TR CLICKER Final Version

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CLICKER, the new dog training 2011/2012

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GRATITUDES

I want to start giving thanks to all the people who have made possible to have finished my research

project. This research has taught me to understand the improvement of the dog training world.

Firstly, thanks to Rosa M. Galiano, who has been next to me, day after day, reading and rereading,

guiding and supervising me in the research. Now I know a little more about it. I appreciate much her

advice and patience.

Also, a very sincere gratitude to all the people who are involved in the dog world, especially those who

have introduced me into this world. This research project could not have been possible without them.

They have taught me all that I know now about dog training and have always believed in me. Special

thanks to Enric Bruch, my dog instructor, for being always next to me, and to Germn Prez, a local

dog trainer, for the time and good advice given to me and for showing me what we can achieve withdogs. Last but not least, I want to thank Yolanda Alvarez for her constant willing to help me.

I cannot forget about my parents either. They have been very patient to me all the time. Both of them

have accompanied me to the different places for the training sessions and helped me with the

recording of all the videos and with the photos I am including in the project. They have been giving me

constant encouragement and confidence to move forward with the project and never give up.

I also want to express all my love to my two dogs, Iron and Kiss. Without them I could not have done

and proved my research.


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INDEX

GRATITUDES .......................................................................................................................................... 21. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 62. CLICKER TRAINING METHOD ...................................................................................................... 8

2.1 History ..................................................................................................................................... 82.2 The clicker ............................................................................................................................... 82.3 Advantages .............................................................................................................................. 92.4 Disadvantages ....................................................................................................................... 102.5 Expectatives .......................................................................................................................... 102.6 Amazing exercises achieved with the clicker ......................................................................... 11

2.6.1 Basketball ....................................................................................................................... 112.6.2 Tidying up the shoes ...................................................................................................... 112.6.3 Bowling ........................................................................................................................... 112.6.4 Picking up a tissue and closing the bin .......................................................................... 112.6.5 Dancing .......................................................................................................................... 112.6.6 Jumping with a rope ...................................................................................................... 12

3. CONVENTIONAL TRAINING METHOD ....................................................................................... 133.1 History ................................................................................................................................... 133.2 Definition of the conventional training ................................................................................... 133.3 Advantages ............................................................................................................................ 133.4 Disadvantages ....................................................................................................................... 143.5 Expectatives .......................................................................................................................... 143.6 Basic exercises ...................................................................................................................... 14

3.6.1 Walking with the strap slack .......................................................................................... 143.6.2 Sit ................................................................................................................................... 14


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3.6.3 Down.............................................................................................................................. 143.6.4 Calling ............................................................................................................................ 143.6.5 Boreaus ......................................................................................................................... 153.6.6 Aus................................................................................................................................. 153.6.7 Apport ............................................................................................................................ 15

4. PRACTICAL TRAINING WITH MY DOGS .................................................................................... 164.1 Clicker training with Kiss ....................................................................................................... 16

4.1.1 The steps to do the apport............................................................................................. 164.1.2 First Session .................................................................................................................. 164.1.3 Second Session ............................................................................................................. 17 4.1.4 Third Session ................................................................................................................. 184.1.5 Fourth Session .............................................................................................................. 194.1.6 Fifth Session .................................................................................................................. 19

4.2

Conventional training with Iron .............................................................................................. 20

4.2.1 The steps to do the apport............................................................................................. 204.2.2 First Session .................................................................................................................. 204.2.3 Second Session ............................................................................................................. 21 4.2.4 Third Session ................................................................................................................. 224.2.5 Fourth Session .............................................................................................................. 224.2.6 Fifth Session .................................................................................................................. 22

5. TRAINING RESULTS BASED ON MY PRACTICE ....................................................................... 23 6. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................ 267. INTERVIEWS ................................................................................................................................ 28

7.1 Interview to Enric Bruch ........................................................................................................ 287.2 Interview to Germn Prez .................................................................................................... 30


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8. BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................ 329. VIDEOS ......................................................................................................................................... 32


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Kiss is a Golden Retriever of two years old. (see picture 3) I have had

her since she was two months. She is a very charming dog; she loves

people and also playing with dogs. When I am working with her, she is

very attentive to whether I have a reward, some goods or a ball for

playing. She is very active but sometimes if there is a lot of noise or if

she does not know the place where she is she may be a little fearful.

With Kiss I am going to put into practice the apport by using the clicker.

My intention was also to be able to contact with some experienced dog educators like Karen Pryor,

Enric Bruch, Mary Ray and Germn Prez to contribute with their opinion and knowledge to my work.

I have recorded three videos: in the first there are the examples of some exercises achieved with the

clicker, in the second all the training steps I have done with Kiss and the clicker training and at last

there is the third video, where there is all the training steps I have done with Iron and the conventional

training.

