[RubyLove]

How do you do it?

I have just started clicker training with Ruby, and I have no idea how to juggle leash, clicker and treat. I already have two hands on the leash, and my third hand is usually... oh yeah... I have no third hand

So, do you have any ideas?

 

[rosemaryninja]

What I do is have my clicker looped around my wrist with a piece of bungie cord (so I'm not holding on to it all the time) and keep the treats in my pocket or in a pouch. I hold the leash in one hand. When I want to reinforce a behaviour, I grab my clicker, click, then let go of the clicker and use that hand to reach for a treat and deliver it.

 

[FourIsCompany]

Why do you have 2 hands on the leash? I would hold the leash and clicker in one hand and use the other one for treats and pets.

 

[ShadowSky]

I don't understand why you need two hands on the leash. I have my clicker on a bracelet on my left hand, so I click and treat with that hand- I keep my treats in my coat or hoodie pocket. I hold my leash in the right hand.

 

[RubyLove]

I have two hands on the leash because thats how my mum taught me to do it when I got big enough to hold our family dogs leash when I was young. lol.

I hold the end in my right hand, then the dog walks on the left, so the left is used for extra security and to shorten the leash quickly when necessary and it seems to help with balance. We are working on loose leash walking and she is very easily distracted. If she suddenly darted to the side after a rabbit she could overbalance me if the leash is in just one hand. Also, around my apartment people aren't bothered about having their dogs on leashes. We got mobbed yesterday when we went out for her potty break and I was glad of the extra balance that having it in two hands gave me and I also instantly had her right by my side instead of two feet ahead of me (I picked her up before the various owners came running up apologizing)

But yeah. Clicker and leash it right hand, and treats in left I guess. I will maybe just wrap the leash around my right hand to make it shorter for now, which was the basic purpose of using my left hand!

 

[rosemaryninja]

Even if you want to hold the leash with two hands, you can do it this way: leash looped around your right wrist so your right hand is free. Right hand holds the clicker. Left hand holds the leash. Treats in pocket/pouch. To reinforce, click with right hand, then reach into pocket to get treat and deliver.

 

[Curbside Prophet]

I use a Triple Crown clicker.

I prefer this one because it has a raised button.

I also use a leash that I can belt around my waist. This frees up both hands.

However, if I am without I stick my right hand through the leash end-loop and place the clicker on the underside of the leash (thumb on top) so I can grab the leash and press the button on the clicker through the leash. My left hand holds the other portion of the leash loosely with my dog on left. I use my left hand to dole out tidbits from whatever pocket I have them in.

Certainly not as convenient as the belted leash.

 

[hulkamaniac]

I'm wondering why the resurgence in old English. For some reason I see it more and more on message boards and it always throws me somewhat. I don't know if people are trying to look more intelligent or what the deal is.

Anyway, if you like, wind the leash around your hand. It still gives you control and you can shorten or lengthen the leash as necessary and still hold the clicker.

 

[FourIsCompany]

I'm wondering why the resurgence in old English.

LOL A friend of mine talks like that. And I've caught myself "speaking" on discussion boards a little differently than I do in Real Life. I think it's interesting and colorful.

RubyLove, I use the same kind of clicker CP uses. It's really easy to grab. Our obedience class teaches to hold the leash with both hands as you described, I just had a picture of you grasping the end of the leash with both hands. LOL I get it now. I love the idea of hooking the leash to your belt, freeing both hands whilst still having control of the dog.

 

[rosemaryninja]

I'm wondering why the resurgence in old English.

What do you mean by old English?

 

[FourIsCompany]

"Whilst" in the title.

 

[rosemaryninja]

Oh, I see. Thanks. Never really noticed.

 

[jesirose]

whilst is old english? I've used whilst forever. I tend to use it more in speaking than writing but I never thought it was "old".

 

[hulkamaniac]

whilst is old english? I've used whilst forever. I tend to use it more in speaking than writing but I never thought it was "old".

Most people would simply use while. I consider anything I would find in a King James Version of the Bible as old English, but I confess that I don't know of a formal definition.

 

[squirmyworm]

I'm wondering why the resurgence in old English. For some reason I see it more and more on message boards and it always throws me somewhat. I don't know if people are trying to look more intelligent or what the deal is.

Anyway, if you like, wind the leash around your hand. It still gives you control and you can shorten or lengthen the leash as necessary and still hold the clicker.

Technically, it's not Old English. "Old English" is a specific term referring to the language used by the culture from which Beowulf came. "Whilst" might be considered dated English, but it's not Old English.

Anyway, putting the language nerd aside...I hold my clicker in my left hand along with my leash. I line up the clicker with the flat part of the leash handle. Both fit snugly in my hand, so I can just move my thumb over to click when I need to, and my right hand is free to treat. It works while I'm training loose leash walking. It doesn't work so well when I'm working on "heel," because I end up with a lot of slack on the leash that threatens to trip me.

 

[hulkamaniac]

Technically, it's not Old English. "Old English" is a specific term referring to the language used by the culture from which Beowulf came. "Whilst" might be considered dated English, but it's not Old English.

True, but if I went to an appointment at a lawyer's office and the secretary asked me, "Would you like something to drink whilst you wait?" I would look at them like they just fell out of a tree.

 

[jesirose]

If they said whilst waiting, that wouldn't sound so weird. That's how I've always used it.

 

[Cracker]

Hey, does Canadian english count? My yankee friends on the other sites make fun of my OURS..behaviours, flavours etc..you know what I mean, eh? BOL.

I use the same clicker, my thumb used to get caught in the box type ones and my clients who are elderly have difficulty managing them with limited fine motor skills. I put a hair elastic through the hole to go around my wrist, cheaper than buying a cord.

I also use the same leash as Curbside Prophet. When I was beginning clicker training I bought it so I wouldn't have to learn the leash/clicker/treat juggle. I now find it very handy if I'm shopping with Cracker and need to carry things or to have a coffee with me. Best purchase I've made.

Now if I'd just figured out that taking a non clicker savvy dog to do LLW for her FIRST skill with the clicker training was probably biting off more than I could chew, I would have picked up on the whole thing much faster! I now recommend working on basic "fun" stationary things so the dog has an opportunity to "get" what the clicker means...lol. My poor guinea pig dog..she's been through a lot with my training and behaviour learning..thank dog I switched to positive training..at least she's happy with that!

 

[TxRider]

LOL A friend of mine talks like that. And I've caught myself "speaking" on discussion boards a little differently than I do in Real Life. I think it's interesting and colorful.

RubyLove, I use the same kind of clicker CP uses. It's really easy to grab. Our obedience class teaches to hold the leash with both hands as you described, I just had a picture of you grasping the end of the leash with both hands. LOL I get it now. I love the idea of hooking the leash to your belt, freeing both hands whilst still having control of the dog.

I use the same one too, a little loud but good.

I like the belt idea too, I tried just running it through a belt loop on the side of my jeans last week and tying it around my waist, I thought belt loops were tougher than they actually are. Won't be repeating that one.

 

[RubyLove]

Hmmm I like that leash!

Maybe in a few weeks I will be able to justify buying it, I was looking to buy a new one sometime soon anyway.

And thanks for the suggestions, I will also look at a different type of clicker, as the one I have is a little awkward to hold, which may be part of the problem i'm having.