I teach classes on 'shaping behaviors with a clicker
(operant conditioning), in the pre-agility class at Sirius. Since
Sirius' instructors use the clicker in teaching, it's important that
students have a grasp of how to use the clicker for more than just a
reward marker.
I was introduced to clicker training in 1995 and had
to learn through books, the internet, seminars, and trial and error, as
there was only one person training with a clicker in Atlanta at that
time. The immediate response from my dog was such that I never wanted to
train any other way again.
My breed of choice, though not one of the breeds that
compete at the top in agility, is the breed I love best--the Doberman
Pinscher. In addition, I choose rescues for my own personal dogs. Having
chosen rescues, which are usually older dogs, I have had to learn how to
use the clicker with dogs taught in ways that are more traditional. This
enables me to help the students (humans and dogs), break out of old
habits and learn exciting new ways to train. Recently, I have gotten
Rescue pups, which has enhanced my teaching from a completely new
perspective: the blank slate and the wild child mentality have helped
round out my clicker skills.