At first, my intention was to do my project in Catalan, but as I like languages and I want to study them

in a near future I have finally decided to do it in English. Besides, most of the research in these fields

is done in English, as the USA is a pioneer country.

3. Kiss.


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2. CLICKER TRAINING METHOD

2.1 History

What the dog trainers are calling clicker training is an application ofbehavior analysis that was initially invented and developed more than

thirty years ago, by Keller Breland, Marian Breland Bailey, and Bob

Bailey. They are marine mammal trainers who use conditioned

reinforcers, usually the sound of a whistle, to train whales, dolphins,

seals and polars bears. The concept was first brought to marine

mammal parks and to U. S. Navy dolphins trainers in the 1960s by

Keller Berland, a graduate student of B.F. Skinner. Skinner was a

psychologist who did a studied of the instrumental conditioning (see

scheme 5) which is called Skinners cage. Breland called the whistle a

bridging stimulus, because, in addition to informing the dolphin that it

had just earned a fish, the whistle bridged the period of

time between the leap in midtank and swimming over to

the side to collect ones pay. Clicker training is based on

the same principles.Gary Wilkes and Karen Pryor put on

all these theories writing the book Don't Shoot the Dog.

Whith this book was when this method began to pop to

the majority training animals as chickens, horses, cats,

dogs etc. This training method is quite unpopular because

it is quite new and some people do not know it already.

2.2 The clicker

The clicker is a mechanical device with a metallic tongue which sounds like a loud click. There are

two types of clickers: the traditional one (see picture 6), that is a box and we press directly onto the

metallic tongue and the i-clicker (see picture 7), when we press a button which makes the sound.

5. Behavioral theory: operant condtioning.

4. Burrhus Frederik Skinner

7. I-clicker6. Clicker with metalic tongue


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Being the sound of the click fast and precise the problem of imprecise synchronization is

avoided. Clickers allow a fast click response so the behavior is "marked." The clicker sound is

distinctive and is used only to mark right behavior, unlike voice responses. Thus, the dog

connects the click to the immediately preceding behavior, which makes training much faster.

It works on the majority dogs. For most dogs, learning how to get rewards without concern for

punishment is enjoyable. With shy, timid or fearful dogs, clicker training is calm and clear and

allows the dog to learn without stress.

A relationship based on positive responses grows more positive. Concentrating on desired

instead of undesired behaviors removes fear of punishment and allows the dog to respond

with enthusiasm. Dogs are fearful when being trained may evoke anger, guilt or other

negative emotions in the owner. Fear of punishment does not increase the bond of the dog to

the trainer. Clicker training creates a response that is relaxed and helps have a positive bond.

Demonstrations, research and video documentations prove that clicker training works with

chickens, dolphins, cats, dogs and even people. Although many other training methods also

work, training in a positive way, without punishment gives clicker training clear advantages

over other methods, as we will see later in the dogs trainings.

2.4 Disadvantages

Some of clicker training disadvantages are the followings.

The animal can have hearing problems to listen to the clicker, in this case we can use a

scoreboard like lights but it is not as effective as clicker.

The clicker is merely one way to train a dog. Eventually, the dog should obey orders without

the clicker. Some dogs become conditioned to the clicker and will not obey verbal commands.

Once your dog begins regularly responding to the clicker, gradually stop using it. You do not

want to have to carry a clicker around with you at all times.

It can be difficult to hold treats, the clicker and maybe a leash all at the same time. A clicker

must be used with good timing, meaning you must click the instant your dog obeys. A delay

caused by juggling several objects will undermine the method and will not work so good.

2.5 Expectatives

Seeing what I have been researching, the result expectations for my research will be that: Kiss, the

dog trained with clicker is going to learn more quickly the apport and it is going to work better than the

other dog, Iron is going to be trained by the conventional training, only with game and orders.


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2.6 Amazing exercises achieved with the clicker

As I quoted already clicker is a very good device to train fantastic exercises with the dog. Viewing

Duna, Gernns dog and Marys Ray show I can realised what kind of activities we can raise with a lot

of constant and training with the clicker. I also observed that in some exercises the clicker had

disappeared and they did not give the reward until the end of the activity because they have pasted

some exercises one after the other. I am going to explain some of these exercises below:

2.6.1 Basketball

In this exercise the dog has to catch a ball which is thrown by

someone, catch it, go to the basketball and dunk it. This activity is

called basket. (see picture 7)

2.6.2 Tidying up the shoes

In this exercise the dog has to catch the shoes tidy up in their case and

finally close the case. This activity is called dentro and later

tanca.(see picture 8)

2.6.3 Bowling

In this exercise the dog has to catch a ball and throw it over the bowls

to tomb them, later it has to tidy up the ball to the place where the dog

has taken. This activity is called tira.(see picture 9)

2.6.4 Picking up a tissue and closing the bin

In this exercise when the owner says the order achoo the dog has to

bring the owner a tissue (see picture 10) and then when the tissue is in

the bin the dog has to close it. The later exercise is called toca.(see

picture 11)

2.6.5 Dancing

This activity consists of playing on music during some exercises. The

music and the exercises are coordinated between them. They are

simple exercises but the owner and the dog have to be much

coordinated. The orders of these activities are done by the owners

signals. The most famous person involved in this activity is Mary Ray.

