[nagdu] clicker training

Thu Apr 22 19:49:41 UTC 2010

Angie,

I agree with Julie that the precision the books insist on is not an absolute
requirement.  It does help to be precise as possible, and you can do some
really refined behaviors that way, it's the positive reinforcement that
counts for the general behavior.

Using some sort of sound cue does help when you can't see the behavior to
reward it.  Or working close until the behavior is set so that you know when
the dog is on the bed.  A lot depends on the dog, too.  My guess is that
guide dogs in general make connections in their brains more easily than a
more average dog.  They have to have a lot going for them upstairs to get
through the training to begin with, and the demands of the training while
they're young stimulates their doggy brains further.  Just a private theory,
there.  /smile/

In lieu of the precision insisted upon by the books, there's a concept
called "successive (or gradual) approximation."  Well, some of the precise
steps -- click when the paw touches the mat, etc. -- are based on that
general theory, but you can achieve the same ends by being more approximate.

Mostly, of course, it's whatever works for you and your dog.  /smile/  I'm
looking forward to hearing what you come up with.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:55 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] clicker training

Angie,

Some thoughts in no particular order
*put a bell on her collar so you can better track where she is
*practice with a fabric mat on a wood or tile floor, so you can hear the 
difference between her feet on the different surfaces
*practice a lot very close until she has the mat concept solid, then build 
distance

It isn't crucial that you click at the exact instant.  all of the clicker 
books will tell you that it is and it will go much faster the more you are 
able to click the split second that she has done the behavior you want, but 
learning still occurs when you aren't perfect.

HTH
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Angie Giltinan" <rox0805 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:38 AM
Subject: [nagdu] clicker training

> My name is Angie, and I have a yellow lab from GEB.  We were one of the 
> first teams to be trained to use the clicker, and I do like using it.  but

> after doing a bunch of reading, it seems that it's important to click 
> exactly when the dog does the desired behavior, not to late, or to soon.
> My question for all you clicker users out there who are blind, how do you 
> know when your dog does the behavior, for example, I want my dog to go to 
> her place, I can get an idea when she's on the mat, but i can't know for 
> sure, unless I have her on a leash, and am farely close to her and the 
> mat.
> The books say, click when she puts a paw on the mat, I certainly can't 
> tell that very well, so i'd apreciate any thoughts about this.
> Thanks much
> Essence And Angie
> P.S. even my cat is getting in to the clicker action! though he is a 
> glutten, so anything that involves food, he's there!!
>
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