We had a behaviorist come to our house today. This behaviorist deals closely with Patricia Mc Connell's Best Friends in Madison. I'm pretty sure she said she was trained and certified there but I can't remember right now we talked about soooo much stuff.

Anyway - she wanted me to order a Manners Minder, actually two - one for Riley and one for Nissa so there isn't any issues w/2 dogs using the same tool. I was not happy with the high price especially since I have to have two but the reviews on Amazon were very pro-product, very very few negative comments. I placed the order tonight and paid for 2 day shipping (I usually get the free shipping) because the behaviorist wants to come back next Saturday and show me how to use it so we can get Riley going on his upcoming adventure to a new (hopefully) calmer lifestyle. Our first use for this will be for reactivity at the door & his desire to eat the mailman.

I'm just wondering from those who've used this for a reactive dog, what's been your experience as far as it actually helping?

I have tried a number of different techniques for these issues including offering high value cooked chicken (one of their faves) when the mailman is coming around and it didn't do a darn bit of good. However, I offered these while he was at the window and also attempted to get him to come to me in another room by offering it and neither did any good. Seems like the MM is the same principal just maybe more convenient for me.

So, whatchya all got to say about this contraption? Would you please include comments on ease of cleaning, what kinds of treats it will take and if there's a battery(s) - how long does the battery(s) last?

I don't even know what a manners minder is.

Okay I googled it. I hope it works. It simply sounds like another gimmick to me. You have to click and then release the food with a remote? Seems like just another step in the process. Think I would have tossed food in a bowl after I clicked.

There is a trainer here who uses the Manners Minder. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=606396015526

I use the manner's minder, but not the actual remote part....just the wobble. You can, IMO, achieve the same thing by clicking and throwing from a distance. The red ball is the important thing. I guess I can see the point of it for some things, but not sure if this is one of them?? I know people who have used stuff like this to do send outs, but it sounds like you would be close enough to reward yourself?

I use it for shaping behaviors at a distance.

So...long story short you can buy the wobbly-red-thingymagigy separate from the remote treat dispensor thingy.

If I recall it was like $20.

I actually have it on my Amazon wish list because it intrigued me whenever I first learned about, quite awhile ago. Wonder where I saw it?

Makes sense to me, to be able to reward, independent of *you* I can see it being useful for front door training, particularly if you have someone that knows how to use it optimally working with you. I'll be very interested to what how this goes!

It's also a way to have the dog remove itself from the vicinity to get it's reward. I recently read about it being used in BAT training to help retrain fence-fighting dogs.

We talked about so much stuff that I can't remember everything, but apparently the benefit is the fact that the handler (me) is removed from the scenerio as far as my visible participation and that's supposed to be important. So, the click & toss would still involve my "visible to the dog" participation. The MM would be more like "magic" to the dog, for lack of a better word.

I think I like the idea because *maybe* it will help me not to have to jump up from my chair (or wherever) and grab some gimmick, treat, clicker whatever and act accordingly per the situation. Even with all of this stuff sitting on my desk or anywhere in my near vicinity - the dog is still quicker than the blink of an eye. If you think about it, as fast as a dog is that puts me at quite a disadvantage. By the time I'm ready, the reason for me getting ready is over, follow me?

At this point, we've tried sooooo many different things, I guess one more won't hurt, except my wallet has been stretched beyond what any average person's wallet should have to be stretched. With any luck at all might do the trick and thus would be the *last* time I'd have to fork out money for stuff like this.

Yeah if the trainer is wanting to remove you from the room entirely this is definitely the way to go.

Hopefully it works for you.

I agree that taking you out of it is a good idea. Especially if you need to curb this behavior when you're not around as well. Otherwise, the door barking may improve while you're nearby and able to toss rewards and remain when you're absent.

Hope everything goes well for you.

Good thought, Jamie.

The MM's have arrived and I have a cd to watch before the behaviorist comes again on Sunday to show me how she wants me to use it. I sure hope it helps.