8. Duna tindin u the shoes

7. Duna dunking a ball

10. Duna takin a tissue

9. Duna bowling

11. Duna closing the bin


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3. CONVENTIONAL TRAINING METHOD

3.1 History

Working dogs have always learned to obey commands related to the work that they historicallyperformed. In the twentieth century, formalized dog training originated in military and police

applications, and the methods used largely reflected the military approach to training humans.

3.2 Definition of the conventional training

The conventional training is a method to train dogs

based in the four paradigms (see picture 15): positive

punishment (punish), negative reinforcement (leave

punish), positive reinforcement (reward) and negative

punishment (leave rewarding).

With this method we use the choke collar (see picture 16), which is too

complete and rather difficult to execute because the trainer has to do four

actions, the four paradigms very fast and at the exact moment. The

conventional training can be used for obedience and it is so effective in solving

problems like aggressive dogs, fears, anxiety, dominance, hierarchy,

sociability.

The orders given are in German so as not to make the dog get confused with daily order because with

this training every time we say an order the dog has to do it because if not then we go back

approximately fifteen steps to what we had worked before.

3.3 Advantages

Dog training collars are a way of teaching pet dogs by correction. Just like a mother dog's fast

and timed corrections, the dog training collar works with the same results. Training your pet

dog with a collar needs proper preparation and research on training mechanics.

We established a hierarchy which the dog learned that we are the leader of the pack so it will

do the order that we desired in any circumstance.

The dog will do the exercise desired in anywhere because the place does not conditioned it.

15. The four aradi ms

16. Choke collar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_doghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_traininghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policehttp://www.pet-super-store.com/pet-supplies/dog-training-collars/http://www.pet-super-store.com/pet-supplies/dog-training-collars/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_traininghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_dog


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3.4 Disadvantages

Invented with good intentions though, training collars end up being misused by people. Misuseof dog training collars can do harm to dogs.

3.5 Expectatives

With this method I expect to work more slowly than with the clicker because the process is longer but

this method will surely work in any circumstances and in any place because we order the dog to do the

exercise. That is to say, every time we order the exercise the dog will do it.

3.6 Basic exercises

3.6.1 Walking with the strap slack

In this exercise the dog has to walk next to the owner without

drawing. The dog cannot exceed the left leg. The order we are going

to use is Fuss (foot). Every time we say the order and the dog is

not doing it we have to draw and put the dog next to us. We can

achieve that the dog does a good Fuss without any strap. (see

picture 17)

3.6.2 Sit

This order is called sitz(sit), to do this exercise we will say the name

of the order and after that we will put the strap and the collar with

ninety grades. If the dog does not sit, we can fit a little the dog. With

this method we can achieve that while running with the dog, it will sit

down when we say sitz.(see picture 18)

3.6.3 Down

To do this order we have to say Platz (place) and step on the strap at

the height of the neck. With this order, while running with the dog we

say Platz and the dog lies down.(see picture 19)

3.6.4 Calling

To practice this exercise the most recommended is to have the dog in

sitz or in Platz positions and then with a large strap we call it and

trend the strap over us. With constant work we can achieve to call the

17. Walk with the strap slack

18. sitz

20. Calling

19. Plaz


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dog in any situation. (see picture 20)

3.6.5 Boreaus

With this exercise we instruct the dog to run in the opposite

direction to us and then we give it the order of Platz. (see picture

21)

3.6.6 Aus

With this exercise the dog has a motivator in the mouth and it has to lay the motivator when we say

the order aus.

3.6.7 Apport

Consists of having the dog in sitz position on the left part of thetrainers body. The dog does not

move until we do not say the order apport, a sort of wooden headpiece, and throw it for the dog to

go after. Once I have said the order, the dog brings the apport in my hands.

Over the years it has been quite difficult to do this exercise with the conventional method because

the experts tried to punish the dog and it got frustrated and did not want to do the exercise, but

nowadays we know that this exercise has to be done with game to motivate the dog so it would like

to do the apport.

