Shaping videos---learn by observing

We are going to spend a lot of time talking about shaping. You learn from class, by reading and from practicing on your own. But you can learn a great too by observing others shape their dogs. Here I am posting two videos I made right before class on 1-21-10. One is me shaping Bell my yellow lab to put her feet up on an ottoman. The second is my shaping her to do a play bow. Both are first (and only sessions so far ) shaping these behaviors.

Clicker trained dogs will learn a repertoire of behavior they try out in training sessions, just by shaping a lot. So notice in the ottoman shaping video, how Bell immediately knows to interact with the object on ground and knows to try her nose, mouth and pretty quickly here her feet. If you are beginning--your dogs will not yet have a big repertoire--but will get one fast if you do lots of shaping. Notice too in both videos how Bell seems to "forget" what is getting clicked part way through for a bit--very typical. Also notice how short my sessions are and notice how I have her attention the whole time. That comes from always working with you dog while she is "in the game" (see slides posted below and manual). Notice too--even with lots of exprience any one of my session is very very short--yours should be too. Short and total attention.

Let me know if you have comments and questions.

A few of my slides from 2nd session on 1-21-10

Note: the "in the game" slides are adapted from Sue Ailsby's work--see the link to the right and see the material from her in your manual (which she so generously allows others like us to use!!).

Great first class--now write here about what you would like to get out of class or about questions you have from training this week.

Click the comment button below and tell us all what you would like to get out of the class in terms of clicker techniques and/or what you want to teach your dog. Remind us who you are (your name, your dog's name and breed or description) too.

Also click the comment button below and report on how training has gone this week and any questions or issues you have.

Join in the conversation!

Welcome Human and Canine Students in the Thursday Night Clicker Class Winter 2010

Welcome to the students in the new Winter 2010 KDTC Thursday night 6PM clicker class!! We will may well have students new to dog training, new to clicker training, not new to dog training, and not new to clicker training, or any combination thereof, in this class. So it is even more important that the instructor, assistant, and other students too, get to know each student and their dog. This will allow us to individualize what we do in the class more and meet everyone's needs better.

FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE CLASS ONLY: Tell us your name and your dog's name and well as the appearance, breed or breeds of your dog. Then tell us about you and your dog's experience with dog training generally and with clicker training in particular. Finally let us know some things you are wanting to get out of class. Feel free to share whatever else about yourself or dog that you think is relevant.

So look below and click on the comments link. Type your comment as per the paragraph above in the block that will appear in the right column of the page that will open. Type the verification letters under the block as instructed. Then (if you are not logged into google) check the circle by "name/url" and type in your name and your dog's name. Then either click the orange box to publish the comment immediately or click the blue box to preview it first.

Blog is Renewed in 2010

After being away from this blog for a good long while, I am reviving it in particular hopes that my Thursday night Clicker Training class with the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club students will make use of it. See the entry on that upcoming.

How's everyone doing this week?

Use the comment link below to let me and the rest of us know how practice is proceeding this week and if you have questions or concerns.

Wednesday Night KDTC Class: Report on what you want from class

Behaviors Listed By Two People: Fronts, Stand, Watch/Attention, Calming, Clean Up Toys

Behaviors Listed By One Person: Sits and Downs, Heeling, Finishes, Retreiving, Targeting, Zen, Dog to Dog, Twirl, Paw Cross, Speak, Play Dead, Roll Over.

Goals and comments about other behaviors to include:
4 paws on floor; start comp obedience/rally; use up energy; mainly dog to dog interactions; pay attention to me and not distractions; clicker skills for rally and agility

So I organized these into three tracks, noting some basics that got mentioned that might be needed for some of the more complex behaviors. So I added a fourth track for key basics.

