clicker training?

becdubie · clicker training?

Some of you have mentioned "clicker training" Can someone point me to a book, dvd web site or someting so I can learn more? I searched this forum...using Clicker trianing...but didn't have any luck finding someting specific. So sorry if this is a repeat question.

whudson

Alexandra Kurland. I started with her book Clicker training for your horse and found it great. Google her name and you will find her website.

Kim Cassidy

Hi,

I have been using Clicker Training for many years, Alexandra Kurland is THE Equine Clicker Trainer. Her website is www.theclickercenter.com and that is where you can go to order her books and DVD's.

Up until this month I have been Alex's trimmer for years, plus I've attended many of her clinics. She is amazing.

But just like with any good training it takes understanding, time and patience. It is not a quick fix and there is good AND bad clicker training out there.

It is wise to start with the basics and build from there. Some horses are ho hum with treats but some become extremely excited! That can be overwhelming and off putting for many.

where do you live? If you don't mind my asking, maybe I could help you find some hands on help. Most Clicker Trainers are so eager to share the info that you can usually get some volunteer help in the beginning

becdubie

Thanks...now I have a place to start. I don't really have a problem to solve, just interested in how it works.
I'm in Montana....I would love to talk to or see someone locally who uses it...always looking for ways to learn more.

bit

I used it in the 70's with sea lions. It's all about timing, bridging the behavior you want with the click, or whatever bridge you use. I use "good boy". You don't always have to use the clicker with the behavior you teach, once they get it. Don't even have to reward with food every time, or hardly ever, once they learn the behavior. I taught my horses how to sidepass and line up to the mounting block using clicker training. I've never seen horses more enthusiastic about learning. You can almost hear the wheels grinding, trying to figure out how to do the right thing to get that "good boy". It isn't even about the food after a while. Have fun!

cheerios

Alexandra Kurland is great. She has a very nice What is Clicker Training section on her website, check it out:
http://www.theclickercenter.com/guide/index.html

IMO, a very good place to start is Karen Pryor's classic book Don't Shoot the Dog. It's a fun read, and most major bookstores carry it. (or buy it online!) Great intro into how and why training works and specifically why clicker training can work so well.

These are good threads to read:

Clicker training resources
http://itsaboutthehorse.myfastforum.org/about588.html&highlight=
The list of resources in that thread is very similar to the list of resources I have on my website:
http://stalecheerios.com/blog/horse-training/resources/

This is a nice thread too with some good discussion:
http://itsaboutthehorse.myfastforum.org/about276.html&highlight=

I write about clicker training with our rescue horses (as well as other animals) quite a bit on my blog, here's a link to my top posts from 2009:
http://stalecheerios.com/blog/hor.../stale-cheerios-the-best-of-2009/

Hertha

Also Leslie Pavlich.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/clicknaturalhorse

cheerios

cokey

Has anyone read Getting to Yes, Clicker Training for Improved Horsemanship by Sharon Foley ?

I had the Alexandra Kurland book several years ago and didn't really get on with it. However, I'm still keen to explore clicker.

cheerios

ElaineW

I think I am "Good Boy" Training!!..
Back when I had my first horse Chance I 'tried' to do clicker training.. I didn't get it, he didn't get it, it was a mess..

I noticed something today with Levi though, it's been awhile since I have done any ground work with him cause of the heat.. Well this morning I haltered him up and did some basic moves.. He was mr snotty pants..
My kids was with me this morning too and they where NOT getting along.. sigh.. They aggrivated me.
Levi just fuzzed up doing the 'leading past' exercise. Or squeeze pattern . what ever name you want to give it.
When I got the kids sorted out I asked Levi to continue,
He went to the right and was good.. I belted out a "good Boy"! He brightened up! Ears foward, eyes bright.. the whole package!
He went the 'hard' way and did it JUST LIKE THE EASY WAY (side) and lookd at me like,, DID I GET IT?
I boomed out a GOOOOOD BOY LEVI!..
After that, I good boy'd EVERYTHING he did..Everything he did that was incontrol and with respect..

