clicker training?
- Thread starter luvmydogs
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I don't look at it in terms of advantages/disadvantages. Almost all of the argued advantages/disadvantages are based on opinion, not fact, such as "Training with a collar is cruel, because you're forcing the dog to do what you want" or "Clicker training doesn't earn the dog's respect, because he's just working for food". Both methods, when used properly, have good results. It's just a matter of which appeals to you the most.
I personally prefer traditional training. That's because I prefer to also correct a dog when he's doing wrong, not just reward him when he's doing right. But it's really up to you which you would rather do.
I personally prefer traditional training. That's because I prefer to also correct a dog when he's doing wrong, not just reward him when he's doing right. But it's really up to you which you would rather do.
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I use a verbal mark instead of a click. If I'm practicing heel with Tippy, and she's doing exactly what I want I say "Good!" and give her a treat. She's quickly learning that when I say "Good!" she's doing the right thing. But I do correct her if she's doing something wrong. I say a quick "Hey!" and she then realizes she's not doing it correctly. Then she does it correctly.
This might give you just the answer you want: I prefer operant and classical conditioning based training.
http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm
http://www.positivedogs.com/faqs.html
http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm
http://www.positivedogs.com/faqs.html
A-w-w-w Mordy. Why not? LOL.
Soft dogs? You mean like the ones they use for police and the military? Many places use these methods. Like Mordy said, it's not relative to temperament. It's scientific learning theory and it works with all kinds of dogs and other animals as well. It keeps a dog's confidence, drive and joy in working very much more intact than punishment or correction based training.
If you read those links, you might learn about it and find out how it works. It's really nifty.
Soft dogs? You mean like the ones they use for police and the military? Many places use these methods. Like Mordy said, it's not relative to temperament. It's scientific learning theory and it works with all kinds of dogs and other animals as well. It keeps a dog's confidence, drive and joy in working very much more intact than punishment or correction based training.
If you read those links, you might learn about it and find out how it works. It's really nifty.
Actually, scent detection *is* being trained with operant conditioning and clickers. Steve White was a trainer for one the largest police K-9 units in Washington State, accredited as a Master Trainer in '93 the Washington State Police Canine Association, Steve is also a past Executive Board Member of that body. He's been an instructor for the K9 Academy for Law Enforcement. Steve has instructed at seminars in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and The United Kingdom. He is currently a primary instructor at Karen Pryor's ClickerExpo. He has taught obedience classes at parks, community centers, and kennels. His articles have appeared in police K-9 and dog training publications in the U.S. and Canada. He specializes in teaching behavior modification, tracking, and scent work through the use of positive reinforcement based operant conditioning. He provides consultation and training to K-9 units on administrative and legal issues, and has been recognized as an expert witness by Washington courts in police K-9 and dog behavior matters.
Do check out the CAAPDT seminar in Calgary, Canada this year. He will be speaking as will Ray Coppinger, so you can get a dose of ideas about pack theory and operant conditioning all at the same time. I hear that if he shows his video on suspect apprehension it will leave you breathless.
Shall I go on?
The Texas Task Force 1 of FEMA uses clicker training. A "clicker" trainer in Keller, TX who procures dogs for DPS (state police), Customs and some private explosive and narcotic detection companies imprints dogs for explosive and narcatic work with great success. Some of the above mentioned use clickers and some don't, but they all use use positive reinforcement to train.
Do check out the CAAPDT seminar in Calgary, Canada this year. He will be speaking as will Ray Coppinger, so you can get a dose of ideas about pack theory and operant conditioning all at the same time. I hear that if he shows his video on suspect apprehension it will leave you breathless.
Shall I go on?
The Texas Task Force 1 of FEMA uses clicker training. A "clicker" trainer in Keller, TX who procures dogs for DPS (state police), Customs and some private explosive and narcotic detection companies imprints dogs for explosive and narcatic work with great success. Some of the above mentioned use clickers and some don't, but they all use use positive reinforcement to train.
One method doesn't work for every dog and owner, and very few are training police dogs, so what police and military trainers use or don't use is largely irrelevant to the vast majority of dog owners until it is adapted.
How well a method works on any particular dog is directly related to what motivates that dog and what type of stimulus the dog pays attention to.
How well a method works on any particular dog is directly related to what motivates that dog and what type of stimulus the dog pays attention to.
I've never personally used a clicker, but I do communicate to the dog when they do what I want...AND when they don't. I don't use much in the way of what you might call behavior modification techniques and traditional textbook conditioning. Why? It gets in the way of the method of direct communication and body language, I find comes naturally to me. For me it's a distraction. That doesn't mean I think my way is better. It's just what I do, and what works best for me and the dogs I've work with.
I have a friend who rehabilitates large birds of prey. He uses a clicker, and has had great results using it to mark correct behavior for his birds. His name is Steve Layman. I believe he has some informative papers on this subject which can be found on the Internet. I'll post the site if I can find it. Not really about dogs, but facinating just the same.
I have a friend who rehabilitates large birds of prey. He uses a clicker, and has had great results using it to mark correct behavior for his birds. His name is Steve Layman. I believe he has some informative papers on this subject which can be found on the Internet. I'll post the site if I can find it. Not really about dogs, but facinating just the same.
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Everybody has their own training method, mine doesn't involve clickers. But it does involve lots of treats and praise. If the dog does something I want I make a big fuss with treats and head rubbing, and verbal praise. I do correct the dog if it does something wrong, because it works for me - after I give a correction (a "Hey!") the dog realizes they've done something wrong and then does the command correctly. Then receives praise.
You do know a lot about dogs, did you know that 90% for all police, army, and custom dogs come from Europe especially from Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium and Slovakia. There are not many people over here that do clicker training for professional dogs. Of course they are trained positive but still they need to be correct sometimes and really you can not do that with a clicker.
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