Verbal cues

[cwmsmn]

I many times don't don't have a clicker with me what do people use for verbal cues. I've read through the website and it looks like the smacking noise with the lips has already a use so what else would there be? It has to be something that doesn't need my hands because I use a walker and crutches and wouldn't be able to move fast enough to be effective

[JMFS]

I use several sounds. It takes a little longer to train, but if you ask Momo, he'll tell you that after 8 years he knows Exactly what I mean when I make a certain sound. "Ahem" (like an attention-getting throat clear) makes him check himself, and then he'll realize he hasn't taken a seat, but my hand sure is on that doorknob waiting for him. "Uh uh" means, "you better start behaving, and look at me, mister!" Saying, "good!" in an approving tone gets his tail wagging - he knows he's done something right.

 

I can emulate the clicker sound by clicking my tongue so you might give that a try. It's an easy sound to make and though it's not a dead ringer, it's pretty darn close. It's similar to the sound many people make when trying to coax a stray animal towards them, you just do it once or twice instead of several times. If you don't always have your clicker you might also not always have your phone with you, but Just in case you do . . . there are a few free dog clicker / whistle apps (my curiosity was piqued so I checked).

 

I tend to play around with sounds to see what pricks those little ears up. This evening, to my husband's dismay, I was "tuning" Gertie. I started with a low whistle and raised the pitch until I found one that made her perk up. That gave me a tone to hone in on so I can work on getting her to respond to that particular pitch. Some days my whistler doesn't work, though, so I'm looking for something else to get her attention - my husband is going to be Thrilled with the process. :D

 

Ultimately I think it matters more that the sound is used consistently than what sound is used so choose something that's easy for you to repeat. That's my two coppers. :)

 

PS: I crochet and I'm getting visions of clickers and various ways they might be attached to walkers or crutches with yarn, or maybe even clicker lanyards . . .. I might have to come up with something like that for my silent whistle because sometimes it's a pain to carry around. You've got me to thinking now!