Questions regarding clicker-training - Page 1

In regards to the clicker-training thread -- http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/314084.html -- I had a few questions.

• Q) What is the best way to introduce a young adult dog to clicker-training?
• Q) Any good starter excercizes or tips?
• Q) For a dog that's already started, can clicker-training be used in conjuction with commands they already know to hone in on certain aspects? -- and if so, how?

I've used clicker-training on non-domestic animals like reptiles and birds, and I've done it a bit with cats, but ironically I've never used it much on dogs. So when it comes to canine clicker-training I'm rather a noob. I'm open to all manner of info on the topic.

http://www.clickertraining.com/

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/167

http://www.clickandtreat.com/

http://www.clickersolutions.com/

http://reachingtheanimalmind.com/try.html

http://abbyk9.blogspot.com/2009/04/faq-clicker-training.html

http://www.schutzhund-training.com/clicker_training.html

www.dragonflyllama.com  

No one who actually uses the method has any suggestions for the OP? I know someone who clicker trains, his dog has very, very flashy obedience, I've posted a video of them before.  To be honest, I find it silly, but watching his dog's focus makes me curious about marker training.

OK KCzaja, I'll try. Of note, I am not a clicker trainer proper, nor do I have that much experience. I rarely use the actual clicker anymore but love the ability to mark a specific behaviour. I also still use corrections even on a behaviour I have taught with a clicker. To me they go hand in hand. For example: the dog ignored a down command, which was taught with a clicker, because he was more interested in something across the field. I have linked the word ‘no’ with the correction in the same way I linked the click/good with food or a toy though (haven’t we all been doing this for years?). This does 2 things for me: 1 I can mark in incorrect behaviour at a distance (ie the dog sat instead of downing). It works like the hotter, colder game I used to play as a kid. 2. This give the dog a chance to avoid the correction if they were acting like an idiot.

When I first started in using clicker style training I started by having the dog nose touch the end of a stick. I used a paint stir stick with colored vet wrap on the end. Since you have used the method on other animal I will assume you know the basics....my criteria was a nose touch to the color part of the stick. This made things very clear for both me and the dog. Of course the dog mastered this in minutes. I then used the stick to move the dog around as demonstrated in a seminar I attended. It did work however I soon found it was faster to loose the stick…and the fussy little clicker… and either free shaped placement or just used the food/toy to luring the dog into place (luring is also a no-no, I’m told but it works for me).

Since technically you obtain a behavior before adding a command (or stimulus control) there is no conflict with improving/changing a command. I used the clicker proper to improve the 'get-in' and broke all the rules! My dog at the time was an adult male who had only recently been introduced to the clicker (and I did use the clicker). He already did a swing finish from front. I wanted more accurate position in the sit (AKA I wanted the dog straight!). I isolated this by placing my self so the dog was sitting out of heel position and requested that he finish. I rewarded only correct placement. From that day forward the dog sat straight in a swing finish just about even time he did it! This is what kept exploring the method in the first place. The clicker, the touch stick, the variable reinforcement schedules were all way to fussy for me.

I find it most useful for teaching bits and pieces. I am no threat to those placing in obedience but the dog my currently dog’s heel is WAY better than I ever dreamed! I simply started with rewarding my dog for focus. Then I only rewarded focus in heel. Then I reward focus in the first couple steps and built on it (Shasta helped me with one!). Then I added a correction for not focusing, also in stages. I taught corners separately, rewarding what I want. I literally repeat each piece about 5 times each session (that I am focusing on the item) then move on. It sounds tedious but it doesn’t feel that way.