The resilience of reward-based training

    • Gold Top Dog

    The resilience of reward-based training

    After struggling with clicker training Kivi for the last year, I finally got some good advice and then made friends with someone nearby who could come and show me what I should be doing. It made SO much difference. My reinforcement rate was way too low and my training sessions too long and my timing a bit clumsy. Despite all this, having now been set on the right path, it was so heartening to see how quickly Kivi is recovering from my clumsy clicker training. In just a minute he was well on track and he feels to me like an untapped well just waiting for me to figure out how to get the best out of him. It's really exciting. When I messed up with corrections with Penny, I never made up the lost ground. In contrast, Kivi was making huge leaps in just a minute. I don't think I realised until now just how easy it was to fix things after messing up a little with clicker training.

    Just had to express that. And a big thanks to Spiritdogs for her advice as well. It really helped! Smile
     

    • Gold Top Dog

    corvus
    My reinforcement rate was way too low and my training sessions too long and my timing a bit clumsy.

     

    Just four words:

    YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

    I was exactly the same when I started, and when I watch DH try it with Dell, he is the same too, and so is my friend that I showed it to.  I reckon these are the three most common mistakes that people make with thiskiind of training, which does have a knock on effect as to how effective it is.  But, like you noticed, all that happens is that it doesn't work... it doesn't leave a lasting negative impression on the dog.  (Or horse.  Or cat.  Or goldfish.  Or student. Smile)

    • Gold Top Dog

     It didn't even fail to work. It was working, just slowly and Kivi's motivation wasn't real high. Smile But I was so impressed with what happens when I get better. Kivi's never been clicker trained well, but all the basics are there and there's not really much lost ground to make up. All that had happened was his motivation was lower. Phew. Smile

    • Gold Top Dog

     I'm always excited when I read a post like this.  Picture me here at the keyboard jumping up and down on my seat yelling "YESSSS!!!"  I'm so glad you got the help you needed and are making such good progress. 

    Yes