Dog Health Questions: Startmark clicker: dog training?

my dogs are scared of it. i'm trying to train my biggest dog, Kiba, right now, and he's hiding under the bed. i know, the clicker is really loud, and i think it's too loud. i'm doing as the directions say to condition the dog to the clicker (clicking, then giving the dog a treat), but it isn't helping any. should i try later, so the dogs are more hungry, or should i just give up completely?
and yes, i've tried putting the clicker in my pocket and clicking, to make it quieter, but that helped about..0.5%.
thanks. <3
-kelsey. ♥

Proven Dog Training Methods

Recommended Answer:
Sometimes this happens. You can try something like the top of a Snapple bottle, which also makes a clicking noise, but much softer. If that's still too much, you may not be able to use a clicker at all. You can still do the same kind of training, but instead of a clicker you use a marker word, like "yes" instead of clicking the clicker.

Dog Training Man's Best Friend

• You could muffle a box clicker by putting several layers of duct tape or masking tape on the metal tongue.
  
  You could hold it in a pocket (instead of, or in addition to, the above).
  
  You could get a quieter clicker: http://clickerpets.stores.yahoo.net/newi… is the one I give to my clients.
  
  Make sure you are holding the clicker far from the dog's head and not pointing it at her like a remote.
  
  Make sure you give a high-value treat immediately after each click.
  
  You could just make a noise that doesn't happen in any other context, like a click of your tongue, or a made-up, short sound. You could just say "yes!"
  
  Most trainers I know don't bother "charging" the clicker (just clicking and giving treats for a while) any more. They teach the first behavior they want (I usually use a nose target to help both the dog and the human learn), and the dog catches on that the noise means he is getting rewarded for what he was doing at that moment.


• There are clickers with a very soft noise available, or you can use a different sound, or even just say "yes" (or whatever).


• if you really want to train your dog i suggest going to the orlando pet smart and asking for mark as your trainer. he is excellent my dogs don't do a bad thing but it's still good to remind them every once and a while at home the comands.


• Can you picture the temperament of a dog that hides from the noise of a clicker under the bed and will not come out?
  Clickers are an idiotic gimmick, you have a voice, use that as a marker which is what the clicker is supposed to be doing.
  I have never understood the fascination with them as your voice does the exact same thing and it is free, plus, the dog knows what it sounds like!