Click click your way to a happier pup! (Clix Multi-Clicker)

Member Name: ~*pink-pilgrim*~

Product:	Clix Multi-Clicker
Date:	07/06/09 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great way to reinforce desired behaviour

Disadvantages: Consistency is required and owner participation and perseverance is crucial

With a wedding approaching it was only natural that we would start to discuss a family. We both agreed that although a family was certainly on the agenda we were not 100% ready for kids; however a canine friend would be a welcome addition to our family, we really didn't want a baby and a puppy at the same time for practical reasons.

We discussed breeds and after some deliberation decided that due to friendly temperament, small size and lively personality the Beagle would give us years of enjoyment and would be a great dog to have around children. We found ourselves becoming quite obsessed looking at websites, books and even You Tube to get a thorough understanding of behaviour and training requirements. We soon learned that although an older Beagle is a lovable breed the training and puppy months can be somewhat stressful. We knew that to enjoy our Buster in later life we would have to work hard in his first months with us.

Before we had even paid our deposit for Buster we booked him into a training school however the popular training school was fully booked until September. We contacted the breeder and booked a date 2 days after our honeymoon, much sooner than we had anticipated but nonetheless we were excited and ready for the challenge. We were confident that we had done our 'homework' and knew that to see us through the period before his final puppy injection and the wait for his puppy classes we would need to start training from the word 'GO'. The research had assured us that we would rather use positive reinforcement rather than resort to shouting and smacking. The older methods really did not appeal to us. We visited our local pet store hoping to buy a 'clicker' of some sort - a quick chat to the shop assistant confirmed our thoughts and we ended up purchasing the 'Clix Multi-Clicker'.

The product states that it is recommended by Dr Roger Mugford, an influential animal behaviourist. The 'Clix Multi-Clicker' is a small blue device with a pressurized metal strip inside. When the button is depressed the device makes a 'click click' sound. The volume/sound can be gradually increased or decreased to suit the hearing ability/preference of the puppy/dog. The 'Clix Multi-Clicker is about 5cm long and about 2 cm thick with a small elastic wrist band. The clicker comfortably fits in the hand. The 'Clix Multi-Clicker' is ergonomically designed with a raised button so that it is easier to use. The 'Clix Multi-Clicker' comes with a training guide which helped us train Buster how to go toilet on the newspaper and training pads and to sit however the down command took a lot more work and I found myself searching pet forums and You Tube for advice on other commands and training issues. We soon learned that the timing of the 'click click' sound is crucial. The treat should be given after the sound is heard and the sound should be straight after the desired behaviour has been achieved e.g. for the 'SIT' command the clicker should be pressed as soon as the bottom touches the floor and then the treat must be given when the command has been completed e.g. the puppy stays in the position long enough to call it a sit e.g. a few seconds.

We used the clicker from day one and within 3 days noticed an amazing improvement with behavior. Buster was able to toilet on the training pads and understood the command 'sit' and 'down'. We are now able to use the 'SIT' command when Buster is biting feet, hands, and furniture or barking. Without hesitation Buster sits making it easy to remove the item he has stolen or stopping him from Barking. If Buster is jumping up at guests or furniture we use the 'DOWN' command and he reluctantly sits on the floor with a slight growl.

The use of the 'Clix Multi-Clicker' has enabled us to reward desired behaviour rather than punish him for undesired behaviour. Training Buster has been fun, we use the 'Clix Multi-Clicker' twice a day for 5-10 minutes or until Buster loses interest. We are now able to pick the 'Clix Multi-Clicker' up off the shelf and Buster is sat waiting for his next command. In the 2 weeks that we have Buster the 'Clix Multi-Clicker' has made the 'house-bound' stage prior to his vaccination more bearable. We will continue to use the 'Clix Multi-Clicker' on car journeys, walkies and when visiting the vets, family or friends. We couldn't imagine what the last 2 weeks would have been like without our 'Clix Multi-Clicker' although I am sure it would have involved more Elastiplast, Strepsils and socks. We have found that the volume control has been beneficial for indoor/outdoor training. When Buster is outdoors in the garden I find that the maximum volume is most effective as the sound of traffic or background noise can be distracting. When indoors or when it is quiet however the lowest volume is sufficient as the higher sound can be quite alarming and can distract him. The 'Clix Multi-Clicker' is therefore better suited than cheap or non-branded clickers for Buster.

The 'Clix Multi-Clicker' cost £3.99 from the local pet store although it can be purchased online for £1- £2 less however this saving must be weighed up against postage and packaging. I personally think the £3.99 price tag was well worth it and a price cannot be put on a well-behaved, pleasant dog. The investment at the beginning will pay off in a few months when Buster starts teething as he is now aware of 'Buster's' toys and 'Human toys' knowing that he should not touch shoes, DVDs, CDs, cups of tea etc.

The 'Clix Multi-Clicker' is not a miracle cure for bad behaviour however it relies heavily on owner enthusiasm and participation. The clicker needs to be used at the correct time and must be used regularly. We have since purchased two more clickers so that my husband can use it; we found that we were using it so often that chucking it across the room made the training ineffective. We can now teach Buster to 'FETCH' and to 'COME', a spare 'Clix Multi-Clicker' has been given to my parents who have agreed to look after him if we need to go somewhere for more than 3 hours so that the training is consistent. I am now at the stage where for new commands we give a small treat (actually a chunk of dry dog food Buster will not eat training treats) however for old/learned commands we can get away with praise and attention so Buster does not expect a treat when he sits.

I would not hesitate at all in recommending this product especially for puppies, they are so quick to learn.

Summary: We now have a happy, well-behaved puppy - who said training Beagles was impossible?