[NAGDU] Tapering off clicker

[The Pawpower Pack]

I would suggest that you click at every curb for say, a week, and then go to 9 out of ten, when he is hitting every curb accurately, drop it to 8 out of ten and etc.  Also, if you wear a treat bag, wear it every time, because dogs clue into your intent by watching you and they know that if you always have a treat bag, and that when you don't it means no food.  So even when you are clicking only 1 out of ten, wear the pouch, because he needs to learn that just because the pouch is there, does not ! Any influence over how many treats he gets.  
Also, be very aware of your body language, do you reach for the treat before clicking, cueing him that food is in the offing?  
Good luck! 


 Rox and the kitchen Bitches: 
Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
Pawpower4me at gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 4, 2016, at 7:42 AM, Julie J. via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> My best answer of how and when to taper away from clicker is, trial and error.  That probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but it's been my experience.  I do exactly what you are doing...use the clicker and treats until behavior is established.  Then randomize the c/t to 7 of 10 or two of three or whatever feels like it might work.  Do that for a few days then step back another notch.  Repeat until c/t is gone.  Always offer praise though.
> 
> You can use your tongue against the roof of your mouth to make a click noise if you forget the plastic do-dad.  It's like the sounds kids make when they are imitating a horses clip clop hooves You can also substitute praise for the treat when you are phasing out the clicker.  So maybe the first step is to click every time, but only give a treat 75% and praise only the other 25%.  It might make the transition smoother to keep the click longer and phase out the treats separately.
> 
> Hope that makes a little sense.  I quit coffee and some days I'm just not sure if my ideas make any sense to anyone but me.
> 
> Julie
> Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now available! Get the book here:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
> -----Original Message----- From: Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2016 6:51 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Tracy Carcione
> Subject: [NAGDU] Tapering off clicker
> 
> Krokus likes to creep up to curbs, doors, steps, ..  Occasionally, I've
> tried clicking and treating at downcurbs, which fixes the problem pretty
> quickly.  But then I stop, and pretty soon we're back to creeping up.  So I
> guess I'm stopping too soon, or not randomizing my clicking so he never
> knows when he might get a treat.
> 
> I'm trying to do better this round.  Sometimes I just plain forget to bring
> the stuff with me, but I'm trying to randomize more deliberately than that.
> 
> So, how do I know when I don't need to c&t every downcurb?  Stopping at
> curbs is, after all, a behavior he already knows well; I'm just trying to
> tighten it up a bit.  When he's getting it well, then do I just click every
> other one, or skip every third, or something like that?  How do I know when
> I can stop clicking altogether?
> 
> Tracy
> 
> 
> 
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