Clicker Training

[demitre]

---

What is Clicker Training?
It is training using almost entirely positive reinforcement - teaching your dog to learn... using no physical compulsion or corrections whatsoever. Sounds a bit unbelievable, but works incredibly well. Instead of yanking dogs around, shoving them into place, giving some praise, and hoping the dog will make the connection, dogs are taught using the scientific methods of classical & operant conditioning. Anyone questioning how reliable a dog taught this way can be should take a trip to Sea World. There, the Orcas, dolphins, etc., are taught using these same methods. After all... you can't slip a choke chain around a whale's neck & give a jerk! And yet, these lovely creatures perform flawlessly for audience after audience. And have a blast doing it. The whole enjoyment feature is what really turned me on to positive training. I love my dogs, and although I want them to be responsive to me I dislike hurting them! With clicker training I don't have to. This training works for every dog, from bold to timid, from tiny to giant. This is the type of training used for most (all?) animals trained for movie & TV work, too.

The clicker itself is simply a little toy-like device that is used in the initial stages of training any behavior. It provides clear & precise communication between owner & dog and allows you both to concentrate on & enjoy the task at hand. You click at the exact moment the dog is performing whatever it is you want, and since you always follow that click with a tasty treat, the dog will learn to love the sound, and the work to make that sound happen! As part of the training, you teach the dog hand and/or verbal signals for each behavior. As the dog learns these, you phase out the clicker. It has completed its function, which was to communicate to your dog which behavior you desired.

With positive reinforcement training there is no more forcing a dog to learn. Instead, the dog becomes eager to learn! Very tasty food treats are the primary reinforcers at first because they are easy to use but many, many other reinforcements are used as well - from squeaky toys to playing games. A dog properly trained this way will not be dependent upon food in order to respond.

Clicker training can be used to teach your dog (or just about any animal) regular pet obedience type behaviors (such as loose-leash walking) as well as more advanced competition, trick or service behaviors. You will love it... and so will your dog!

When to Start Training?
Right now! These methods are so gentle, you can start with that 8 week old puppy you just brought home. Just remember that a young puppy is an infant - don't expect too much, especially with the stay. Work for just a few minutes at a time and takes lots of play breaks. You'll find that teaching the attention work that early will do amazing things for your relationship! And it's never too early to work on not jumping up.

Who Should Train?
Everyone in the family! That is one of the best features of these techniques. They don't require that the dog see the trainer as dominant in the pack. Although it is still essential that the dog see the humans in the household as clear leaders, even young children can teach the family dog to respond to them, and in doing so will help to establish that leadership.

And... if someone in the family messes up while training positively, the only damage is usually that the dog might take a bit longer to learn than otherwise. Only a person getting physically nasty will do real damage to the learning. Effort should be made, however, to have everyone be as consistent as possible. And although all family members can be trainers, it is best to have only one working with the dog at a time. Other people can hold the leash or stand nearby until it is their turn!

[guilliam]

i havent googled where you verbatimly "quoted" the text above; however click training is not advised as most(or even all)levels in schutzhund. i dont know where youre coming from in agility, shutz, or where however its given that "click" and "clickers" is for amateurs. when you train your dog with clickers its harder to train them to do something without the clickers. btw, do you have your clicker 24/7 laced around your neck?

- g

[paradiso]

A very informative article. Clicker training has indeed proven to be very useful and effective method in training not only dogs but other animals as well . This has proven to be so reliable that professionals in almost any field has adopted the method. It is not saying that this is the best method of dog training. You could either prefer the negative reinforcement or compulsion method or the positive reinforcement, where the clicker belongs just like Gottfied Dildei (food) and Ivan Balabanov( tug)or a combination. One's personality, the group one trains with and even the character of the dog greatly influences our preference for our method of training. However, it would be unfair to assume certain fallacies and perpetuate them as gospel truths on a particular method esp. if we know very little about the method or what we are talking or writing about.

[guilliam]

This has proven to be so reliable that professionals in almost any field has adopted the method.

that i doubt. Schutzhund(all levels), BH, french ring, mondioring and other dog competition sports doesnt allow clickers. if its training the dog just for non competition grade; i agree you can do with clickers. even the "gatorade" bottle cap will do

- g

[paradiso]

Anybody familiar with Schutzhund and even Mondio Ring and the French ring should know that clicker and food is not allowed in the ring. But that does not mean that clicker training could not be used just like Dildei using food or other trainers using sausages to train their dog to heal. I dont see any dogs trained by the Dildei method being fed during the Bh trials. Fallacies should not be perpetuated.

