[Deafdogsrule]

I did up a video of a few tricks that I've taught Oliver. also included in the video is a free-shaping exercise, and shaping a new behaviour.

I'll explain the terms for you all.

Free-shaping: is when you have no plan in mind, but capture offered behaviours, and see where that takes you and your dog. I use free-shaping to exercise my dogs' minds, get them to think for themselves. the more often you do it, the more complicated the offerings become. In this video, I put a box on the floor, then sit down quietly and wait to see what Ollie does. I click a couple of nose touches, then he touched a little too enthusiastically, which caused the box to tip over, so I clicked that, and within 5 minutes, I have the behaviour on voice command! This is at the end of the video

Shaping: When you click for progressively complicated parts of a trick. to shape a trick or behaviour, you would first click for any small movement towards the target behaviour, then wait for a behaviour closer to the desired behaviour. eg. shake a paw. first you click for and weight shift, then for a movement of a paw, then for a deliberate lifting of a paw, then you would put your hand in the way of the paw, and click for an accidental touch, then click for a deliberate touch, then for closing your hand over the paw. In this video, I am working on Oliver lifting up a back leg. I noticed when filming an earlier trick that Ollie lifted his back legs funny when backing onto a box, so I decided to shape that into him lifting up a back leg like he's peeing You'll see some of that in this video.

You will also see some already trained tricks, that he enjoys, but were taught for a purpose. (walking around a box with his back feet, while keeping his front feet on the box was taught as the beginning of "get in" and also for hind leg awareness)

You'll also notice that I dont always use food rewards, as Oliver is just as motivated to work for his ball. so a toy motivated dog can be clicker trained as well.

Here's the video, enjoy!
YouTube - Oliver's Tricks #1

[cigwyllt]

Loved your video. Do you mind if I post it on another forum I belong to?

[Deafdogsrule]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

Loved your video. Do you mind if I post it on another forum I belong to?

Nope, not at all! Thanks! I'm glad you liked it

[lange]

I'm so glad you posted this!! It really gives a nice visual of what you've been talking about. It's very impressive. I loved watching the shaping unroll. I have to say you have some patience. I would have clicked away if Oliver were just laying their looking at me with that face. I'm a sucker!!....But seriously, that's so cool, you can SEE the wheels turning in his head.

Wrigley is going to do really good with clicker training. Kuma is another story me thinks!

Keep up the great work & keep the videos coming.

[Deafdogsrule]

You're kinda why I did a free-shaping video (you and other people who've asked me about it) I'm glad you liked it!

I'll def. be doing more videos when I have time.

[lange]

Thank you Sara. I really appreciate it! Seeing it in action makes a world of difference. You look like a pro. How long have you been training this way?

I've just started 'The Thinking Dog: Crossover to Clicker Training'. I'm really excited & CURIOUS to see how each of the dogs will do with it. It's like finding a new cool, toy to tinker with!

[Deafdogsrule]

I've actually only been clicker training for a few years. I started Operant Conditioning with Scout, but I didn't totally switch over to "true" Clicker training until after I adopted Oliver and was looking at ways to help him through his issues and fears. I've read a few books now, and have spent alot of time chatting with other clicker trainers. I've spent TONS of time on Karen Pryor Clickertraining and have read 2 of Karen Pryor's books as well as a book by a student of hers. Karen Pryor basically developed "clicker training" as we now know it. She started with Dolphins in the 60's

Thing I LOVE about clickertraining is it's not species specific... I've even seen a video by Karen Pryor of her clickertraining a FISH! a common Oscar that you find in a pet store...

If done properly, EVERY ANIMAL can be traines successfully using ckicker training... as long as you figure out what the animal wants as a reward.

I find it totally fun, and LOVE teaching silly tricks to my dogs I use it for everything now, even for training manners in my dogs... it truly does work better than anything I've ever done before...

..... I hate to admit it....


.....


but I used to use prongs.......


......


and correction based trainingops:ops:ops:


never again.

