Brutus, Laura and Kaylie, and Sarah and Franklin!!!!
Take a look at this blogsite for lots of good information. You might want to note to the side of this post are links to the full Sue Ailsby materials which are partially reprinted in your manual. You have levels 1-3 in the manual, the rest of the levels and some good adjunct materials are at her site. Also tons of good clicker information and supplies are at the Karen Pryor website link to the right. Finally there is a link to the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club website which is the organization that runs the classes at the Fairgrounds.
On behalf of Melissa, Kathy, Ben and myself (Jim)---we invite you to make use of this website during class (and after classa---it is a publically accessible blog for clicker training in Southwest Michigan). You become an active part by "clicking' (with you mouse, not the clicker) on the link at the end of this page labeled "comments", and follow the instructions for posting your comments.
This week we are particularly encouraging two things: First introduce yourself and your dog---tell us a bit about your history with dogs and dog training as well as any experience you have had with clicker training. Feel free to share whatever you think might be relevant for us and other class members (and whatever oather dog related fun information abut yourself too!). Second, ask questions or share experiences from the class, or from the dog training that you do this week. These questions or experiences are often helpful to others. I will make new posts from some of your questions and experiences and we can focus on those issues. Also feel free to respond to other person's introduction or questions.
SO PLEASE POST SOME COMMENTS---MORE INTERACTION MAKES FOR BETTER LEARNING!
Take a look at this blogsite for lots of good information. You might want to note to the side of this post are links to the full Sue Ailsby materials which are partially reprinted in your manual. You have levels 1-3 in the manual, the rest of the levels and some good adjunct materials are at her site. Also tons of good clicker information and supplies are at the Karen Pryor website link to the right. Finally there is a link to the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club website which is the organization that runs the classes at the Fairgrounds.
On behalf of Melissa, Kathy, Ben and myself (Jim)---we invite you to make use of this website during class (and after classa---it is a publically accessible blog for clicker training in Southwest Michigan). You become an active part by "clicking' (with you mouse, not the clicker) on the link at the end of this page labeled "comments", and follow the instructions for posting your comments.
This week we are particularly encouraging two things: First introduce yourself and your dog---tell us a bit about your history with dogs and dog training as well as any experience you have had with clicker training. Feel free to share whatever you think might be relevant for us and other class members (and whatever oather dog related fun information abut yourself too!). Second, ask questions or share experiences from the class, or from the dog training that you do this week. These questions or experiences are often helpful to others. I will make new posts from some of your questions and experiences and we can focus on those issues. Also feel free to respond to other person's introduction or questions.
SO PLEASE POST SOME COMMENTS---MORE INTERACTION MAKES FOR BETTER LEARNING!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Web resources for clicker training for loose leash walking, heeling, and responding to reactive barkers or lungers
At a recent meeting of the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club an idea was floated for trainers to use the monthly meeting program time to share some of their methods with others. The idea was to expose all of us to a variety of training methods. Becki V., Sue H. and myself volunteered to share first. At the May 5th monthly meeting we discussed training methods concerning two issues/behaviors: (1) what to do when dogs are reactive/barkers/lungers at our pet classes and (2) how to teach loose leash walking and heeling. My comments, of course, came from an all-positive clicker perspective. Here I wanted to share more details and resources about the methods I discussed so that those who attended the program (and those that did not) would have access to more information.