[demitre]

Here are more informative information about clicker:

Clicker Training: What it isn't

There are three general opinions of clicker training: it's the hottest thing since sliced bread, a passing fad or an annoyance, on par with fleas at a breed show. Often, the latter two opinions are formed after hearing too much of the former. The rhetoric of some clicker trainers sounds like a cross between an infomercial and some kind of religious experience. Deciding which opinion fits your training style begins with knowing what clicker training is -- and what it isn't.

Top Misconceptions About Clicker Training
1) Clicker training is "all positive." -- No method of training is "all positive." By scientific definition, the removal of a desired reward is a "negative punishment." People who say they are using "all motivational" or "all positive" methods are merely suggesting that they don't like using punishment -- so who does? It isn't that clicker trainers don't use aversive control, it's that the sequence is different. In clicker training, aversive control is generally never used to create behaviors. Needed corrections are almost always applied at the end of the learning cycle, after the dog has a firm knowledge of the behavior. When you use this sequence, correctly, you may be surprised at how rarely your dog needs corrections -- but there will always come a time when you need to tell your dog that obedience is not "optional."

2) Clicker training was invented by dolphin trainers. -- No. The first people to take operant conditioning out of the laboratory were Keller and Marian Breland, two students of B.F. Skinner, way back in the 1940's -- with dogs. It wasn't until the mid-1950's that Keller Breland invented marine mammal training. Yes, both types of training have similar roots, but "dogs aren’t dolphins." For instance, marine mammals can be reinforced at any time during training AND performance -- like an obedience competition that allows you to use food in the ring. It is rare for dolphins and whales do more than four or five behaviors without some actual food treat -- and common for dogs to work for long periods in the absence of food. There are enough fundamental differences in the expectations of these two areas of training that attempting to transpose marine mammal methods directly to dogs may fail to utilize the dog's full potential -- or just simply fail.

3) You can teach an animal to do anything with a clicker -- Nope, there are limits. Dogs have instinctive behaviors that are not fully controllable by any form of conditioning. (And gosh, I have seen my share those dogs over the years.) The idea that clicker training can accomplish anything, is usually the wishful thinking of someone with limited experience. Hoping that clicker training can do everything misses the importance of the method -- there are some pretty remarkable things that only occur when using a clicker, or its equivalent.

4) Clicker trainers use food, food and more food, as their means of reinforcing behavior. Nope. Food is a great tool for many situations, but has some obvious limitations. A smart trainer uses tone of voice, high-pitched praise, affection, balls, squeakers or anything else there dog enjoys working for. The tendency to rely on food exclusively ignores the fact that no single reinforcer can keep a dog motivated at all times.

5) You can't teach classes with clickers because all those clickers will confuse the dogs. -- Having taught clicker classes for years, this one still makes me smile a little. Dogs have better hearing that we do, and they quickly learn to listen for their owner's click, while ignoring all others. One side effect of this forced discrimination is that within a couple sessions, clicker trained dogs tend to be very focused on their trainers -- because they have to be. If you are still concerned about clickers confusing dogs in classes, my best advice is to cop the Nike slogan, "Just do it."

6) A clicker is a bad training tool, because you can't take it into the ring. -- It is important to realize that the clicker is a construction tool, rather than a performance tool. From that perspective, it is in the same class as a leash correction in competition -- both tools can shape behaviors, but they aren't part of performance. Going into the ring with a clicker is like walking out of the bathroom at a gala event with toilet paper stuck to your shoe. If you think you need the clicker in the ring, it is probably too soon for you to be in the ring.

7) A word, ("good" "yes" "ready") works just as well as the clicker. -- No. There are still some people who seem to have an allergy to clickers, even though they know how well they work. Having used both clickers and words, several thousand times, I can assure you that the difference between a clicker and a word is easily observable. The essence of this method is using a precisely timed signal to mark good behavior. Words are far less efficient as "behavior markers" than a crisp, quick sound, like a metallic click. This does not mean that clicker trainers always use a clicker in every training situation.

Gary Wilkes - www.clickandtreat.com

[the clicker]

Nice of you, Paradiso to ask someone familiar with schutzhund. Im very familiar with the sport and in fact ever since i had an import GSD, Wildfire Hanz, and put him to a vice seiger title during one of those landesgruppen way back 1980's here in Cebu. Those were partial fulfillment because if we have to be strict about it a GSD who will vie for a Seiger title should be subjected to some biteworks and courage test. Unfortunately, the GSD federation on a national level was not able to implement this. Not even today. Hope they will implement it in the near future. Some of my friends who are still with GSDs are now training their GSD for BH and eventually to all levels of Schutzhund titles. I
I hope my familiarity with the sport of schutzhund will not BE misinterpreted that i'm in schutzhund training.I have not trained any dog in schutzhund But i have trained most of my dogs to be socially good as a companion dog.

