Lots of useful information here.

I have a yellow lab and he is so easy to train with clicker. Its often the trainer or owner who is the problem, as the dog knows what to do... you just have to ask it the right way!

Stu

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Dog Clicker Training

Great thread - really Useful!

i have just started clicker training with my Beagle boy, so these are handy pointers

Small nitpick about the phrase 'negative reinforcement'. It's not what you think it is. In the context of operant conditioning:
"negative" = removal of a stimulus
"positive" = presentation of a stimulus

Thus:

'positive reinforcement' = presentation of a rewarding stimulus to encourage the preceding behaviour. e.g. treat after a successful sit.

'negative reinforcement' = withdrawal of an unpleasant stimulus to encourage the preceding behaviour. e.g. releasing a scruff hold upon calming.

'positive punishment' = presentation of an unpleasant stimulus to discourage the preceding behaviour. e.g. snap of a pinch collar in response to pulling.

'negative punishment' = withdrawal of a rewarding stimulus to discourage the preceding behaviour. e.g. walking away from a puppy if it bites down too hard while playing.

So actually, in the example you provided the dog was presented with positive reinforcement.

Carry on

Sorry like I said no specialist in this field but I find the names and the definitions distract from the message I was sending out I could have looked on Wiki but was speaking from my recollections as a teacher and it still stands that to reward good behaviour is good and to punish is less effective and a negative way to reinforce behaviour.

Like I said I am no theorist and wanted to explain my experiences and my take on things in a language that those very new to training would understand.

But feel free to nit pick it's how we learn

I like to think it may encourage a few people to smile with their dogs, enjoy the good times and ignore the bad...punishment will not get the same results as a good old pat on the back

Also to add I do understand what you are saying but not being a theorist of any kind I do find the terminology rather difficult to understand in my mind I see one method as being positive and one as being negative I am just trying to keep things simple so that people of all backgrounds can understand the subtle message.... I wasn't writing a thesis or a reserch document

I've bookmarked all the links, thank you very much! I'm getting ready to start clicker training, just a bit more reading first.

It would be nice to see this thread made a sticky.

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[SIGPIC][SIGPIC]

Have fun you and your dog will love it.

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"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny

No worries, it's a VERY common misunderstanding Everyone sort of gets the individual terms on their own, but try to combine them and things get, well, weird

Although I'm sure it made perfect sense to him, I really do wish Skinner had come up with a more intuitive turn of phrase... but now we're sort of stuck with it, so might as well make sure we're all using it the same way Doesn't help that "negative punishment" methods also seem a bit counter-intuitive to those who aren't familiar with them... "Just ignore a puppy when he does something bad? What are you smoking?"

But yes, I absolutely agree that the combination of 'reward' and 'ignore' is usually the most effective way to train just about anything

It's even working on my rabbit. He was very hard to handle a few weeks ago decided to have a go at clicker training him and he comes over to be picked up on commands and stays still most of the time. Even working on a few tricks with him

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"A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes

Owned by Buster cairn terrier mix and Leo netherland dwarf mix bunny