Aversive-Free Training

All training offered by Cowichan Canine is based on the latest published science in learning theory and practice. Science has concluded that the use aversives is not conducive to long-term, reliable learning and the fall-out from such training can be severe. Therefore, we do not use pain, fear and other intimidation techniques, such as domination or alpha rolls, or any implements that inflict these, such as choke chains, pinch collars, electronic collars, leash jerks, etc. See: The Problems With Punishment

Reward-Based Training

Instead, we use reward-based training. We set up the training situation so as to make both owner and dog successful – we start each dog & handler team at the level where they are successful and build from there, in small enough steps that we get continued success.

A side-effect of that process is that we get a VERY strong “reinforcement history” on the behaviour, which means that once the behaviour has been trained to the level we want, we can quickly wean the rewards and are then left with a very willing dog and a highly reliable behaviour – IF the student has followed the instructions and done the homework properly!

Rewards are not bribes!

Rewards are given AFTER the learner (the dog) has performed the behaviour we want. That is one of the differences between science-based Operant Conditioning / Positive Reinforcement training and simple luring, or ‘training with treats’.

Positive Reinforcement

This is the same method as has been used to train many thousands of animals for the US National Defense since the second world war, it is commonly used to train dolphins for shows as well as the US Navy Marine Mammal Program, zoo keepers use it to train animals for housekeeping and medical procedures, It is used for guide dogs and other service dogs, and more and more police departments around the world are turning away from force-based training to clicker training, in order to increase reliability of behaviours.

In human training, its application is known as TAGteach (Teaching with Acoustical Guidance) and it has applications in fields as varied as performance sports and teaching life skills to special needs children.

Clicker Training

In dog training, the method is commonly known as “clicker training”. This name can be a little misleading, as the training has more to do with the rules of application than with the little noise maker known as the ‘clicker’.

The purpose of the clicker is to mark the behaviour that we reward, thus making it easier for the dog to understand WHY he gets rewarded. The sound of the click “bridges” the time between the behaviour and the delivery of the treat.

The use of a clicker or other noise maker in our classes is recommended, but not compulsory. Personally, I often use ‘mouth click’, like what people use when they want to encourage horses to move. A verbal marker, like “Yes!” or “Good Dog!” will work, too, although words are commonly not as effective as markers as more distinct noises are.

It has been demonstrated that the use of a non-verbal reward marker can speed up learning by up to 30% (see below) compared to using a verbal marker (like “Yes!” or “Good Dog!”).

The significance of Clicker Training does not lie in the clicker itself, but in the correct application of the science of the Law of Effect and Operant Conditioning, more specifically Positive Reinforcement.

Consequently, just because somebody uses a clicker, this does not mean that they use ‘Clicker Training’.

Clicker Training is not about the noise maker – it is all about the application of the aversive-free method and the science behind it, in order to make learning happen as quickly and as efficiently as possible!

Why should I use a clicker?

“Data from the present study provide strong evidence that the rate of novel behavior acquisition is significantly faster for dogs trained with the clicker bridging stimulus in comparison to dogs trained with the verbal word “good.” Clicker dogs learned the target behavior on average of 20 minutes faster than verbal dogs and required an average of 38 fewer primary reinforcements. Furthermore, this study is the first demonstration of the significant effect of the clicker in facilitating learning of each task within a single behavior. As behaviors are often composed of multiple tasks, the clicker’s impact is considerable not only at the initiation of training, but also in the ease with which animals learn the new tasks that comprise a single, final behavior.”

You can download the full text of this published study here:
Wood_Lindsay_CLICKER_BRIDGING_STIMULUS_EFFICACY

If knowing this and you still prefer to use a verbal reward marker, such as “Yes!” or “Good Dog!”, then that’s perfectly fine.

Whatever kind of marker you use, the method we use in class is still called Clicker Training!