I just want to make my humble opinion and my point of view of Guilliam regarding Clicker training in all levels in schutzhund in four ( 4 ) points of clarification.

Guilliam made mentioned that :

click training is not advised as most(or even all)levels in schutzhund.
If you mean using a clicker during a schutzhund. Yes! Its not allowed! Not even a TAG or FOOD. But during a schutzhund training, b all means you can use. I can not see any HARD RULE that inhibits anybody of using any constructive tool, a tag and food for that matter. You can use any method, be it the jerk and praise, jerk and treat or any method that one feels to be effective.

I can't give you my experience of using clicker in schutzhund training but i have done lots of research that a clicker method is just as EFFECTIVE with other methods. To substantiate my claim let me give you some references or people who are involved with schutzhund be it in training and world competitions.

Click site:
Schutzhund Clicker Training | Foundation Training | Gjeter av Xazziam - Ufo van Guy's Hof Daughter

let me give you a video clip of a GSD transitional training from 10 weeks old to 18 months using the clicker:

apollo
10 weeks old:
YouTube - Apollo early training - 10 weeks
6 months:
YouTube - Apollo 6 months old clicker training obedience

all levels of schutzhund training using the clicker:
11 months obedience:
YouTube - Apollo 13 months obedience


11months bitework
YouTube - Apollo 11 months starting bitework

11 months tracking
YouTube - Apollo 11 months Tracking

Apollo hold and bark
YouTube - Apollo starting the hold and bark

website: you can make our search and be glad if you will open the clicker training on the rught portion of the page:
Bodeus - Clicker Training

Second: Guilliam:
that "click" and "clickers" is for amateurs .
Im a bit puzzled if you will say that click and clickers are for amateurs. I can't say that those people in the videos are amateurs. Training is their way of life. They don't only train their dogs in schutzhund they are world competitors and holding strong titles in schutzhund.

Third: Guilliam:
when you train your dog with clickers its harder to train them to do something without the clickers

my response: I use the clicker and treats to teach new behaviors and then I replace the clicker with praise and offer treats less frequently and in combination with life rewards. For more info please read demitre's added post about clicker.

Fourth: Guilliam:
btw, do you have your clicker 24/7 laced around your neck?

My response: i don't know where you got the idea that we clicker trainers carry clicker around our neck 24/7. Of course not!!!! what we lace around our neck is the TRUST and RESPECT we earned from our dogs through the clicker training.

I hope this will give the lighter side about the clicker training. How i wish to be with my friends who are now training their GSDs for the BH and eventually getting a Schutzhund title. Its just im into other dog sport.
I hope of meeting Guilliam personally and would be most happy to share some insights in dog training. I might be able to get some good ideas and methods from him........... or taking our dogs for a walk ..... off leash?

[the clicker]

Nice of you, Paradiso to ask someone familiar with schutzhund. Im very familiar with the sport and in fact ever since i had an import GSD, Wildfire Hanz, and put him to a vice seiger title during one of those landesgruppen way back 1980's here in Cebu. Those were partial fulfillment because if we have to be strict about it a GSD who will vie for a Seiger title should be subjected to some biteworks and courage test. Unfortunately, the GSD federation on a national level was not able to implement this. Not even today. Hope they will implement it in the near future. Some of my friends who are still with GSDs are now training their GSD for BH and eventually to all levels of Schutzhund titles. I
I hope my familiarity with the sport of schutzhund will not BE misinterpreted that i'm in schutzhund training.I have not trained any dog in schutzhund But i have trained most of my dogs to be socially good as a companion dog.

I just want to make my humble opinion and my point of view of Guilliam regarding Clicker training in all levels in schutzhund in four ( 4 ) points of clarification.

Guilliam made mentioned that :

click training is not advised as most(or even all)levels in schutzhund.
If you mean using a clicker during a schutzhund. Yes! Its not allowed! Not even a TAG or FOOD. But during a schutzhund training, b all means you can use. I can not see any HARD RULE that inhibits anybody of using any constructive tool, a tag and food for that matter. You can use any method, be it the jerk and praise, jerk and treat or any method that one feels to be effective.

I can't give you my experience of using clicker in schutzhund training but i have done lots of research that a clicker method is just as EFFECTIVE with other methods. To substantiate my claim let me give you some references or people who are involved with schutzhund be it in training and world competitions.