I discussed several approaches to teaching loose leash walking and here are the url’s for two articles available on the web that give more information about those approaches:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/541
http://www.clickerlessons.com/looseleash.htm
I also discussed Sue Ailsby’s method for teaching heeling by using moving eye contact:
http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Levels/LevelBehaviours/TL11Heel.html
I discussed preferring to not use much luring at all in teaching heeling and loose leash walking and here is an article discussing using luring vs. targeting (eye or other contact point) for teaching any behavior:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/301 targeting vs luring
I also mentioned building duration which can be used for many behaviors including some aspects of loose leash walking. A common and easy to use method among clicker trainers is the 300 peck method that is discussed in the following article:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1057
In terms of aggressive/reactive/barkers, clicker trainers use knowing your dog and “reading your dogs” as a first step in planning how to clicker train them to resolve this issues and here is more information on that:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1690
Finally, most everything else that I know and the major ideas among clicker trainers in general come from Emma Parson’s and her book Click to Calm. Here is some general information on the book:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/343
Then here is some information on one of her approaches that I discussed at the meeting:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/339
I discussed several approaches to teaching loose leash walking and here are the url’s for two articles available on the web that give more information about those approaches:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/541
http://www.clickerlessons.com/looseleash.htm
I also discussed Sue Ailsby’s method for teaching heeling by using moving eye contact:
http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Levels/LevelBehaviours/TL11Heel.html
I discussed preferring to not use much luring at all in teaching heeling and loose leash walking and here is an article discussing using luring vs. targeting (eye or other contact point) for teaching any behavior:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/301 targeting vs luring
I also mentioned building duration which can be used for many behaviors including some aspects of loose leash walking. A common and easy to use method among clicker trainers is the 300 peck method that is discussed in the following article:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1057
In terms of aggressive/reactive/barkers, clicker trainers use knowing your dog and “reading your dogs” as a first step in planning how to clicker train them to resolve this issues and here is more information on that:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1690
Finally, most everything else that I know and the major ideas among clicker trainers in general come from Emma Parson’s and her book Click to Calm. Here is some general information on the book:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/343
Then here is some information on one of her approaches that I discussed at the meeting:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/339
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Information about clicker training: local and other easily accessible resources
Below is what I gave to my students at the last session of the clicker training class of the Kalamazoo Dog Training class on Thursday May 1, 2008. It has information on the next clicker class--you can obtain a web sign up sheet by clicking on the link for the Kalamazoo Dog Training club on this website. But more than that, I thought readers might find some of the information helpful and I invite anyone to comment on and/or add good resources:
Clicker Training Resource List for Continuing Education
Clicker Classes:
KDTC will be offering clicker again in their next class session beginning in later May (orientation is Wednesday May 21 and class begins Tuesday May 27 at 7PM). We are open for this class to be structured to respond to those beginning clicker training AND those that may already have some experience like you. See the yellow registration sheet we will give out. Melissa and Jim will be instructors again. The exciting news is that Kathy Kass, a very experienced clicker trainer who competes in obedience and agility at the highest levels, will be joining the instruction team!!! This will add some significant experience for instructional purposes, and will be a particular bonus to you all, as Kathy will have many approaches/insights to share with you that you have not yet experienced!
Kalamazoo Kennel Club offers a clicker class that starts at various times during the year. Information can be obtained at the their website: http://www.kalamazookennelclub.com/. Kathy Kass is the instructor this course.
Resources available on-line:
Sue Ailsby’s levels, levels 1-3 reprinted in your manual for this class, are available on-line. You can advance on your own with details instructions using these materials. There are all kinds of helpful materials and links at her website: http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/%20Dog1/levels.html
Karen Pryor’s, a pioneer in clicker training, has the preeminent clicker training organization and a great website with lots of great information. http://www.clickertraining.com/
Other really good websites and listservs where you can ask questions:
http://www.clickersolutions.com/index.html
http://dogscouts.org/clicker.shtml
http://positivepetzine.com/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ClickerSolutions/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/traininglevels/
(the final listerv/group is focused on Sue Ailsby’s training levels)
Books:
A good selection of books and their descriptions can be found at the web store that Karen Pryor’s operation runs:
http://www.clickertraining.com/store/?item=dogtraining
I particularly like Melissa Alexander’s Click for Joy, Book and Smith’s Quick Clicks for good solid understanding of the basics. Spector’s Clicker Training for Obedience is the best for obedience competition training. You can also find clicker supplies at their store including a variety of clickers, touch sticks, etc.
