The Clicker
Please review this page before proceeding with the training lessons!Sometimes our dogs don't do what we want simply because they don't understand us. It is important to address this issue before you begin working on specific training exercises. In order to improve communication, we need to clearly indicate when the dog is doing the right thing and when he needs to try something else. To do this, we will mark specific behaviors with either a "reward marker" or a "no-reward marker".
Training Tips
Timing is Critical
Click during the behavior. The most common mistake is to click or say "Yes!" too late.
Treat Follows Click
If you treat first or simultaneously with the click, the reward marker will not be effective. The food will overshadow the sound.
Always Treat
Always provide a treat following the click. If you only treat some of the time, the reward marker will lose its charge. When you start fading out the rewards, you will also fade out the clicker or verbal marker.
Take Breaks
If you get frustrated, take a break. Your dog is probably frustrated too! Stop and consider what you might do differently to communicate better with your dog. It may help to have someone observe your training session.
End Positive
End each training session after your dog has earned a click and treat. Don't stop training after an NRM. Just ask for a simple behavior that you know you can reward. Then take a break.
Reward Marker
A reward marker is a sound that tells the dog that what he was doing at that exact moment will earn him a reward. It signals that reinforcement is about to happen. We want to make our dogs successful and enjoy training, so the majority of our feedback should be in the form of rewards.
Decide whether to use a Clicker or Verbal Marker
A clicker is an example of a reward marker. The benefit to using a clicker is its clear, distinct sound. It can mark the split second a desired behavior occurs. The dog quickly learns that the click predicts something wonderful. The click becomes a bridge between the instant the dog performs the behavior and the moment a reward is received.
For a better understanding, check out this short video from Karen Pryor's clickertraining.com:
A clicker is not required for this style of training. The concepts behind clicker training are more important than the tool. If you do not wish to use a clicker, your dog is afraid of the click sound or the clicker is simply inconvenient, you can use a verbal marker instead. The word "Yes!" is a good a verbal marker.
Condition the Reward Marker
The first task is to "charge" your clicker or verbal marker. Classical conditioning is used to associate the click with a treat.
To condition the clicker, grab a handful (8 to 10) pea-sized soft treats. Click and toss a treat on the floor or pop it into your dog's mouth. Repeat this a few more times while your dog is paying attention to you. Then, wait for him to look away and click again. If he looks at you for the treat, he has made the association. Regardless of whether he looks at you, go ahead and give him the treat. Continue to click and treat until all the treats are gone. To condition the word "Yes!" follow the same procedure, substituting the word "Yes!" for the click.
No-Reward Marker (NRM)
The no-reward marker, or NRM, isn't a correction. It simply lets your dog know that he needs to try something different in order to get the reward. Choose an NRM that is appropriate for the temperament of your dog. For a dog with a medium to soft temperament, say "Too Bad" or "Oops". For strong-willed dogs, a sharp sound like "AH! AH!" may work best.
Don't overuse the NRM. Make sure your dog is successful more often than not. Try to reward your dog at least 80% of the time and use the NRM less than 20% of the time. If you find yourself using the NRM frequently, you are probably asking for too much too soon. Lower your criteria so your dog can be successful.
Condition the NRM
Grab a handful of treats and feed your dog a treat every few seconds. After about 3 treats, present the treat and say "Oops" and quickly take it away. Wait a few seconds and begin the process again. Most dogs will make the association that when they hear "Oops" the reward disappears. If the dog backs off or looks at you or offers another behavior, such as sit, he is beginning to understand.
Praise as a Reward
Since we tend to fuss over our dogs and provide general praise regardless of behavior, it isn't usually as powerful as a click and treat. However, you can increase the power of praise by pairing it with treats.
Pair Praise with Treats
After you click or say "Yes!", praise your dog while you deliver the treat.
Jackpot!
When your dog does something especially well, give him a jackpot. Click once and then make a fuss over him while you deliver a bunch of treats, one at a time. A 15 to 30 second jackpot can make a big impression on your dog and make him even more attentive to you in the future.
~ ~ ~
Now that you're a pro with the clicker, follow Buddy to the first lesson.
