Clicker Training 101: How does it work?

April 7, 2:25 PMClicker Training ExaminerEve Alexander

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Beau is trained to 'smile' on command.

That’s actually two questions, isn’t it?

1. How do I use a clicker to train my pet?
2. How do clickers help animals learn?

Let’s consider a training scenario. You would like to teach your horse to raise her hoof on cue.

• You tap the hoof or fetlock with a training stick.
• The horse shifts her weight …
• You click and treat.
• You tap the hoof or fetlock again.
• The horse shifts her weight and shuffles her foot …
• You click and treat.
• You continue cueing with the taps …
• Rewarding every better try until she lifts her hoof completely off the ground …
• You click and give her a jackpot (extra special treat or extra amount of treats).

That’s how easy clicker training is to do! You cue (with a stick, your hand, and/or your voice); you click in the exact moment the horse does want you are asking for; you reward even the smallest try; you build on each successive attempt until you achieve the behavior you want; and then you perfect it.

When you first tapped your horse’s fetlock, she didn’t know what you wanted. She shifted her weight and you clicked and gave her a reward. She then knew she did something right. The next time, she tried something more – she shuffled. You communicated clearly to her that she was on the right track. So, she tried to do more each time until she lifted her hoof completely and got a big jackpot and a lot of praise.

She learned quickly and eagerly because:

1. You were clear and consistent in your request by tapping her hoof
2. You ‘marked’ the instant she did the right thing by clicking the clicker
3. You rewarded her for the right response

In conventional training, animals are punished when they do the wrong thing. In clicker training we show the animal exactly what we want and we reward all positive movement towards our goal while ignoring wrong answers. The horse isn’t afraid to try different responses. Either he’ll get a reward or he won’t. He will quickly perform the behaviors that offer rewards and will abandon non-fruitful behavior. Now’s he’s thinking and not just reacting!

Email your questions, comments or experiences to eve@tricknclick.com.

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