Click Or Treat….Day Two Hundred, Fifty Eight

August 15, 2011 By Jodi

I’ve heard a lot about clicker training, but had as yet to have anyone tell me HOW to clicker train. I decided when I learn how to clicker train, I am going to document it; so others who would like to learn have a step-by-step guide.

I reached out to fellow blogger Tena from Success Just Clicks and asked for a good book to begin with . Based upon her recommendation I am currently reading, “The Power of Positive Dog Training” written by Pat Miller.

I am extremely eager to begin clicker training with Delilah and by default Sampson, so I couldn’t wait to finish the book.

I start first thing in the morning when I am preparing their breakfasts. Luckily for me, the dogs eat green beans for breakfast and carrots for snacks, so I don’t feel bad when I click treat, click treat.

By natural instinct the dogs sit. This is what I consider win-win!

I have the container of frozen green beans on the counter. I have the clicker in one hand and handful of green beans in the other. I use the entire handful of green beans on one dog, then repeat the process with the other dog. Right now I am asking nothing of them, I just click and treat. I knew I was onto something when after about the 15th click treat I just stood there with the green bean peeking out of my fingers and Delilah looked at the clicker! SCORE!

From what I’ve read so far, it seems like you really want to get the dogs used to the clicker meaning treat; I figure I will just keep clicking and treating and by the time I finish the book, they’ll be ready to get down to the business at hand.

Click or treat!

Look how intently Delilah is focused on me.

Make New Friends…Day Two Hundred, Fifty Seven

August 14, 2011 By Jodi

Yesterday was a lovely day.

We headed out to the trail about 9:00 am. I wanted to have the rest of the day for cleaning, laundry etc.

We had been walking for about 15 mins when I heard a child laughing, the sound came from ahead of us on the trail. I called the dogs to me, but what was ahead was far more interesting than the carrots I offered.

So I tried my next best command, “Wait.” They did. I kept repeating myself as I walked towards them and then I heard “Sampson” “Delilah” from the trail ahead.

It was my walking bud! So we joined packs and the dogs (Sampson, Delilah, Brady and Kodak) had a ball.

My friend had her niece with her and Miss “R” fell in love with Mr. Sampson.

Sampson of course, fell in love with Miss “R”.

We make friends wherever we go.

So They Wait….Day Two Hundred, Fifty Six

August 13, 2011 By Jodi

Dogs know how to tell time.

I know, they can’t say “Hey mom, it’s 7 o’clock time for dinner.” Still they know it’s dinner time.

They also know when it’s time for you to come home from work.

Sampson and Delilah have their own favorite places to wait.

Delilah waits in the den. When the futon was in the den, she would lie there waiting for us to come home.

Once the futon had been moved to my crafting room, she would lay on the floor or her dog bed; directly in front of the sliding door overlooking the driveway.