I have heard of clicker-training for the first time in 1999 at a convention in San Diego in the United States, the speaker was Donna Duford. (Donna aillleurs which was presented to the Congress in May 2007 in Maisons-Alfort-Paris organized by the SWBM). Its approach to the dog's behavior and the methodology it used to solve behavior problems, clicker-training, seemed so simple that it was difficult to believe that this is possible or at least sustainable.
Back in France, dating, life circumstances made me practice the clicker a few months later, and I was surprised by the calm and serenity that I felt as well as how quickly the dogs learned and responded to learning.
It's been about seven years that I practice and works according to these principles, and I am still amazed at what brings me not so much the method but obviously this approach the dog and communicate with him.
Through this article I will try to explain the basic principles of this educational technique that continues to win more and more educators, lovers and dog owners.
If the clicker-training technique is simple in theory it is not always easy to implement.
It is not easy because the dog is an actor of his learning, which requires the teacher the ability to accept the initiatives of his dog and his freedom to move without finding of disobedience. The notion of hierarchy between dog and man is being questioned and replaced by a desire to learn to master his dog what he wants from him.
The educator is compelled to make a huge job on his perception and understanding of the animal with a perpetual challenge. All this is sometimes long, difficult and is done in stages ...
However, it is simple because it is based on fundamental principles referring to two packages, one being called Pavlovian conditioning and operant conditioning the other.
Classical or Pavlovian conditioning by Ivan Pavlov (1905):
If we trigger a stimulus A (the click) every time the animal responds to stimulus B (the reward), if the animal is capable of acquisition, it will cause a response when the stimulus A (the click) will be presented only. A stimulus becomes the signal for the introduction of stimulus B.
Definition of operant conditioning of Skinner (1938):
The definition of operant conditioning moves away from notions of stimulus / response of Pavlov and proposes a theory of selecting answers obtained following our voluntary actions.
In these voluntary actions, three possible consequences: this action gives me pleasure: I start (building); displeasure: I will avoid (punitive); neutral and void: I forget the (Law of extinction).
The principle of education through the clicker-training is a mix of these two packages.
The clicker is a small plastic box that fits easily in one hand, inside of which was incorporated a metal tab. When we press this switch, a sound, click the famous, is played.
This sound is called a secondary reinforcement is anything that an animal has learned to love.
But for an animal takes pleasure in announcing a secondary reinforcement will require that it be associated with primary reinforcement, which is all that an animal like spontaneously. Always considering that each animal - and this is important - is to be regarded as a unique individual.
- The first step to assimilate and be assimilated to the dog:
When I click, it means that you will have a reward. Technically, and you will have the opportunity to hear, we say that we loaded the clicker.
- The second step is:
If you propose the behavior that was clicked, I'd click again and you would offer a reward. It is from this point we can consider that the dog and the master have incorporated the principle of this method: when the dog offers the behavior again that was clicked to trigger the clicker and when the master click to trigger the proposals of his dog. Technically, we say then that the dog was started clicker.
Which sums to remember that:
From the perspective of the dog: I have the capacity to trigger the clicker offering.
From the perspective of the master: only behaviors that interest me for the objectives set will be clicked.
The various techniques for learning positive:
When we work clicker, we have up our sleeve to three technical methods that we use depending on the year to work and depending on the dog with whom we interact.
For each of these three techniques should be particularly appreciated having a reward the dog to keep the motivation of this work.
These three techniques are:
- THE LURE
This method uses a reward to guide the dog to the desired position. This is the principle of "Where is the head goes the body." The difficulty of the lure is the correct positioning of the rewards that will induce the desired behavior or not.
The lure is often used during the first session to start the dog clicker and bring it to position itself. However, it will think quickly to remove the lure so that the dog offers the performance that was deluded.
- THE SHAPING SHAPING OR
This method is to reward behavior that is very small to the desired behavior or desired by the educator. The difficulty for the educator is to be generous enough to help the dog quickly find what they asked him to stay and precise so as not to lose it in too many directions. This is a very interesting technique because it requires the educator to trust the dog and the dog to focus and think and remember to select behaviors that are clicked.
- CLICK THE DOG BEHAVIOR THAT OFFER BUT SPONTANEOUS
This method is to click any conduct or position that the dog has spontaneously without the master or the educator has exercised influence.
Accessories commonly used clicker-training:
THE TARGETS:
The targets are targets that can teach the dog to touch the leg, snout, or even follow the gaze. The targets are then very useful because it can be placed where you want to see the dog perform a command or move. A target may be a square of fabric, a plastic cover, etc..
The target stick is a wand that can teach the dog to touch and also to follow the tip of the snout. It becomes useful to direct the dog to exercise or during exercise.
What to select and apply:
o Choose a reward especially appreciated by the dog with whom one interacts.
o Every click must be associated a reward even if you think you have clicked unwanted conduct. It does not matter, you will correct later. The important thing is that the clicker does not lose its importance in the dog.
o The click means the dog that's exactly what we expect of him, so the dog will also quickly realize that this also means the end of the sequence.
o What is important is when one clicks. The educator will be more precise in its timing, the dog will most benchmarks.
o Do not be afraid to reward.
o If one is particularly happy with our dog, we can give the "jackpot", which is a very special reward in the eyes of a dog or a greater amount of rewards ...
o Be open to all positive techniques and do not be afraid to use one over another.
o Do not scold the dog because we do not consider that the dog is mistaken or disobeyed, it just has not worked hard enough or the wrong master educator learning techniques, the principle remains the ignorance of unwanted behaviors to strengthen those sought by the educator.
o What is important is not the order issued by the teacher but what is rewarded.
o Do not talk to the dog, however, nothing prevents you then put a word mark on a particular position. However, it was not until the dog has likened the exercise worked and he has spontaneously.
o The leash is never used as a dressing tool, no choke collar and no jerkiness.
o If we want to punish the dogs, we use negative punishment, which leads us to remove the dog what he wants rather than to punish.
o The clicker is not used to trigger a behavior, but positive reinforcement (rewarding) behavior.
There's still plenty to write about the clicker-training, but rather educate his dog or contact him using this method and is rewarding for the master and dog. Clicker-training is an exciting journey into the world of dog, and I hope this article will inspire you to take the first step towards one of the best adventures of communication.
For more information:
http://pages.videotron.com/clicker
http://psychosic.free.fr/acceuil2.htm
Catherine Collignon
October 17th, 2008 at 10:38 p.m.
Catherine thank you for this very clear presentation of the clicker training. I know that this method is used for the education of guide dogs for the blind, so I hope you can tell us more soon!
October 19th, 2008 at 10:05
I attended the introductory training clicker-training of Catherine before going into mediation interventions animal. Beyond a very interesting method, this training was the starting point for a true challenge in my approach to the dog, to communicate with him, respect him. This method also allowed me to develop a range of exercises, postures with my dog and implement them during surgery. I also found that the wealth of exercises that can be implemented is still larger and broader when trying to combine and link to practical techniques for dog training (such as clicker-training) and theories and practices in the field of psychology public. For me, working with the team Resilienfance, for example, I found it interesting to try to develop exercises related to "skills bases" developed by Hubert Montagner.
In the field of animal mediation, I think the collaboration between professionals in medical, psychological and social and professional dog world can be rich when trying to link and combine its experience and knowledge.