This is how clicker training is isn't it? Instead of 'good boying' I would CLICK...

whudson

Yes Elaine, it is very similar to that. The click can be anything that the horse recognises as "I did the right thing". You could folow it with a treat as well, then I think the "good boy" would have more meaning. Kitt is clicker trained but he has also come to learn that "good boy" means the same thing as the "click"

cheerios

Honestly, you don't need a clicker or treats to "clicker train."

The basic principle of clicker training is that you

--have some sort of way to "mark" the correct behavior
(this is often a clicker)

and the horse knows that the "marker signal" is always followed by something he wants. (treat, scratch, getting to go somewhere or do a preferred activity, etc.)

So, he learns to look for the marker signal and tries to figure out what he can do to make you "click."

Hertha

Using a click or a 'good boy' followed by some sort of reward is nice for the horse but its real power is in teaching the person to be more accurate and pay more attention and read the horse more closely to find that magic moment when you can say, 'good boy', etc.

It also can help teach people to break larger moves into their smallest parts and teach each small part carefully, then put the little parts together to get a lovely fluid larger and longer set of moves.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Alayna started clicker training with Bruiser last year (using just a CLUCK noise that you make with your mouth). I have always been a "good boy/girl" trainer. I think the CLUCK has made a definite difference. This is a horse who could have become an outlaw very easily, positive reinforcement training works where force would fail miserably. That CLUCK noise is distinct and he recognizes it quickly. I probably over use "good boy" as I use it in casual conversation with him where he hasn't earned it. He earns his CLUCKs.

peachpie

Just returned from advanced clicker training, 3-day workshop with Alexandra Kurland. I heartily endorse her method. She has the mind of a scientist combined with a delightful imagination.

cheerios

peachpie--

I'm sure you're still processing everything you learned from the Washington clinic!!

Can I convince you to start a thread and share some of the things that were worked on in the clinic and what you learned?

I would love to hear all about it!!

Hertha

I would love to hear all about it!!
_________________

So would I!!!!

Kim Cassidy

Isn't Alex wonderful. She has such a gift for working with horses and really being able to split behaviors down to such small increments.

A good friend and fellow Clicker Trainer came to visit me for the past 3 days out here in the desert. Julie has been working with Alex for 10 years and it was so much fun to work with my new Mustang, Wyatt and watch Julie work with him too. We worked on WWYLM and go forward and give the hip and head down. It is beyond too much fun to work on such brand new clay which is what Wyatt is.

All my foundations are based on Alex's work and it is so much fun to watch my Mustang respond to the Tai Chi rope handling and the Tai Chi walking.

Lovely, oh so lovely

So please, share what Alex has up her sleeve for you Magic Center folks.

I miss her, used to see her every 5 weeks when I worked on her horses feet and now I need a long distance Alex fix :D

fjordnaturally · Clicker Training

Hello everyone!

I would love to try clicker training with my horse. We already have a good relationship, as in she loves to come see me in the pasture and say hi, and she enjoys spending time with me. Thing is, getting respect and obedience from her (and willingness!) is hard. I'm getting there but she's very treat motivated and I just know clicker training would be her cup of tea.

The only thing I'm unsure of is whether or not clicker training produces a "pushy" horse (I've met a clicker trained horse who had horrendous manners and bit people if they didn't give him a treat for everything) and I'm also wondering if the horse is only doing it for the treat or if eventually he can do it for less and less treats or a treat at the end of the session, etc. I don't want a relationship with my horse that is y based on treats alone, so I'm not sure about this.

Thanks!

Laura

cheerios · Re: Clicker Training

Hertha

Just want to put in my 2 cents worth that Mary's blogsite is really wonderful.

clicker training?

Clicker Training

Re: Clicker Training