I video Emmett and me on occasion to correct (hopefully) my timing and to see where I’m being confusing and generally to audit myself as teacher. I am VERY fortunate that despite my mistakes, Emmett is doing well and learns quickly.

This morning’s entire session was just under 4 minutes. I edited out some of the beginning camera adjusting and some shots of my backside (I don’t go out in public like this!!! – my winter jacket is knee length) that you can be thankful, you didn’t see :)

This morning, we were going to go to class, but I got late and decided to regroup for a class tomorrow. We did some “wait” and “recall” train and play outside and then came in and I decided to use what would have been class time to video some things inside and see how I was doing. Gah. Well, the video is so helpful in seeing my issues.

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement/operant conditioning training that uses a click, followed by a treat to teach behaviors. As the behavior is learned, the clicking and treating is reduced and ultimately eliminated, unless training a new behavior. You can see in the video, that I do not click/treat the sit. Emmett has known sit since he was 7 weeks old so click-treat is not needed. I will however, click-treat if I ask for a sit in a highly distracting situation and I get the behavior.

I, as do so many, once thought “clicker training” was a gimmick. I have learned that not only is it not a gimmick, but there is scientific evidence to show that things happen in the brain with the click, a recurring marker sound or word and reinforcement with a valued resource. It works with animals AND people. Many athletes and athletic trainers use a form of clicker training to mark positions and help shape optimal positioning. If you are interested in how the brain works and how operant conditioning works, it is fascinating. Reaching the Animal Mind by Karen Pryor is a fun and excellent source of explanation.

Back to Emmett and me and our morning’s video. We started with some things we know and in the middle, I brought out a large ball. It is a workout ball that I use for stretching as well as a “bench” for strength training. I recently read about Treibball. Per Wikipedia:

Treibball is a positive-reinforcement, competitive dog sport which originated in Germany and entered sanctioned competition in 2008. The dog must gather and drive large exercise balls into a soccer goal.

Essentially, it is a way for dogs to “herd” when they don’t have animals to herd. I thought to try with Emmett. I’ve thought of trying agility as well as nose work, but when I saw Treiball, it appealed because I have a ball, we can do it inside or outside and it seemed fun. Plus, Emmett is an English Shepherd, i.e. a herding dog.

Some of the info I read noted that ball crazy dogs had a more difficult time than non ball crazy dogs. Emmett is not ball crazy. Tennis balls are meh. Sticks … YES!, his Wubba toy YES! Hence the big ball. I started letting him nose it and click-treating when he touched it. That’s mostly what you’ll see in the video. There is one time where I click twice and kind of shower the treats because he kept nosing the ball, i.e. moving it. Another time, I released him from a “Wait” to get the Wubba that I’d thrown, but he nosed the ball on the way … my mistake of confusing direction so I click treated the ball touch and we redid the “go get it”.

The foundation of positive reinforcement training is building trust and relationship. There is no punishment for “incorrect” behavior. Incorrect behavior is not rewarded. Inappropriate behavior is redirected and the redirected “good” behavior is rewarded. “Do this, not that” is the metaphor. A “no” is not clear instruction.

Has it all been “peaches and cream” … not at all, but it HAS been a much happier experience than any I’ve had training a puppy and I think I’ll eventually learn :)