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What is Clicker Dog Training?
Use Clicker Training to Train Your Australian Shepherd With
Positive Reinforcement
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By Lynn Whinery,
Bonza
Canine Education
Lynn provides clicker training
classes in the Imperial Beach or San Diego county
area and is a full member of APDT (Association of
Pet Dog Trainers). |
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Clicker training is a style
of training based on the work of B. F. Skinner, Bob and
Marian Bailey, and Karen
Pryor. Karen Pryor coined the phrase ‘clicker training’
when she was working with dolphins in the 60s (as chronicled in
her excellent book, Lads Before the Wind). In clicker training
a sound, usually a clicker, is used to mark a desired event. Thus
the sound of the clicker is called an ‘event marker’.
The click is always followed by a treat, so that
the animal associates the event with something rewarding. (This
is a form of Operant Conditioning.) Research has shown that rewarded
(reinforced) behaviors are likely to increase.
The click can instantly
communicate to the dog
that it has done
something desirable.
A classic example is that of teaching the sit. Each time the
dog sits he gets a click, followed by a treat. The dog will sit
more and more often.
Clicker training is an ideal way to communicate with your dog.
A partnership is created between you and your dog based on love
and respect. The click is a neutral tone (neither cheerful nor
angry, unlike the human voice), and will only be associated with
good things. The click can instantly communicate to the dog that
it has done something desirable.
Clicker Dog Training Uses Operant Conditioning Principles
Reinforcement, Punishment, Extinction, and Aversives
These are terms used in Operant Conditioning. Reinforcement and
Punishment can be divided into four categories.
It is imperative to remember that + and – are mathematical
terms, not moral judgments!
- Positive reinforcement (R+):
This is where something is added in order to increase a behavior.
Ex: you give your dog a treat to reinforce the sit.
- Negative reinforcement (R-):
Something is removed in order to increase a behavior. Ex: you
stop pinching the dog’s ear when it opens its mouth to
take a dumb bell. (NOT approved
of in clicker dog training!)
- Positive punishment (P+):
Something is added to decrease a behavior. Ex: hitting a dog
to get it to stop jumping up. (NOT
an approved training technique!)
- Negative punishment (P-):
Something is removed to decrease a behavior. Ex: walking away
when your dog jumps up on you, thus removing the attention he
desires. This is far more desirable than positive punishment,
but still must be used carefully.
- Extinction: Weakening a behavior
by not reinforcing it. Instead of petting your dog when he jumps
on you, you walk away (P-). Eventually the dog will stop jumping
on you (extinction).
- Aversives: Aversives are
something an animal will work to avoid. Ex: collar pops, shocks
from an electric collar, hitting, yelling, shaking the dog by
the scruff, ‘alpha rolls’. None
of these are acceptable forms of training in the field of clicker
dog training. (Technically P- is a form of aversive,
because something the dog wants has been taken away. However,
P- used sparingly and judiciously, can be effective.)
Clicker Dog Training Basics: Charging the Clicker
The key to clicker dog training is helping your dog associate
the sound of the clicker with something rewarding. These associations
can be very powerful. (Ex: Someone walks past smelling of rose
perfume. You are immediately transported back to childhood and
visits to Gramma’s house, because she used rose perfume.
Not just memories, but the emotions that go with them come flooding
back.)
The easiest way to do this is to just start clicking. With the
clicker in your hand, put your hand in a pocket or behind your
back. This way the sound shouldn’t startle the dog. Click,
and give your dog a delicious, pea sized treat. Keep doing this,
moving your clicker hand to different positions. (This way the
dog doesn’t just associate rewards with the sound coming
from a particular location.) After about 15-20 clicks (it varies
from dog to dog), the dog will perk up when it hears the click,
and start looking around for the treat. Hooray! The dog has now
made the association.
If your dog is afraid of the sound of the clicker you can soften
the tone by putting layers of tape across the dimple on the clicker.
Gradually remove the tape, one layer at a time, so the dog can
adjust to the tone.
No, you don’t have to spend the rest of your life carrying
around a clicker and a bag of treats. Once the dog has figured
out the desired behavior, and is performing it reliably, you gradually
start weaning off the clicker. Every click is STILL followed by
a treat, you just click less often, slowly decreasing the frequency
until you aren’t clicking at all. (If you think about it,
you don’t need to have someone come over and cheer every
time you write your name legibly. The reinforcement was valuable
when you were learning it, but once you’ve mastered the
skill it’s no longer necessary.)
NOTE: Remember to praise your dog! Clicking
and treating (C/T) doesn’t mean we refrain from verbal praise.
Clicker Dog Training Tips
If your dog isn’t interested in the treats there
could be several reasons.
- Your training area is too distracting. Make
sure you’re in a quiet location, such as a room with no
T.V. blaring, kids playing, etc. (The bath room is ideal!)
- Your dog isn’t hungry. Schedule your
training sessions a few hours before or after mealtime, when
the stomach is empty.
- Your treats aren’t appealing. Be sure
you’re using a treat the dog likes. Different dogs are
motivated by different foods. Try Cheerios, hot dogs, diced
meat, diced cheese, a premium kibble other than his usual food,
premium cat food (as an occasional treat), anything that excites
your dog!
More Clicker Dog Training Tips
If your dog is too enthusiastic about taking treats from
your hand, don’t despair.
- With young dogs, say ‘yikes’ or
‘ouch’, in a high pitched tone (so you sound like
a puppy), and then pull your hand away. Then go away for a minute
or so.
- Another trick is to make a fist around the
treat. As long as the dog chews at your hand, it doesn’t
get the treat. Once it stops and backs up, open your hand and
let the dog have the treat. If your dog is a real shark, you
can wear a glove during the process.
- Lastly, try giving the treats from a metal
spoon. Dogs don’t like the feeling of biting metal. With
each treat, move your hand closer to the bowl of the spoon,
until your fingers are on the bowl. Then switch to using your
hand.
Stay tuned for more clicker dog training articles.
If you are interested in trying clicker dog training with your
Aussie you can get the clicker dog training aid i-Click from Karen
Pryor Clicker Training. For clicker dog training classes in
Imperial Beach or San Diego county area contact Lynn Whinery at
Bonza Canine
Education.
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