“Good” dog behaviors: calming when excited, dog to dog interactions (watch and zen are basics)

Dog sports and competition: Heeling, fronts, finishes, stand, retrieve, (watch and targeting are basics)

Tricks: clean up toys (retrieve as basic); twirl (targeting as basics); paw cross, speak, play dead, rollover (targeting as basic on last two)

Key basics: watch, targeting, and zen.

So we will focus on these behaviors and use them as we help hone your overall clicker skill.

Wednesday Night 6PM Class--Please Introduce Yourselves Here

Welcome to the students in the new Fall 2008 KDTC Wednesday night 6PM clicker class!! We will have students new to dog training, new to clicker training, not new to dog training, and not new to clicker training, or any combination thereof, in this class. So it is even more important that the instructors, and other students too, get to know each student and their dog. This will allow us to individualize what we do in the class more and meet everyone's needs better.

FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE CLASS ONLY: Tell us your name and your dog's name and well as the appearance, breed or breeds of your dog. Then tell us about you and your dog's experience with dog training generally and with clicker training in particular. Finally let us know some things you are wanting to get out of class. Feel free to share whatever else about yourself or dog that you think is relevant.

So look below and click on the comments link. Type your comment as per the paragraph above in the block that will appear in the right column of the page that will open. Type the verification letters under the block as instructed. Then (if you are not logged into google) check the circle by "name/url" and type in your name and your dog's name. Then either click the orange box to publish the comment immediately or click the blue box to preview it first.

Welcome to the Tuesday Night 7PM Summer Clicker Class of the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club

Welcome to Jean and Cricket, Marissa and Ginger, Jane and Nikki, Janet and Kendra, Barb and Lexie, Sandy and Maddy, Robin and Montana, Laura and Brutus, Laura and Kaylie, and Sarah and Franklin!!!!

Take a look at this blogsite for lots of good information. You might want to note to the side of this post are links to the full Sue Ailsby materials which are partially reprinted in your manual. You have levels 1-3 in the manual, the rest of the levels and some good adjunct materials are at her site. Also tons of good clicker information and supplies are at the Karen Pryor website link to the right. Finally there is a link to the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club website which is the organization that runs the classes at the Fairgrounds.

On behalf of Melissa, Kathy, Ben and myself (Jim)---we invite you to make use of this website during class (and after classa---it is a publically accessible blog for clicker training in Southwest Michigan). You become an active part by "clicking' (with you mouse, not the clicker) on the link at the end of this page labeled "comments", and follow the instructions for posting your comments.

This week we are particularly encouraging two things: First introduce yourself and your dog---tell us a bit about your history with dogs and dog training as well as any experience you have had with clicker training. Feel free to share whatever you think might be relevant for us and other class members (and whatever oather dog related fun information abut yourself too!). Second, ask questions or share experiences from the class, or from the dog training that you do this week. These questions or experiences are often helpful to others. I will make new posts from some of your questions and experiences and we can focus on those issues. Also feel free to respond to other person's introduction or questions.

SO PLEASE POST SOME COMMENTS---MORE INTERACTION MAKES FOR BETTER LEARNING!

Web resources for clicker training for loose leash walking, heeling, and responding to reactive barkers or lungers

At a recent meeting of the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club an idea was floated for trainers to use the monthly meeting program time to share some of their methods with others. The idea was to expose all of us to a variety of training methods. Becki V., Sue H. and myself volunteered to share first. At the May 5th monthly meeting we discussed training methods concerning two issues/behaviors: (1) what to do when dogs are reactive/barkers/lungers at our pet classes and (2) how to teach loose leash walking and heeling. My comments, of course, came from an all-positive clicker perspective. Here I wanted to share more details and resources about the methods I discussed so that those who attended the program (and those that did not) would have access to more information.

