[nagdu] Command Warm-ups

Mon May 26 19:39:24 UTC 2014

Kristen,
Clicker training is essentially positive reinforcement training.
Positive reinforcement is simply adding something positive, or
rewarding, to the environment when a desired behavior is performed,
which will ensure the repetition or continued performance of the
desired behavior. This reinforcement, or reward, can be anything
appealing to the trainee, a toy, treats, moving forward, sniffing,
digging, marking, the options just depend on what is rewarding to the
particular student. It has been used for quite some time with training
marine mammals, and is relatively new in the dog training world.
Clicker training involves using a clicker or a distinct sound cue that
communicates to an animal that they have performed a desired behavior,
and that a reward is coming. The clicker is more effective than a
person's voice because it is quick and consistent. A person's voice
can change volume, tone and pitch, but the clicker is a consistent
sound.
This training method is force-free, meaning physical force is not used
at all. To get a dog to perform the desired behavior, you either wait
for it and click, or lure or guide the dog into position using a
target, treat, or toy, then click the dog when they are in position.
You can clicker train just about anyone, and you can use it in just
about every situation. When we taught our dogs in class how to find
chairs, we used clicker training. When I teach dogs basic obedience, I
always use clicker training. When I teach dogs the "leave it" cue or
leash manners, clicker training is my answer. The guide dog schools
that teach it make it seem like it's only a tool for targeting, but
you can use it to teach just about anything you want.
There are a number of books and articles about it. The number 1 source
is clickertraining.com, and also Karen Pryor's books Don't Shoot the
Dog and Clicker Training for Dogs, which are both available on
Bookshare I believe.

On 5/26/14, Kristen via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Tami--
>
> What exactly is clicker training? They're beginning to use it at
> KSDS but didn't yet when I trained around a year ago.
>
> I live in a small town as well, so I know how it takes a little
> extra effort. Yes, playtime definitely helps and gives him a
> chance to release energy.
> --
> Kristen
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tami Jarvis via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Mon, 26 May 2014 11:41:10 -0700
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Command Warm-ups
>
> Kristen,
>
> I do random short basic obedience sessions with the dogs
> throughout the
> day, just asking for a sit and maybe some down or stay, just to
> keep
> them listening to me. If they are not wanting to listen to me
> that day,
> I will do longer more formal sessions and do some sessions in the
> yard,
> etc. Mitzi gets bored with obedience, but my husband's mutt likes
> and
> needs the repetition. Mitzi takes part for reasons of her own,
> and it
> does seem to do something for her work.
>
> With Mitzi guide, I did regular refresher work on one aspect of
> her work
> or other for a year or two after she started working. I use
> clicker
> training, so it was just a matter of reinforcing whatever it was
> I
> picked to focus on. This helped me more than her, I think, since
> it kept
> me focused on her and following her lead. Now it's habit, but it
> took me
> a long time to learn to go with her and listen to what she was
> telling
> me instead of acting like I knew what was going on.
>
> I added a few commands to deal with working situations, like
> "under" to
> get her to go under chairs/tables/whatever. I hadn't thought of
> that in
> her original training, but someone told me about it, which helped
> a lot.
> I also use "stand" and/or a hand gesture when it's time to get up
> and go
> again. She would rather get up and go than lie around waiting for
> humans
> to do whatever they think is so important, so using "stand"
> worked more
> to keep her in place until I was ready for her to go than to get
> her up.
>
> These days, I do refresher training -- which still serves both of
> us --
> on a more or less regular basis. Part of that is because we don't
> get
> the regular meaningful work out here in the small town, so we
> need to
> put in some extra effort to keep our partnership functioning.
> Calling it
> work isn't entirely accurate, though, since it's still just a
> matter of
> paying attention and reinforcing this or that more than usual.
>
> Interactive play also helps our partnership a lot, since it's a
> fun way
> to be listening to each other and responding to each other's
> signals.
>
> hth
>
> Tami
>
> On 05/26/2014 10:19 AM, Kristen via nagdu wrote:
>  Hi everyone--
>
>  How often do you do obedience with your guide, practicing and
> reviewing
>  commands? Also, how long do you spend on it, and what particular
>  commands do you go over?
>
>  When I was in training with Corvette last summer, they had us
> reviewing
>  commands every morning. I've done it sporadically over the
> school year,
>  as I thought he was doing well and had his commands down. Now, I
> began
>  taking him outside every morning for the last few days to warm
> up. I
>  feel there are some commands he could be more familiar with
> (maybe he's
>  forgotten them or just being lazy), and this has seemed to let
> him know
>  that I am in control and not to tug in whatever direction he
> chooses.
>  (For example, if I am walking outside and he sees cars, he will
>  immediately tug that way, wanting to get in one as fast as he
> can to
>  leave. Another thing with Corvette is trying to get him out from
> under
>  things, such as desks, restaurant tables, and out of the car.
> He's
>  become a little stubborn, wanting to stay put when I'm ready to
> leave.)
>
>  If he has forgotten or slacked on a command, any recommendations
> on how
>  to reteach or develop new ones?
>
>  Thanks for any suggestions/input! The school I attended, KSDS,
> has lots
>  of documentation; however, none of which is in Braille or an
> accessible
>  format. I would like to have this, as he is my first guide, and
> we're
>  still getting used to everything. I'm going to a retreat there
> this July
>  to hopefully help us fine tune a few skills.
>  --
>  Kristen
>
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-- 
Raven