Lastly I hope to try to revive the Clicking Canines in Kalamazoo web site/blog. My hopes is that this can be a source for discussion and information more local to southwest Michigan about clicker training. It has been dormant since early January, but I plan to once again try to re-energize it this summer. PLEASE VISIT THE SITE AND COMMENT!!! Active participants and visitors will make the site work for people doing clicker training in this area.
Clicker Training Resource List for Continuing Education
Clicker Classes:
KDTC will be offering clicker again in their next class session beginning in later May (orientation is Wednesday May 21 and class begins Tuesday May 27 at 7PM). We are open for this class to be structured to respond to those beginning clicker training AND those that may already have some experience like you. See the yellow registration sheet we will give out. Melissa and Jim will be instructors again. The exciting news is that Kathy Kass, a very experienced clicker trainer who competes in obedience and agility at the highest levels, will be joining the instruction team!!! This will add some significant experience for instructional purposes, and will be a particular bonus to you all, as Kathy will have many approaches/insights to share with you that you have not yet experienced!
Kalamazoo Kennel Club offers a clicker class that starts at various times during the year. Information can be obtained at the their website: http://www.kalamazookennelclub.com/. Kathy Kass is the instructor this course.
Resources available on-line:
Sue Ailsby’s levels, levels 1-3 reprinted in your manual for this class, are available on-line. You can advance on your own with details instructions using these materials. There are all kinds of helpful materials and links at her website: http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/%20Dog1/levels.html
Karen Pryor’s, a pioneer in clicker training, has the preeminent clicker training organization and a great website with lots of great information. http://www.clickertraining.com/
Other really good websites and listservs where you can ask questions:
http://www.clickersolutions.com/index.html
http://dogscouts.org/clicker.shtml
http://positivepetzine.com/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ClickerSolutions/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/traininglevels/
(the final listerv/group is focused on Sue Ailsby’s training levels)
Books:
A good selection of books and their descriptions can be found at the web store that Karen Pryor’s operation runs:
http://www.clickertraining.com/store/?item=dogtraining
I particularly like Melissa Alexander’s Click for Joy, Book and Smith’s Quick Clicks for good solid understanding of the basics. Spector’s Clicker Training for Obedience is the best for obedience competition training. You can also find clicker supplies at their store including a variety of clickers, touch sticks, etc.
Lastly I hope to try to revive the Clicking Canines in Kalamazoo web site/blog. My hopes is that this can be a source for discussion and information more local to southwest Michigan about clicker training. It has been dormant since early January, but I plan to once again try to re-energize it this summer. PLEASE VISIT THE SITE AND COMMENT!!! Active participants and visitors will make the site work for people doing clicker training in this area.
Reviving this blog site: Summer 2008
As another session of the beginning clicker training class of the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club winds down and my own work life gets easier in summers, I am hoping to revive this blog site. I am hoping to get some guest authors to post here and MOST OF ALL WE NEED READERS TO BECOME ACTIVE AND POST COMMENTS AND WISHES FOR THIS WEBSITE AND/OR INFO OR QUESTIONS ABOUT CLICKER TRAINING!! So post away here: introduce yourself and where you are with clicker training, ask questions, post relevant information, etc. Just use the "comments" link at the bottom of this post.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Welcome to the New Year and A Great Addition to this Website Announced
Welcome to the new year!! I hope this will be an exciting year in our area for clicker obedience training and we are off to a great start with this announcement. Kathy Kass, an experienced clicker training with impressive competition accomplishments, has agreed to be an author for this blog!!! My own relative inexperience with clicker training has to be made up with by my enthusiasm. Well--Kathy has both experience and enthusiasm!! In fact, I think she and one of her dogs recently earned a MACH---the equivalent of an OTCH but in agility instead of obedience competition. Perhaps she will share some about that or other things about training or her own experiences with, and tips about clicker training soon. Welcome Kathy as a "Clicking Canines in Kalamazoo" blog author.
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