I discussed several approaches to teaching loose leash walking and here are the url’s for two articles available on the web that give more information about those approaches:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/541
http://www.clickerlessons.com/looseleash.htm

I also discussed Sue Ailsby’s method for teaching heeling by using moving eye contact:
http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Levels/LevelBehaviours/TL11Heel.html

I discussed preferring to not use much luring at all in teaching heeling and loose leash walking and here is an article discussing using luring vs. targeting (eye or other contact point) for teaching any behavior:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/301 targeting vs luring

I also mentioned building duration which can be used for many behaviors including some aspects of loose leash walking. A common and easy to use method among clicker trainers is the 300 peck method that is discussed in the following article:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1057

In terms of aggressive/reactive/barkers, clicker trainers use knowing your dog and “reading your dogs” as a first step in planning how to clicker train them to resolve this issues and here is more information on that:

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1690

Finally, most everything else that I know and the major ideas among clicker trainers in general come from Emma Parson’s and her book Click to Calm. Here is some general information on the book:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/343

Then here is some information on one of her approaches that I discussed at the meeting:
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/339

Information about clicker training: local and other easily accessible resources

Below is what I gave to my students at the last session of the clicker training class of the Kalamazoo Dog Training class on Thursday May 1, 2008. It has information on the next clicker class--you can obtain a web sign up sheet by clicking on the link for the Kalamazoo Dog Training club on this website. But more than that, I thought readers might find some of the information helpful and I invite anyone to comment on and/or add good resources:

Clicker Training Resource List for Continuing Education

Clicker Classes:
KDTC will be offering clicker again in their next class session beginning in later May (orientation is Wednesday May 21 and class begins Tuesday May 27 at 7PM). We are open for this class to be structured to respond to those beginning clicker training AND those that may already have some experience like you. See the yellow registration sheet we will give out. Melissa and Jim will be instructors again. The exciting news is that Kathy Kass, a very experienced clicker trainer who competes in obedience and agility at the highest levels, will be joining the instruction team!!! This will add some significant experience for instructional purposes, and will be a particular bonus to you all, as Kathy will have many approaches/insights to share with you that you have not yet experienced!
Kalamazoo Kennel Club offers a clicker class that starts at various times during the year. Information can be obtained at the their website: http://www.kalamazookennelclub.com/. Kathy Kass is the instructor this course.

Resources available on-line:
Sue Ailsby’s levels, levels 1-3 reprinted in your manual for this class, are available on-line. You can advance on your own with details instructions using these materials. There are all kinds of helpful materials and links at her website: http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/%20Dog1/levels.html
Karen Pryor’s, a pioneer in clicker training, has the preeminent clicker training organization and a great website with lots of great information. http://www.clickertraining.com/
Other really good websites and listservs where you can ask questions:
http://www.clickersolutions.com/index.html
http://dogscouts.org/clicker.shtml
http://positivepetzine.com/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ClickerSolutions/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/traininglevels/
(the final listerv/group is focused on Sue Ailsby’s training levels)

Books:
A good selection of books and their descriptions can be found at the web store that Karen Pryor’s operation runs:
http://www.clickertraining.com/store/?item=dogtraining
I particularly like Melissa Alexander’s Click for Joy, Book and Smith’s Quick Clicks for good solid understanding of the basics. Spector’s Clicker Training for Obedience is the best for obedience competition training. You can also find clicker supplies at their store including a variety of clickers, touch sticks, etc.

Lastly I hope to try to revive the Clicking Canines in Kalamazoo web site/blog. My hopes is that this can be a source for discussion and information more local to southwest Michigan about clicker training. It has been dormant since early January, but I plan to once again try to re-energize it this summer. PLEASE VISIT THE SITE AND COMMENT!!! Active participants and visitors will make the site work for people doing clicker training in this area.

Reviving this blog site: Summer 2008

As another session of the beginning clicker training class of the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club winds down and my own work life gets easier in summers, I am hoping to revive this blog site. I am hoping to get some guest authors to post here and MOST OF ALL WE NEED READERS TO BECOME ACTIVE AND POST COMMENTS AND WISHES FOR THIS WEBSITE AND/OR INFO OR QUESTIONS ABOUT CLICKER TRAINING!! So post away here: introduce yourself and where you are with clicker training, ask questions, post relevant information, etc. Just use the "comments" link at the bottom of this post.