21. Boreaus


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4. PRACTICAL TRAINING WITH MY DOGS

4.1 Clicker training with Kiss

4.1.1 The steps to do the apport

4.1.2 First Session

In order to work with clicker the first thing I have to do is to load the clicker. This process involves

throwing a handful of pieces of food (the reward) that in my case will be a hot dog. Every time the dog

opens the mouth to eat one I have to click. It is important that I click with every piece and just before

the dog eats it. With this process the dog learns that after every click I do she will have a reward, a

piece of hotdog. This exercise is also done to know that the dog likes the type the reward you are

giving to it. If the dog does not like, I will have to change the reward because the dog has to be very

motivated. As I have already said previously, there are two kinds of reward: food and game. I have

chosen food because with food the dog is more concentrated than with game, with the game they get

1. Load the clicker

6. The dog has to bring it5. The dog has to catch it4. The dog has to touch

the apport

7. The dog has to put it in

the hands

2. The dog has to look at

the apport

3. The dog has to run over

it


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more excited and active so they could not concentrate so much.

Kiss responds to this exercise very well. She is very fast to eat each piece and I have to click very fast

too. I have done it two times with fifteen pieces every time. Kiss loves food and specially hot dogs, so I

do not have to change the reward. I am very happy with her and I am very motivated with the

research.

Once I have loaded the clicker, we can start doing the exercise we want to do, the apport. To start this

exercise, the first thing I have to achieve is that Kiss looks at the apport. It is a small step but the

clicker consists of going step by step approaching more over the final objective. Kiss goes directly over

the apport to touch it. Every time Kiss looks at the apport or touches it I click because what I want to

achieve is that Kiss gets to understand that she has to work with it and not with another object. I have

done this step four times since Kiss understands it.

The next step is to get Kiss catch the apport with the mouth. What I have to do is to wait that she

catches it because she wants it. I cannot say any word and I cannot do anything following the clicker

guidelines. The dog has to think. Kiss has spent ten seconds touching the apport but finally she has

caught it. However, the next time Kiss has cracked the apport in spite of catching it. Like before, I have

to wait that Kiss catches the apport right. I have been repeating this step thirteen times because she

has cracked the apport. The first problem I find with the clicker method is that Kiss cracks the apport a

lot. To avoid this, I have not clicked when she had done it and if she has been cracking a lot of time I

have removed the apport and I have thrown it another time. I think Kiss cracks it because she likes

playing with the apport a lot and with the clicker training what we want is to work with the apport like a

normal object just to bring it to me and not for playing.

This problem has appeared because the clicker is a positive training method and in this case Kiss

likes more cracking the apport than the hot dog, so obviously she does what she loves and the clicker

decreases its efficiency.

After Kiss knows that she has to catch the apport she has to learn that she has to bring it to me. To do

this step, I have thrown the apport further. I am happy with Kiss because she has done it quite well.

That is to say, Kiss has taken it but at half way returning to me she has lied it down. It is very important

to click when the dog is coming and not when she drops the apport. The sixth time I did this step Kiss

put the apport in my hands. It is difficult for the dog to put the apport in the hand and with the clicker at

the first season the dog has put it two times, so I am progressing a lot. I think that with another season

or two more seasons the exercise will be finished.

I have done all this work in six minutes and with six minutes Kiss was so tired that she had the tongue

out. Yet, she was psychologically tired not physically.

4.1.3 Second Session


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4.1.5 Fourth Session

As the last season took place in a different place I thought that Kiss is conditioned with the habitual

place where we train, so I have decided to change the place every time I train. This season takes

place in my yard.

My expectative with this season is to solve the problem of Kiss not giving me the apport in the hands. I

have clicked when Kiss had the apport in the mouth and I have caught it until the apport has touched

the floor. The first time I have achieved it and I have been practicing lots of time to ensure that Kiss

has learned it. This season is the first time in which Kiss does not know what to do when I give the

order. Two times Kiss stays still without doing anything only thinking. Ever it is good that dogs do it.

When Kiss knows well how to give the apport in the hands I introduce the exercise in the sit position

and end it too. At the beginning I have problems to hold Kiss still but in the end I have no problems.

This season is the longest one until now, as we have worked over thirteen minutes but when I finished

the dog was with a lot of energy. It was incredible!

4.1.6 Fifth Session

This last season takes place in my garden. At first Kiss is reviewing it but at last she decides to be

concentrated and work.

In this season I do not work on anything in particular. I do only the complete exercise five times to

make sure that Kiss has understood it well. At first she makes some mistakes, like she doesnt give me

it in the hands or cracks the apport a little, but as soon as we have fixed these problems fast, she has

done all the exercise good.

I have finished the apport with the clicker training and Kiss has responded to all quite well and we

have had a good time doing


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4.2 Conventional training with Iron

4.2.1 The steps to do the apport

4.2.2 First Session

To train the apport with the conventional method first I have to practice another exercise that I need

during the apport. This exercise is called aus and it means leave/drop in German. This exercise is

very simply. I have to play with my dog with a motivator and when the dog is so excited I have to say

the order aus and incentive with the choke collar until he drops it. It is important to leave the dog look

forward to the game every time we do this exercise. That is to say, the dog starts with a motivation and

during the exercise this motivation goes up so we have to stop doing the exercise before the

motivation goes down another time.