[lange]

That is funny about the dolphins! A few days after you first started explaining clicker training to me I was watching a program on dolphins. I was like, "HEY! That's clicker training!" I didn't know Karen Pryor was behind it all. Very interesting! I was going to pick up one of her books but the other one bought me with the idea of incorporating the switch over in the title. I often say my son is an advertisers dream since he can remember & believe every ad he see's. lol I must not be far behind him in a sense. I'll have to get a book of hers later if things go well for us. Any excuse to buy yet another book...

I know I prefer to work with positive dog training although I think I will always be big on loud, verbal corrections in specific instances. It's too ingrained in me. We all find our trial & errors along the way to finding the right niche for us. It would be wonderful if we got everything right from the start. lol

My biggest problem has always been getting the dogs to focus with bigger distractions around without having to use lures. I think I fall too often on bribery there. I'm still trying to find the right formula with that.

[Deafdogsrule]

Originally Posted by lange

That is funny about the dolphins! A few days after you first started explaining clicker training to me I was watching a program on dolphins. I was like, "HEY! That's clicker training!" I didn't know Karen Pryor was behind it all. Very interesting! I was going to pick up one of her books but the other one bought me with the idea of incorporating the switch over in the title. I often say my son is an advertisers dream since he can remember & believe every ad he see's. lol I must not be far behind him in a sense. I'll have to get a book of hers later if things go well for us. Any excuse to buy yet another book...

I know I prefer to work with positive dog training although I think I will always be big on loud, verbal corrections in specific instances. It's too ingrained in me. We all find our trial & errors along the way to finding the right niche for us. It would be wonderful if we got everything right from the start. lol

My biggest problem has always been getting the dogs to focus with bigger distractions around without having to use lures. I think I fall too often on bribery there. I'm still trying to find the right formula with that.

I use treats and toys to teach focus, than phase out the bribes (LOL). bribery works very well at first. I got the amazing focus you saw in the one video with Scout, my first deafie, by using treats. once I got her undivided attn, I was able to teach Scout all that I did. I was teaching Scout rally-o movements, and I could, if I could find a club that allows mutts, compete with Scout. She's brilliant! I find the more positive training I do, the more focus my dogs give me.

But then, getting the focus of a deaf dog is ALOT easier than a hearing dog... My hearing boy, Oliver is much more difficult to train focus! 'Course that could be his reactivity poking in too LOL

[lange]

I can't seem to phase out the bribes when we're out in public. Is it sad or funny that I often then think of Cesar Millan & imagine him telling me it's my energy? LOL I sometimes think it is.

I didn't know that rally o's don't allow mixes. I don't see why it matters if it's a pure or mutt. Really unfair i think. If you can't find one you should think about starting one!

I did have a question to ask you about clicker training before I start with either of my dogs that I'm a little nervous about messing it up. but I'll leave it for another day when im not so tired.

[Deafdogsrule]

Originally Posted by lange

I can't seem to phase out the bribes when we're out in public. Is it sad or funny that I often then think of Cesar Millan & imagine him telling me it's my energy? LOL I sometimes think it is.

I didn't know that rally o's don't allow mixes. I don't see why it matters if it's a pure or mutt. Really unfair i think. If you can't find one you should think about starting one!

I did have a question to ask you about clicker training before I start with either of my dogs that I'm a little nervous about messing it up. but I'll leave it for another day when im not so tired.

There are clubs that allow mutts, unfortunately, the only rally-o clubs here are CKC, and wont even allow me to practice with them (might sully their dogs with my mutt? or show up their perfect purebreds with my deaf mutt) CKC clubs here are very snotty, imo. even the feild dog club wouldn't allow me to train with them with a St. Poodle, when the CKC says they must :shock:

I hope I can answer your question!

[lange]

I can't stand arrogant people. It's unfortunate that there's so many involved with dog associations. In the end it's never really about the dogs, it's about the people behind them & their ego's riding on their dogs. There's a thin line between being a fanatic & being a plain idiot.

I was going to ask you about using clicker training for behavioral issues but I changed my mind. I'm going to stick to my original thought of just using the marker for basic training first. Once I'm more familiar with it, then I'd like to try using it for behavior modification.

I don't know why but I can't seem to sit & read this book for very long..I feel like I have ADD. :/ I'm just going to skip ahead in it or else I might still be sitting with it come next year.