Welcome to the New Year and A Great Addition to this Website Announced

Welcome to the new year!! I hope this will be an exciting year in our area for clicker obedience training and we are off to a great start with this announcement. Kathy Kass, an experienced clicker training with impressive competition accomplishments, has agreed to be an author for this blog!!! My own relative inexperience with clicker training has to be made up with by my enthusiasm. Well--Kathy has both experience and enthusiasm!! In fact, I think she and one of her dogs recently earned a MACH---the equivalent of an OTCH but in agility instead of obedience competition. Perhaps she will share some about that or other things about training or her own experiences with, and tips about clicker training soon. Welcome Kathy as a "Clicking Canines in Kalamazoo" blog author.

When to begin to put a behavior on cue?--a question from the Thursday clicker class

Sue from the Thursdsay night clicker class at Sherwood greeted everyone in a comment and then asked a question about cues:

Hi everyone!Wit is finally clicking to clicker training! He has started to offer more random behaviors when he doesn't know what I am looking for. He is being pretty cute if I do say so. :) I'm wondering if I should start putting verbal and/or visual cues on his "down" and "back up" at this time as those are his two strongest behaviors at this time. Looking forward to our next class!Sue

Her question is timely as "cues" will be the major topic covered in the "brief lecture" part of the next class session. Book and Smith in their "Quick Clicks" book suggest that the dog first must be doing the behavior in a variety of places and with a variety of trainer body orientations. Second you must be able to predict when the dog will do the behavior. In other words if you are sure the dog will do it and the dog has done in a variety of environment/trainer poses--then you can introduce the cue. Now if you are looking for competition precision you can wait till the behavior is precise or you can introduce the cue and work on perfection post cue. (Some teach a cue and then perfect the behavior and then change the cue to the cue they plan to use in competition).

Just a split half second before, or sometimes as the behavior begins to happen, say the cue or make the hand signal (dog may already associate a hand signal if you lured to begin with--so teach a verbal cue). Then of course C/T (click and treat) when the dog does it. Do this 30-50 times over several days in several locations. Then very occasionally, don't give a cue and when dog does behavior do NOT C/T. Do this only rarely but it can help. What you are really telling the dog is that they get the C/T for doing the behavior BUT only when it is cued. Hence in learning theory terms it is "a cue that reinforcement is available for only one given behavior at this moment in time".

Then what you begin doing is saying the cue earlier and earlier so that the cue preceeds the behavior. You are looking for the dog to begin waiting for the cue--doing nothing until the cue is provided. This, of course, is hundreds of reps after you began the process as discussed in the proceeding paragraph.

Hope this helps--we will go over this in class.

Clicker Expo Registration Open for March Conference

The "Clicker Expo" sponsored by Karen Pryor's operation is an unbelievable event. I went for the first time last year and learned more than I have at any other training event. I also became more fully a clicker trainer there and would not have traded that experience for anything. It is 3 days of workshops and lectures covering a range of topics and has trainers that focus on all canine obedience (e.g. comp obedience, pet class training, assistance dog training, agility, freestyle, etc.). It is by far the best place to learn the theory and technique of clicker training. Also it is a hoot as dogs and their owners take over a hotel for 3 days. Folks are friendly and welcoming too. You can go with or without a dog too. There is one on the west coast in February and the one closest to us is in Lexington KY the last weekend in March. I hightly recommend it. If you want working spots with your dog in workshops, you do need to register soon too--though you learn just as much without a working spot. Information and registration at: http://www.clickertraining.com/clickerexpo/

Current 6:30 Clicker Class at Sherwood Annoucements

Check out the discussion at earlier posts (right now you can get to them by scrolling down but when the page room runs out, you will have to access them to the left on the list). Please join in the discussion.