Click site:
Schutzhund Clicker Training | Foundation Training | Gjeter av Xazziam - Ufo van Guy's Hof Daughter

let me give you a video clip of a GSD transitional training from 10 weeks old to 18 months using the clicker:

apollo
10 weeks old:
YouTube - Apollo early training - 10 weeks
6 months:
YouTube - Apollo 6 months old clicker training obedience

all levels of schutzhund training using the clicker:
11 months obedience:
YouTube - Apollo 13 months obedience


11months bitework
YouTube - Apollo 11 months starting bitework

11 months tracking
YouTube - Apollo 11 months Tracking

Apollo hold and bark
YouTube - Apollo starting the hold and bark

website: you can make our search and be glad if you will open the clicker training on the rught portion of the page:
Bodeus - Clicker Training

Second: Guilliam:
that "click" and "clickers" is for amateurs .
Im a bit puzzled if you will say that click and clickers are for amateurs. I can't say that those people in the videos are amateurs. Training is their way of life. They don't only train their dogs in schutzhund they are world competitors and holding strong titles in schutzhund.

Third: Guilliam:
when you train your dog with clickers its harder to train them to do something without the clickers

my response: I use the clicker and treats to teach new behaviors and then I replace the clicker with praise and offer treats less frequently and in combination with life rewards. For more info please read demitre's added post about clicker.

Fourth: Guilliam:
btw, do you have your clicker 24/7 laced around your neck?

My response: i don't know where you got the idea that we clicker trainers carry clicker around our neck 24/7. Of course not!!!! what we lace around our neck is the TRUST and RESPECT we earned from our dogs through the clicker training.

I hope this will give the lighter side about the clicker training. How i wish to be with my friends who are now training their GSDs for the BH and eventually getting a Schutzhund title. Its just im into other dog sport.
I hope of meeting Guilliam personally and would be most happy to share some insights in dog training. I might be able to get some good ideas and methods from him........... or taking our dogs for a walk ..... off leash?

[guilliam]

hello @the clicker,

thats very insightful. thanks a lot for the time putting into the reply.

what i overlooked is the "transition" from new things/tricks to retaining those even without the clicker. in which your post was enlightening. i highly respect your decades of personal experience with clickers.

the youtube vids of apollo says a thousand words.

basically perhaps my question with clickers is why would you go thru the stage of clicker when you can go straight ahead with praise and punishment/positive-negative conditioning and therefor not going thru transition stage?

im less than ten years old during the 1980'sl with that said i dont know who are the old timers in cebu.
not even 1/8th experience(thru years) compared with yours.
i'll be very happy to meet you in person and meet your dogs too

probably there are still old timers that you know that are still in the current cv-gsda or even high probability you know a lot of them. we meet every sunday morning in north town homes, in cabancalan mandaue. if youre available this sunday; lets meet up. excited to learn more and have more enlightenment on this

i will be happy to introduce my dogs to clickers when i see more advantage of it than the tone-gesture-reward-punishment method. i hope you will share your decades of experience with us on this matter.

again thanks for the time in replying.

- g

[the clicker]

hello @the clicker,

thats very insightful. thanks a lot for the time putting into the reply.

what i overlooked is the "transition" from new things/tricks to retaining those even without the clicker. in which your post was enlightening. i highly respect your decades of personal experience with clickers.

the youtube vids of apollo says a thousand words.

basically perhaps my question with clickers is why would you go thru the stage of clicker when you can go straight ahead with praise and punishment/positive-negative conditioning and therefor not going thru transition stage?

im less than ten years old during the 1980'sl with that said i dont know who are the old timers in cebu.
not even 1/8th experience(thru years) compared with yours.
i'll be very happy to meet you in person and meet your dogs too

probably there are still old timers that you know that are still in the current cv-gsda or even high probability you know a lot of them. we meet every sunday morning in north town homes, in cabancalan mandaue. if youre available this sunday; lets meet up. excited to learn more and have more enlightenment on this

i will be happy to introduce my dogs to clickers when i see more advantage of it than the tone-gesture-reward-punishment method. i hope you will share your decades of experience with us on this matter.

again thanks for the time in replying.

- g

yes, i still know them..... ruben, edward,hockson....heinz.... i used to go to northtown homes during the initial stage of the GSD training program..... love to be there but i just cant at this moment for two reasons.first, its a bit far from my place ( gasoline is expensive ) secondly, i'm into other dog sport.

As usual, i dont tell my friends what to do with their dogs but i will tell them what i'm doing with my dogs.its up for them to go with their options.If they go for the william koehler, gottfried dildei,karen pryor, gary wilkes to fred hassen, then its up to them..... the bottom line is that the dog performs reliably.

Like to invite you in one of our clicker class.

the clicker