Clicker Training

[shais_mom]

Does anyone train with a clicker?
I bought one yesterday and was wondering how exactly you train with it.
I get the basic concept:
Tell the dog to sit, click, when she does, treat. Am I right?
Now this is where I get confused.
This is a dumb question.
Say to sit, you click once.
Lay down, click twice.
Stay click, 3 times.
Does the dog get confused with all the clicks?
I would thinkg the max would be 3 times.
I just wanted to clarify it!

[tatsxxx11]

I've done a lot of work with trainers using the clicker method. It's really quite involved, and you have to be careful to use this method properly from the beginning. I don't have time right now :(, but a while back I posted a very lengthy message about it here. I'll try to find it and paste it here soon! Maybe Phred remembers. I think he read it and commented on it. But, off the bat, I NEVER heard it used it the manner you mentioned, i.e. 1 click sit, 2 down, etc. It is really just a means of re-enforcement of positive behavior, a "marker," and is not used in itself to elicit a particular behavior by clicking. The click comes at the MOMENT the postitive behavior is done, with a simulatenous "YES!" and in the beginning a treat. I'll get back to you Staci! It really does work wonders with some dogs :)

[ November 11, 2001: Message edited by: tatsxxx11 ]

[carrie]

I am not a big fan of clicker training it has to be said....if you can train your dog using praise, enjoyment, fun and contact then do it that way!
It is a great way to stretch a clever dog or to reward a dog that is working away from the handler. BUT the basics have to be in place before you even try this method. I know this is not what the people selling this method say but imagine.... Your dog is clicker trained, it sees a child, squirrel, racoon, other dog, cat, mouse, rat.... that it wants to run off it's patch, protect you from, play with, investigate....how will you stop the dog?
Not by clicking, I promise.

Clicker training has it's place.
Do not let anyone tell you this is the only training you need for your dog.

The first part of clicker training is to get the dog to associate the click with a treat. So if the dog hears a click it knows a treat is on the way. Very useful to the owner on a tracking course or an agility course...
Although it has to be said that handlers and dogs enjoyed both long before clickers came along.

This is also the long established training method for dolphins and whales in captivity - a whistle often takes the place of a clicker - and how are they going to stop a behaviour that isn't wanted?

[yorkster]

Shais_Mom.......How funny, I am going to my new dog obedience class today (4 pm Pacific) and they start us with clickers! I had never heard of them before a few months ago. My dog just passed the basic obedience at Petsmart a few weeks ago, and I decided to keep going to the intermediate/advanced. They start with the clicker-training, and also some agility. I'll let you know what I learn, if you still need it later.

[tatsxxx11]

I remember well Carrie's thoughts on clicker training, and for the most part, I agree :) Most often, around here, it is used as a part of agility training, and many people have good results with it in that respect. Here's a little info. Can't find what I wanted to though! :(


CLICKER BASICS
Karen’s 15 Tips
10 Laws of Shaping

8 Ways of Changing Behavior

The Rules for Cues

About Target Training




What is Clicker Training?

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by: Karen Pryor 11.01

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The click is a marker signal
Clicker training is a science-based system for teaching behavior with positive reinforcement. You use a marker signal (the sound of a toy clicker) to tell the animal (or person) when it's doing the action that will pay off. The system was first widely used by dolphin trainers who needed a way to teach behavior without using physical force.
No corrections or punishment required
In traditional training, you tell an animal or person what to do, make that behavior happen (using force if necessary), reward good results, and punish mistakes. In clicker training you watch for the behavior you like, mark the instant it happens with a click, and pay off with a treat. The treat may be food, a pat, praise, or anything else the learner enjoys. If the learner makes a mistake all you do is wait and let them try again.

Replacing the clicker with praise
Clicker trainers focus on building behavior, not stopping behavior. Instead of yelling at the dog for jumping up, you click it for sitting. Instead of kicking the horse to make it go, you click it for walking. Then, click by click, you "shape" longer sits, or more walking, until you have the final results you want. Once the behavior is learned, you keep it going with praise and approval and save the clicker and treats for the next new thing you want to train.

It's fun and exciting for pets and people
Dogs and other animals quickly learn that the marker signal means, "Something good is coming." Then they realize they can make you click by repeating their behavior. They become enthusiastic partners in their own training. In people, clicking reduces the need for correction and is especially useful for training physical skills. Clicker training is exciting for animals and fun for us. And it's easy to do. You might get results on the very first try.

[ November 11, 2001: Message edited by: tatsxxx11 ]