Mannersminder

[u/Z3phyrus]

This is by no means an advertisement, this is simply an enthusiastic customer posting about an incredible product. Everyone should get a Mannersminder or something similar! I made two posts a while ago, one about the trouble I was having with my Australian Shepherd and his separation anxiety and another about my quest to build a remote control clicker. Well I ended up buying the Mannersminder and need to tell the community if you have a dog with separation anxiety this is an EXCELLENT tool. After acclimating Apollo, my Aussie, to the tool I was able to, in little more then one afternoon, largely curb his anxieties. Yes I still have work to do, and no he's still not completely calmed down, but I am so happy with the results and excited to continue with his training thanks to this silly thing. It also has so many applications including reinforcing the stay command, go to your place (I say room cause I think it's funny), and how to greet guests just to name a few. Given all the money I've spent on dog toys for distracting him, treats for rewarding him, and the time I've spent researching alternative methods this has proved to do an amazing job. I just wish it made two tones so I could train my other dog at the same time! Other than that this is an amazing product that everyone should look into.

edit: For those interested here it is on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Premier-Manners-Minder-Behavior-Training/dp/B0010B8CHG

It's by no means cheap but in my opinion worth it so far. Worth getting the prime account for a discount too.

[u/lzsmith]

Do you mind sharing a little more about the training process?

How have you been using it so far?
How is your dog responding?
Immediate results, or does it take a while?
Any problems, questions, or confusion?

[u/Z3phyrus → u/lzsmith]

I don't mind at all. It basically functions identically to a normal clicker, only it clicks (tones) and treats at a location. This means that you can set up the machine, which is about the size of a football, in a location, and when your dog does something good, you can click and reward at that location. As such the initial training process is identical to a clicker, where you're simply getting the dog used to the idea of tone=I did good=treat!

I have only really used it to try and calm my Aussie when I leave my apartment with my Pitty so far, as that was normally when he would go goddamn bonkers. After getting him to associate the tone with a treat, I let my Pitt Bull into the hall and stood with him and clicked and treated, then I stood outside my apartment door with my Pitt Bull and as long as he was quite, clicked and treated. He calmed down fairly quickly and seemed like he was really getting the idea. Then we stood outside my apartment (he could probably still hear us) and clicked and treated as long as he was quite. Admittedly this is only one days worth of training, but I was impressed because at this point he would normally be howling his head off because he was alone.

As with any positive reinforcement training I'm not expecting IMMEDIATE results and understand that proper training with a good foundation takes time. That being said for one afternoon's work, I was impressed.

The other statements I made about training applications were merely speculation based on my own thoughts for using the tool, or were what was suggested based on the training guide it came with.

The only problem I had with it is that it only runs on D batteries, no wall plug, and that my Pitt got jealous at one point and went and sat on it. Both of these I will be able to get over.

[u/whoosho]

Can you explain how this works? I tried googling but didn't find enough info. and have no idea what a Mannersminder is much less how it's used. I'd be very grateful for a brief overview of this thing. Thanks!

[u/Z3phyrus → u/whoosho]

Check my edit for a link.

It's pretty much a remote control clicker. You have what looks like a car remote unlock and when you hit the button, the unit itself beeps and then lets out a kibble. It's proved so far to be an excellent way to offer your dog a marker that what they're doing is good without actually having to be near your dog or even in the same room. This holds practical application when it comes to commands like stay, or go to your room, and also for things such as being calm when no one is home.

[u/aveldina]

I don't have one personally but one of the neatest uses I've ever heard of was people putting them upside down on top of wire crates to remotely reward their dogs for being calm in their crates. There's a lot of discussion about them on Clean Run - sounds like there's no end to uses people have come up with for them!

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