1.Aus

2. Playing with the motivator 3.Bring it with the strap 5. Aus with the motivator

9. Aus with the apport8. Sit with the apport7. Bring it with the strap6.Playing with the apport

4. Sit with the motivator


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This practice is much more slowly than with the clicker, as I have to repeat lots of time the same

exercise. Iron is doing it well but we are more advanced with Kiss and the clicker.

4.2.4 Third Session

I start this season in the sit position, with Iron more relaxed to achieve that he can do the exercise

correctly in the beginning. I suppose that as I have not motivated him, Iron has not come to bring me

the motivator. Therefore, when he has come instead of finishing the exercise I have played with him to

motivate him more. When I thought he was motivated enough I said the order sitz and after aus.

He takes his time to bring the motivator but he finally does.

I start another time the exercise with the dog in the position of sitz and I throw the motivator. This

time he brings me the apport but he stays in a distance of a meter so that I cannot touch it. As it is not

the first time he does, it is becoming a problem. The solution is to tie the motivator and pull it over the

meter he does not want to come to or to increase his desire of coming to us to play, which is what I will

do in this season.

As I have been practicing a lot with the motivator, I have solved the problem and Iron does all the

exercise quite good. I think it is time to change now the motivator for the apport. So I do the same

work with the apport and the results are that Iron starts playing with it alone and does not give me any

attention, so I fight a little with him with the apport in my hands and I finish the season rather

frustrated.

4.2.5 Fourth Session

As I have seen that Kiss does not work in another place that it is not the first place we have practiced,

I change the place with Iron too, to see if with him it will occur as well or not.

In this season to work with the apport is so good. The only problem I have had is that with the apport

Iron has not come the latest meter so I had to tie it. This solution has worked out very well, I have

done it four times and Iron has done the exercise perfect. I am very proud of him.

The last time we have practiced today was with the apport untied and Iron has done it well. We can

see that Iron has worked as well as is the other place we started practicing, so Iron has not been

conditioned by any place.

4.2.6 Fifth Session

This last season took place in my garden. At first I motivated Iron, and then I prove the exercise with

the apport lied to make sure that he done it well and next we did all the exercise: he did it very well. I

have practice the apport seven times and all of them Iron did it good. I have finished the apport with

the conventional method and it has worked very well and I have learned a lot and Iron too.


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5. TRAINING RESULTS BASED ON MY PRACTICE

In order to reach some conclusions for my research I have divided my dogs training sessions into

three practical parts, which I summarize below.

In the first part I have planned an exercise to practice a little with the clicker and have fun with my dog.

The exercise worked out very well and I have learned how to think like a dog to teach an exercise in

the easiest way. Now I can say that a dog can learn difficult exercises whenever we can divide them in

easy parts that include simple exercises.

In the second practical part I have proved the clicker training by doing an exercise with the apport, an

exercise that we can do with any other method, too. Here we can see that the clicker is a good method

to train but there are some exceptions with some commands (in my case at the end of the exercise

with the apport the dog does not sit down and with others methods we can accomplish it)

After practicing with the clicker I can conclude that this method depends a lot on the educator. This

has to be a professional to do a perfect exercise because, as I have said before, it is very important to

click at the exact moment to do the dog understand the exercise well. It is indispensible to be calm,

concentrated, motivated to work and to learn and obviously willing to have a great time with the dogs.

In the third practical part I have worked with my dog Iron using the conventional training to compare it

with the clicker. I have done the same exercise with the apport and the dog has done the exercise

well.

Seeing all the work done with my dogs I can conclude that:

At the beginning of my research project my expectations were that the clicker training would

work better and faster than the conventional method. However, the obtaining results are that

with the clicker method the dog learns quickly but we have some problems, for example Kiss

was distracted in many places or it cracked the apport, because it is quite difficult to click at

the exact moment we have to, whereas with the conventional training we have to repeat more

the steps but we do not have so many problems. It took more or less the same period of time

to do the exercise with the two methods and both of them are equally effective.

The clicker method works well, but as it is based in the operant conditioning when we practice

we have to be cautious because Kiss has been conditioned by a place to work and she did not

work at the beginning in any other place, only at the conditioning one. Thus we have to

change the location sometimes to ensure that the dog is not being conditioned.

With the conventional training we do not have this problem, because the dog will obey us in

any place because that is not a conditioning method.


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At the beginning I wanted to try the clicker method with an aggressive dog, but I decided to do the

training with my two dogs. I must say that the clicker is not a valid method to work with all breeds of

dogs and especially with genetically aggressive dogs, since their behavior cannot be changed with the

clicker because their motivation to have to fight to other dogs is stronger than the motivation of the

reward of the instrumental conditioning, that is to say, the clicker. There is some research on the

clicker done with dogs that are aggressive because they have fear. In this case, the conduct of them

can be fixed with the clicker, because these dogs do not want to fight for pleasure if not of fear and to

work with the clicker can extinct this behavior.


