Berk's Canine Companion Training uses positive, no-force techniques (motivational training) to train and modify behaviors, often using the clicker method. Though we have used the traditional method (correctional jerk) in the past, we find that a well-balanced relationship and more reliable behaviors are often the better result yielded from motivational training.
When teaching a new behavior to your dog, motivational training is more inclined to encourage learning. Aversive techniques such as the correctional jerk often inhibit learning. We get more miles and smiles towards a dog's willingness to work when we make the training environment fun and positive rather than negative.
You will find that we do not use the word "command" because we feel to some individuals it suggests taking on the role as the dog's dictator. Instead, we find using the word "cue" (we cue a behavior by saying "Sit", that is, "Sit" is a cue) puts the owner/trainer in the proper mind-set for motivational training.
Motivational Training
Motivational training involves the use of a lure (most often food, but can be a toy or anything a dog is willing to follow around). With the lure you "magnetize" the dog, manipulating his body into doing the behavior you desire.
If you use a lure, you have to relinquish it when your dog responds with the appropriate behavior. It becomes a reward. If you don't relinquish it, soon the dog will say "phooey" and will no longer be motivated to follow it around.
To dispell those nasty rumors that your dog will only perform when food is available, there is a very simple weaning process the dog goes through which will result in a voluntary behavior, whether or not food is available. But, heck, who among us doesn't like to give his dog a treat now and again?
Clicker Training
First, what is a clicker? Remember those cricket-sounding things we had when we were kids? Some of us do. We bent a little metal piece with our thumbs and it sounded like a cricket, remember that? Well, with a child-like imagination it did. Perhaps they were banned because the metal piece was sharp and not suitable for children. But today this metal piece is safely encased in a plastic box and in the animal training industry is formally known as a clicker.
Clicker Training has been around since the Pavlovian days but has most often taken on the form of a whistle in the training of the marine animals we've all seen perform. Perhaps we use a clicker for dogs instead of a whistle because we need our mouth available to give a verbal cue. In any case, we have available hands for clicking, whereas a marine animal trainer usually has his own full of fish.
The clicker is what is referred to as a "bridge". The purpose of a bridge is to mark the precise moment the target behavior occurs and bridge it to the consequence that follows. The clicker (bridge) marks the moment the dog sits (target behavior), for instance, and bridges it to the reward (consequence) that follows. It sort of helps the dog take a mental picture of what he is doing at the time of the click so he knows exactly what to repeat in order to earn another reward. The dog, then, makes it his job to make the clicker go off, making the clicker the focus of his attention.
A dog is considered "clicker trained" when he expects a reward after he's heard the "click". So if we wean the dog off of food, it should go without saying, we wean the dog off of the clicker. Therefore, the clicker is used only in the very early stages of each behavior we intend the dog to learn, to help him identify the target behavior. Once he's learned the cue that goes with that behavior, poof, gone the clicker and gone the need for reward.
Is it necessary to use a clicker to teach a behavior? Nope, but it is quite helpful. In marking the target behavior, we react more quickly mechanically (clicking clicker) than verbally (praise). Praise is often so slow it can actually be marking the stand that follows a "boingy" sit. Additionally, the clicker is a constant sound. Can you say that about your praise? "Goodboy." ... "Goood boooy." ... "Good boy!" That's not to say it's impossible to work with praise. Just given the choice, we prefer the clicker. It makes our job (yours too) easier.
Think you're not coordinated enough to work with a clicker? Well, frankly, some may not be. But that's very rare. It takes a little practice, yes. Fortunately, dogs are forgiving in the short time it takes to turn your ten thumbs back into two. We've had plenty of people who've called themselves clutsy who do an excellent job.
Once in a while comes along a dog who is too sound-sensitive to work well with the clicker. The clicker becomes a feared distraction rather than helpful information to the dog. In a case such as this, you take what you get and make the most of what you've got to work with. We would simply use a clicker-like alternative that doesn't create a fearful distraction.
Target Training
What is target training? This is teaching your dog to focus on and follow a specific target rather than the lure you use in clicker training. A target stick is usually the device of choice. You could, instead, use something around the house similar to a teacher's pointer, like a tent pole, a yard stick, or here's a better use of great-grandma's old "switches". A target stick is actually used as an extension of your arm and the tip becomes the lure. The clicker is an accompaniment to identify the target behavior.
What good is it? Well, K.O. (see the home page photo...she's the one on the right) has learned to "Spin" around, "Get Me A Soda" from the fridge (complete with shutting the door behind her), and a number of agility behaviors, all with the aid of the target stick.
Page design and written content by Gail Berk.
© Gail Berk 2001-2006.
All rights reserved.
The poop on this page was
last scooped on: 3/9/08