Remember to bring whatever you want to use as a mat for you dog to go to relax and stay put. We will be working on "go to mat" among other things of course. See you all Thursday at 6:30. Remember too the class is an hour and a half.

KDTC to offer a Clicker Obedience Class in January

The Kalamazoo Dog Training Club will be offering a clicker class in January. Melissa Olivett and I will be teaching it. We have offered it a couple of times before and folks seemed to have really gotten a lot out of it. It was originally designed to be a beginning clicker class but we have always had to adapt it because there has always been a group of more experienced crossover trainers and sometimes experienced clicker trainers. We will do so again for the class in January and try to meet beginners and more advanced folks needs as best we can. The class will be Thursdays at 7 and you can get registration forms and information at the KDTC web site. http://www.kdtc.org/class.html

Question on how much to "help" in teaching backing up

Debbie Hodges (Samoyed and King Charles dogs) wins the award for using the website first--I really like communicating this way and think it can be really helpful for the class going well. Everyone please continue to post comments under the post below this one asking for general quesitons and comments. Comment here for thoughts, questions and experience relevant to Debbie's question and my thoughts as recorded below.

Debbie had an interesting question. She says: "Ruby (the King Charles) has the back up going no problem, Princess (the Samoyed) doesn't have a clue. Could I "invade her space" a little to get her to back up and then click? I bet I would only have to do it a few times and she would get the idea. What do you think?"

Stepping into her to get a few backs initially and C/T (click and treat) those steps back would certainly probably work to get things going. But I am going to suggest, especially for an experienced trainer like Debbie, that she remain patient with the shaping and allow her dog to figure it out one bit at a time. I say this because of the skill building and "clicker thinking" that would go into it for both Debbie and Princess. I can't imagine shaping not working for this behavior. Brenda says it is one of the behaviors she would always choose to shape (maybe she will say why).

What happens when you try it with Princess? Does she stand still waiting? Does she have considerable training in non-clicker methods--waiting is a common crossover dog behavior that needs to be worked through. I would say be sure to get the smallest approximation possible. For dogs that hold still, I would start with clicking any movement at all 3,5, 10 times. Then look for any paw movement (C/T that for a bit) , then look for that back movement however slight (C/T that for bit). Build to a full step back and keep building from there. I focus on back feet just so I can notice it better and see the slightest back movement of those feet. Try to click while the movement is happening not after she stops. Also sometimes it helps to throw the treat behind the dog. Overall, get her offering behaviors when shaping and the back will have to work--she is bound to at least accidentally give some back movement if she is active!

Thursday clicker class--let's hear from you

Post your feedback, questions & experiences with the class and with your training. Click on the comment link below to post. Let's discuss! Some ideas on what might be helpful to discuss before next class session (11-29) are below.

How did class go? Anythings you wanted more or less of? I am thinking of abandoning the powerpoint slides---the class is too big and the screen too small. Let me know if you found them helpful though and I will continue it. I do want to "present" a bit in this class because what I really want is for you to understand clicker methods--once you know the theory, you can figure out how to train almost anything on your own. My goal for the class really is to to teach handlers new to dog training, and/or new to clicker training, a fun and effective method for life-long training that encourages a “thinking” dog that loves to learn.


Did you find Sue Ailsby's levels book on the net ok (link is in the left column of this site near the top)? Please read that introduction first---any questions on that?

Remember to go ahead and work level 1 behaviors even if your dog already knows them. If you dog already knows the behavior you may just find yourself moving very quickly through the steps in the level and then go on to the next level after your dog can consistently do that behavior that is described at the top of each behavior/level section. As you work the behaviors under whatever level--let us know how it is going for you. Please post your problems and questions AND YOUR SUCCESSES, etc!

Remind everyone who you and your dog are when you post. Click the comments link below to join in the conversation. I may take some comments and make them into posts so that we can focus more on discussing some of your comments. Comment often!