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6. CONCLUSIONS

We all know that there is always a strong bond between the owner and the dog. Dogs can form new

bonds with humans at any stage of their life. For instance, a dog, which has moved to a training centreto be trained for a specific purpose, once trained it will begin working with its owner. Such a dog has

spent time with different humans, all of whom have established a bond with the animal, but the closest

bond will be formed with the last human in the chain, its owner.

Therefore, a dog-owner must have a good understanding of the canine mind and a responsible

behavior, especially in training. I think this is the basic foundation for a strong bond. An abusive owner

may have a dog which is often quite obedient, but through fear and this is not what we would call a

bond, it is merely a respect of position which all dogs possess.

Having said that, one of my goals during all the training sessions with my dogs, Kiss and Iron, has

been to make my dogs be obedient through fun and positive rewards either with the clicker training

technique or with the traditional one. I have tried real behaviors with my two dogs and seen how the

clicker and the traditional training techniques work.

All the expectations with the clicker training were promising but I wanted to put them into practice and

this is what I did with Kiss. I can state now at the end of my sessions that the clicker is a very powerful

reinforcer of behaviors and as I prefer to work on a positive rather than a negative system I think the

clicker is a good system to move on to obedience. The concept is simple, you only click if the dog

does what you wanted it to do. If the desired behavior is not achieved, no click, no treat. If the dog

does the desired behavior, click and treat. It is just that simple.

I was very glad to be working on the clicker training technique because despite all the repetitive

training tasks my dog thought we were playing, when in fact it was working. I have discovered that

there are many commands I can use with the clicker. It can be used for many everyday activities, in

fact. There have also been some failed commands during the sessions, of course, but with failed

commands I had to rethink what I was asking the dog and if the command was too complex or the dog

just did not seem to be interested in that particular thing I was working on. Then I tried and changed it.

There are times when obviously the command is not going to work at a particular moment. It

happened to me with Kiss, but changing to something else does not mean that I have failed, it just

means for that moment it was not working. I have learned to move on to refine what I wanted to do

and get closer to the final desired result. With the clicker you shape the behavior until you get the final

result that you wanted.


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I have to admit that the clicker training has attracted me since the beginning because it deals with the

relationship dog-owner from a totally different point of view. The clicker training is based on the

achievements and not the mistakes. It is based on the solution, not the problem. The clicker method is

centered on training the desired behavior and reinforcing it, instead of punishment. To most dog

trainers, the clicker training is not a training method, it is quite a philosophy: to reinforce what is good

and not to pay attention to what is badly done, to divide the tasks into little steps and reinforce each

small achievement.

I wanted to train my dog for obedience, but the result is that I have been having good time doing it and

that I am happy with my dog behavior. My dog Kiss was motivated all the time with the clicker, awaiting

to guess what I would make her do when I pressed the clicker device. She was in the mood of playing

with me and the clicker.

I have also trained the traditional training technique with my other dog, Iron. In fact, today, there are

many trainers who still use traditional methods. They are still based on the same methods first

developed more than 60 years ago, and have not been adapted to current knowledge of behavior

problems in dogs.

With all, I have seen that the trainer has also success with this type of training, but probably because

the punishment methods suppress behavior. In fact, I have achieved everything I wanted to do with

Iron with the traditional method, too. However, this method may have some risk: if a trainer continually

uses corrections or repeatedly increases the level of correction in order to get the command (such as

switching to aversive choke collars), causes injury to the dog, or causes the dog to scream in pain or

fear, the dog is not learning and is not being trained.

Summing it up, many of the professional trainers who originally learned through the use of traditional

methods have switched to the use of positive reinforcement methods such as the clicker. If the same

level of accomplishment can be achieved using positive methods, why not try positive methods first? I

would recommend to train your dogs with the clicker training as I have learned a lot about the dogs

and I have had a great time with them. Besides, this training method is especially effective to do

abilities with dogs.

At last, I want to say that the dog world is a big and complex one and that there are lots of opinions

and theories regarding training methods for obedience. I think that the best is to be willing to learn and

have good fun with the dog and choose, depending on the type of dog you want to train, the most

appropriate method, in which both the trainer and the dog feel confident and happy and form a strong

bond.


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7. INTERVIEWS

7.1 Interview to Enric Bruch

Enric Bruch (see picture 30) was initiated in the world of the dog in 1982.He is the author of the book Manual del gos de rescat per rastre amb el

mtode Ercbuli This book is based on the positive training. He is the

manager and the trainer of the group of research and salvation of the Red

Cross. He is the teacher in the Reial Societat Canina de Catalunya and at

his fields training Els tres pins located in Balsareny.

