Being introduced to the proper use of a clicker really changed things for Kody and me. Along with my continued experience with Kody in general it is teaching me a lot of things. One of the things I'm learning is how to fine tune training.
Now that things are going kind of okay relative to where they used to be, I can use the clicker to choose among my favorite good behaviors. When we first started using the clicker for loose leash walking, I would do a lot of clicking. But now I almost only click when Kody is right by my side. This has taught him that the best place to be is not one foot in front of me, which is actually an okay place to be, but that it's better for if he's right next to me. So now, when he really wants a treat, that's where he goes. If he doesn't do it, that's fine, but he gets a treat only when he goes to the best place.
Another thing I'm fine tuning is going out. I have always been proud of my potty training. But part of the reason I'm so good at it is that I'm hyper vigilant. Since we've been at the new place, it's been a bit difficult to tell when Kody wants to go out. I spend too much time standing by the door thinking Kody wanted to go out, but he didn't, or at least not that much. I still have work to do on this, but one thing I did tonight was relax a bit and teach Kody how to better communicate with me. Kody went over to the place by the door that I think means he needs to go out. What I changed is that if I walk over there, and he walks away, I will now also walk away and go back and sit down. What I'm trying to say is, if you want me to take you out, don't walk away, that's how I'll know. And finally after a few times, that's what he did. We had a successful bathroom trip.
The reason I call it fine tuning is that I wouldn't dare try this if I was afraid Kody was going to potty inside. We have enough experience and good history that I know that's not going to happen. And if Kody didn't walk pretty well on a loose leash, I would click and treat for almost any good behavior. But he does pretty well, so I can reward only the best behaviors now.
This is why it's almost impossible to give dog advice without being a professional trainer (which I'm not, just to be clear) and spending one on one time with a dog. Dogs and their owners are in different places on a daily basis. We learn new stuff everyday.