(In honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day, today’s post is in that vernacular. Tomorrow will show a translated edition.)
I have seen some criticize clicker trainin’ as impersonal and artificial — what do you mean, I’m not ‘posed t’ talk t’ me dog? He’s s’posed t’ work for food instead o’ me? Hands-off? I’m not s’posed t’ touch me own dog?!
Of course this be a skewed view at best, and occasionally out-starboard wrong, but it can be propagated by well-intentioned but confoundin’ directions from some clicker-ers. Let’s clear the decks!
Of course you can talk t’ and touch and play with your dog durin’ trainin’! But t’ timin’ o’ it be very important. We humans like t’ chatter and coach, often too much for efficient trainin’. It’s not uncommon t’ see handlers, first trainin’ dogs for matwork, who encourage t’ dogs, “Go t’ your mat! Now go on! Go touch your mat!” with accompanyin’ gestures. We feel like we’re encouragin’ or even cluin’ in t’ dogs who aren’t aye yet what we’re wantin’.
What all this chatter and gesturin’ does, however, be draws t’ dog’s attention t’ us instead o’ his task. He can’t possibly focus on t’ mat, because he’s too busy watchin’ our cheery face and tryin’ t’ guess what all t’ wavin’ be about. And all that excess noise, t’ ears an’ eyes, overshadows t’ click which tells him exactly what we do want, meanin’ we need far more repetitions before he recognizes t’ key behavior. Can it work? Aye, but it takes longer!
Once t’ dog has achieved t’ click, now you can get excited for him! Praise, pet, treat, play, whatever makes you both enthused about t’ process and his success. Have a care that you don’t get so excited that he loses track o’ what he’s just done — just enough that he wants t’ do it again!
I tell clients who be tempted t’ talk durin’ shapin’ that it’s much like someone cheerin’ for me while I’m doin’ long division in me head. No matter how much I understand that you mean it t’ be encouragin’ and s’portive, t’ fact be that your incessant yammerin’ — “That’s starboard — er, that be right, Laura, you can do it! Carry that remainder! Good job! Don’t lose track o’ that tens place — keep it, keep it, good!” — is really just distractin’ and even annoyin’. Wait ’til I’ve got t’ answer, and then tell how brilliant I am.
If you’re not used t’ stayin’ still and quiet, it can be difficult at first, but t’ results o’ smartlyer trainin’ be worth it!
(ClickStats be found here, t’ help wi’ yer countin’ an’ keepin’ yer boots on!)
Arrr. That be some fine logic.
I want to keelhaul people who think clickers’re fake!
Learning to be quiet and wait can be difficult for the teacher/trainer to learn.
Something I struggled with for years – homeschooling reference.
Makes sense this applies to clicker training also.