What does it mean that the clicker is a positive training?

A positive training is the training without any punishment, that is to say, we cannot say the word no in

the clicker training and we cannot scold the dog. We have to reward every good behavior. The clicker

is a stimulus to tap, which means that the dog has to do what we want and after every click we have to

give the reward, the award can be game or food.

Is the clicker the best method to educate a dog?

It depends on the activity we want to do. To train a dog is one of the best methods but it is not unique.

The clicker training is the best method to educate all therapies dogs and to do abilities. However, to

train a dog for the everyday life, that is to say, that the dog have a good behavior at home and at every

day walking depends on the external stimuli that the dog received. If the dog likes more the external

stimuli, then the clicker stops working when the external motivation is above the reward motivation.

What types of relationship we have with the dog when we are training with the clicker?

We established a very narrow relationship and from the point of view of affective relationship is better

than a relation that we can established with another conventional training. This relationship is over

because the dog is more relaxed because it never thinks that we are going to scold so it is very quiet.

How we can know the difficulty of the exercises?

It is difficult to do a rating. At first when we want to do an exercise we will see the work we are going to

have. Depending on the exercise we want to do it will have previous exercises; a base we can work

with. There are obviously some exercises which initially you can see they will be difficult to face with.

Sometimes there are dogs that for example to catch an object will be easy for them because they are

likely to catch objects but there are other dogs that will have more difficulties because they would

touch the object but they would not catch it at all. Therefore, saying that one exercise may be difficult

for all the dogs is false because it is going to depend on the kind of dog. For example, to stay on two

legs with a small and agile dog will be easier that doing it with a big and heavy dog.

30.Enric Bruch i Rabat


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What is the difference between the classic conditioning and the operant conditioning, the clicker?

Classic conditioning is an answer that the dog cannot control. For example, Pavlov was a Russian

psychologist who was awarded the Nobel prize in Physilology or Medicine in 1904. He was the first to

describe the phenomenon now known as classical conditioning experiments with dogs which

investigated that a dog cannot control salivation, when he is shown food the dog gives a salivation

answer. In the operant conditioning the dog can control the answer because it can decide to do or not

the exercise. In both types of conditioning, after the desired response of the dog we have to give a

reward to the dog. Classic conditioning can solve frightened problems and all kind of things.

When has the clicker started?

Clicker started with the dolphin training, form here it has been evolved with different animals and

people. Zoos, for example are using clicker for getting blood from lions and other animals. The lion

puts its head near the bars in its cage and after every injection shot the zoo vets click and give the lion

a reward. It is a gadget that works quite well.

How do we have to do to realize an apport with the conventional training?

Apport is an exercise which involves game and a little bit part of obligation, so if the dog does not like

playing it is not advising to use it because it is not going to work.

One starts playing with the dog with a motivator. You run after him, he escapes, he is in movement

because you play with him At the moment the dog starts coming with you to fight with it start to work,you throw it and the dog comes to fight. The problem is that the last meter the dog never comes at all,

then you have to tie the dog and with the rope you come in tight to the dog, then you fight and you let

the dog run another time and the dog understands the game of fight and run. Then you introduce the

order sitz and after the aus (exercise done before starting the apport). The last step is when the

dog stays in sitz position next to the owner, then he brings the apport when the owner says and

brings it in the hand. One time the dog learns it with the motivator we have to change it to the wooden

apport.

What is the pure clicker?

The best stage to work with the pure clicker is when dogs are puppies because the pure clicker consist

of clicking to every behavior the dog does on his own and once we have all the behaviorism rewarded

we stop clicking in the bad behaviors, the ones we do not want to be done by the dog.


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7.2 Interview to Germn Prez

Germn Prez (see picture 31) is an educator entitled by Reial Societat

Canina de Catalunya. He loves dogs and learning about them. He has two

dogs, Sean and Duna, with opposites characters, so he knows different

methods of training because he is practicing with them. With Duna, a Boxer

female of 6 years old, he does lots of activities with the clicker.

What is for you the clicker training?

The clicker training for me is an alternative to the classical training in which you can teach some

abilities to the dog and some curiosities to entertain yourself and entertain the dog and at the same

time improve and confirm some behaviors.

What it is basic in a positive training is to be calm and not to get nervous. If the dog fails an exercise

we can leave it for another day.

What are your objectives working with a positive training?

My objectives are to confirm behaviors that are of my interest and that the dog has very clear and to

do it by means of the positive reward. I think it is much effective to do certain abilities that at the same

time they are sometimes used to have a little bit more of control over your dog without punishment,

only rewarding.

Where and when did you know first about the clicker training?

I first knew about it at the training field of Balsareny Els tres pins through Enric Bruch who over 2007

he started to talk about it and started practicing too.

