The purpose of the clicker is to let the dog know exactly what behavior he just performed which is earning him a reward. It marks the behavior. Often we get the reward to the dog a few seconds (or more) too late and it serves to mark a behavior which has occured those few seconds after the behavior we're targeting. There is often some confusion to the dog. So the clicker serves as a bridge. You can use a marker word instead....one special word that is only used for that purpose. However, it has been shown that the clicker may be registering in a different part of the brain because of its very distinctive sound. It is not like any other sound the dog hears all day long from our muddled voices. Dogs tend to love training this way because it takes a lot of the confusion out of the communication and it signals that a reward if forthcoming. It is a Pavlovian response which is occuring....as with Pavlov's bell and his dog.
Clicker training is fun for both owner and dog and is based on classical conditioning, one of two main components in scientific learning. The other being operant conditioning. It is how we all learn. Operant conditioning simply means you do this and this happens. There is a consequence for every behavior. For a wanted response, there is a primary reinforcer, the reward. Classical conditioning makes use of a secondary reinforcer....the clicker. You do this......(a desireable behavior) and you hear the click to mark that behavior and get a treat following. (primary reinforcer) All behavior must be reinforced in order to increase the probability of its recurrence. Reinforcement is what drives behavior.
Clicker training or its concepts is what is being used widely today all over the world with modern trainers on account of a lot of scientific advancement and a lot of studies. It is used in many, many venues of dog training. (along with other mammals) Its used in movie actor dog training, service dog training, S&R, dog sports, obedience, rehabilitation of behavior problems including but not limited to severe aggression problems. Its wonderful for that because so many aggressive behaviors are fear based as well as brain chemistry being a culprit, improper cortisol response etc. It is counterproductive to punish aggressive behavior and this has been used with extreme success in that arena. A lot of aggressive displays don't always look like they're fear based, but they are and aversives only exasperate the problem, supress it and the underlying catalyst is still there.
Anyhow, clicker training also teaches a dog better HOW to learn better than forced or compulsive methods or with the use of a lot of aversives. I think it makes for a more thinking dog. And I like my dogs to be participants in their training, not marienettes. Force, choke collar yanking, too much physical manipulation of the dog does not give a dog a choice. Choice is a thinking process.
Anyhow Cindr, if you're intested, may I recommend a few books? *Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson, Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor, The Power of Positive Training by Pat Miller. These are excellent books which highlight what is best for the dog, their behavior, our understanding of their behavior and how they learn.... and well worth the money spent.
Clicker training is fun for both owner and dog and is based on classical conditioning, one of two main components in scientific learning. The other being operant conditioning. It is how we all learn. Operant conditioning simply means you do this and this happens. There is a consequence for every behavior. For a wanted response, there is a primary reinforcer, the reward. Classical conditioning makes use of a secondary reinforcer....the clicker. You do this......(a desireable behavior) and you hear the click to mark that behavior and get a treat following. (primary reinforcer) All behavior must be reinforced in order to increase the probability of its recurrence. Reinforcement is what drives behavior.
Clicker training or its concepts is what is being used widely today all over the world with modern trainers on account of a lot of scientific advancement and a lot of studies. It is used in many, many venues of dog training. (along with other mammals) Its used in movie actor dog training, service dog training, S&R, dog sports, obedience, rehabilitation of behavior problems including but not limited to severe aggression problems. Its wonderful for that because so many aggressive behaviors are fear based as well as brain chemistry being a culprit, improper cortisol response etc. It is counterproductive to punish aggressive behavior and this has been used with extreme success in that arena. A lot of aggressive displays don't always look like they're fear based, but they are and aversives only exasperate the problem, supress it and the underlying catalyst is still there.
Anyhow, clicker training also teaches a dog better HOW to learn better than forced or compulsive methods or with the use of a lot of aversives. I think it makes for a more thinking dog. And I like my dogs to be participants in their training, not marienettes. Force, choke collar yanking, too much physical manipulation of the dog does not give a dog a choice. Choice is a thinking process.
Anyhow Cindr, if you're intested, may I recommend a few books? *Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson, Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor, The Power of Positive Training by Pat Miller. These are excellent books which highlight what is best for the dog, their behavior, our understanding of their behavior and how they learn.... and well worth the money spent.
