Today we began Clicker Training. Fiona is starting a Rally Class on April 4th. The trainer, Emily, teaches it using a clicker. I started reading up on it and decided to start working on it at home. I ordered some books and bought a clicker. I got some yummy treats, sat down on the floor & "clicked". Libby hit the deck & then ran from the room! Fiona ran & hid under a chair! Joey flinched, but happily took a treat. I tried it a few more times. Joey stopped flinching and got pushier about the treats. Fiona would slink out from under the chair, grab the treat, & run back behind the chair. Libby, well....... was Libby. This was not the beginning I had hoped for!
I emailed Emily, put a pot of chicken tenders on the stove, and waited for help. "SOFTEN THE CLICKER" was the subject line. Emily is very gentle & soft spoken, so I knew this was important!! After taking her advice and covering the clicker in layers of tape (thanks, Em!) I started again. I took them each INDIVIDUALLY into a quiet room with a muffled clicker and a bowl of chicken. After one chicken tender each (their dinner), we had success - they now look to my eyes when they hear the clicker. Wahoo!!
So, what did we accomplish on Day 1 of Clicker Training? Joey doesn't stare at the bowl of chicken, Fiona isn't hiding under the chair, and Libby doesn't run out of the room - even with the door open!! I click and 3 little heads turn to look at me!
Now, if I can just get Chicken Little to stop flinching........
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