How much time do you dedicate to work with your dog Duna?

Well, I always have to combine it with my everyday life. So it goes by stages, there are some stages in

which I work a lot and there are some in which I work less or nothing but we could say that twice a

week and in short periods of time.

Could you explain how you organize the exercises to be easier to learn?

First of all, I think about the exercise, an exercise of a level appropriate for the dog, which could be

easy to understand. I always think about the exercises from lowest to highest difficulty and after that I

try to tie the exercises between them considering that they are similar. For example I start with all the

exercises with balls and I take them out slowly.

To do a good organization of an exercise it is essential to think like a dog, to see what is difficult or

easy.

31. Germn Prez Paz


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Do you think that the clicker is the best method to train a dog?

I do not think that it is a unique method, as the clicker is a signal that links the action of doing the right

exercise by the dog with the arrival of the reward. That is what motivates the dog, but if one day the

reward is of a lower interest than going to play with another dog or anything else, of course this is

when this method ceases to be effective on the dog. So I think that it is good to have a good basic

obedience done by obligation and after that we always can add the training clicker.

As you use the conventional training with your dog Sean, do you notice some difference in the

relationship owner-dog when you are working with them or at home?

Beyond everydays life working I do not feel any difference, the two dogs are awaiting for me, I see

them happy, I feel that they love me, they want to be with me and they want to play, etc. I do not think

that any dog has any trauma at all or they are unmotivated for anything.

At the time of doing exercise I do not feel anything either because Duna works with food and Sean

with game so they like their reward. I have encouraged the qualities of each dog with their interest.

Concerning aggressive dogs, do you think that it is effective to deal with them with any training

method?

First of all, we always have to see and study why the dogs have aggressive behavior towards other

dogs. First, we have to know the reason and from here we have to establish a work plan to improve

this conduct or behavior. If at the beginning there is not a factor that is conditioning this behavior Ithink that any training can be valid studying the reaction that may have the dog, If we notice an

improvement it means that we are on track and of course we can continue working in this way but if

we do not improve we can try to work with another training. What I think is that what is important is the

result and this will always depend on the type of the dog and the type of the reason the dog has for

that behavior, but if we have a good result the training we have done is effective.

What level do you want to achieve with each training?

I have never thought about that before. What I want is to progress every day a little bit more and try,

above all, to learn a lot about my dog and me, so I do not have any goal.

What I think is interesting to do is that each owner thinks about which method or methods with his dog

is the best, as I am not a supporter to one single method, What is important is not to hurt the dog

physical or psychologically and to study always what type of dog you are training and what method.


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8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Valeria Rossi, 2006. El Pastor Aleman. Editorial De Vecchi, S. A. U. Barcelona

Karen Pryor, 2002. Dont shoot the dog The mew art of teaching and training. Ringpress books.

Gloucestershire

Mary Ray and Justine Harding, 2006. Haz de tu perro una estrella con el clicker. Kns ediciones S.C.

Santiago de Compostela

Josep M.Arn and Manuel Gell, 2009. Psicologia. Editorial Teide SA. Barcelona

On-line documents

Mary Ray. Clicker training. [on line]. Abaible at: [Accessed: 15 July

2011]

Ourblogtemplates, 2008. The clicker training dog. [blog]. Abaible at: [Accessed: 27 July 2011]

Demand Media, inc., 1999 Dog clicker training. [on line]. Abaible at: [Accessed: 18 September 2011]

B.F Skinner Foundation, 2005. A Brief Biography of B.F. Skinner. [on line]. Abaible at: [Accessed: 29 October 2011]

Wikipedia, 2011. Clicker. [on line]. Abaible at: [Accessed: 4

Novemeber 2011]

Anglia Ruskin University, 2011. Harvard system of referencing guide. [on line]. Abaible at: [Accessed: 2 January 2012]

Hound dog drule, 2012. Obedience training. [on line ]. Abaible at: [Accessed: 6 January 2012]

9. VIDEOS

Amazing exercises achieved with the clicker, 2012. [video] Directed by Ainhoa Nocete. Barcelona

Kiss trained with the clicker training, 2012. [video] Directed by Ainhoa Nocete. Barcelona

Iron trained with the conventional training, 2012. [video] Directed by Ainhoa Nocete. Barcelona
http://www.clickertraining.com/http://www.ehow.com/dog-clicker-training/http://www.ehow.com/dog-clicker-training/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clickerhttp://hounddogsdrule.com/k9-classroom/obedience-training/http://hounddogsdrule.com/k9-classroom/obedience-training/http://hounddogsdrule.com/k9-classroom/obedience-training/http://hounddogsdrule.com/k9-classroom/obedience-training/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clickerhttp://www.ehow.com/dog-clicker-training/http://www.ehow.com/dog-clicker-training/http://www.clickertraining.com/

Documents

TR CLICKER Final Version