Stages of Learning
Effective training follows a pattern of "stages". There are six stages of learning for you to work through if your dog is going to be well trained and reliable. People who are training with canine performance goals in mind, should aim to train through all six stages. Those who simply want an great companion who is a joy to live with, may not need to go that far. Do realize, some behaviors don't even have all three of the last stages as components.
Once you teach your dog several behaviors and go through the 6 Stages of Learning for each, you notice your dog understands the pattern and knows what comes next. With reward based training, your dog becomes a willing partner who is eager to learn. So, the more you train the faster and easier it gets. Be careful though - reward based training is so much fun that it can be really addictive.
The 6 Stages of Learning are:
In order to reinforce a behavior, you must first "get the behavior". You cannot reinforce what is not happening. There are five general methods to get a behavior: Capturing, Luring, Free Shaping, Targeting and Modeling. Each will be discussed in detail in a separate blog entry. They each have advantages and disadvantages.
People tend to have preferences about which they use the most. I have noticed many dogs seem to have preferences or at least differences in their learning style that make one or another more effective for them.
Your goal should be to have a working understanding of all five methods and know when to best use each.
In this blog you will notice that I speak of "shaping" a behavior and also "free shaping" as a method to get a behavior.
Luring is best used for getting the dog to move or assume a position, such as luring into a sit or down, or luring them to walk alongside you.
Free Shaping is sort of an advanced form of "capturing" and is used well for behaviors the dog does not offer or do naturally as a complete thing. It develops your dog's creativity and confidence and makes learning into a cool game for the dog.
Effective training follows a pattern of "stages". There are six stages of learning for you to work through if your dog is going to be well trained and reliable. People who are training with canine performance goals in mind, should aim to train through all six stages. Those who simply want an great companion who is a joy to live with, may not need to go that far. Do realize, some behaviors don't even have all three of the last stages as components.
Once you teach your dog several behaviors and go through the 6 Stages of Learning for each, you notice your dog understands the pattern and knows what comes next. With reward based training, your dog becomes a willing partner who is eager to learn. So, the more you train the faster and easier it gets. Be careful though - reward based training is so much fun that it can be really addictive.
The 6 Stages of Learning are:
- Get the behavior
- Add the verbal cue
- Wait for the cue
- Add distraction
- Add duration
- Add distance
In order to reinforce a behavior, you must first "get the behavior". You cannot reinforce what is not happening. There are five general methods to get a behavior: Capturing, Luring, Free Shaping, Targeting and Modeling. Each will be discussed in detail in a separate blog entry. They each have advantages and disadvantages.
People tend to have preferences about which they use the most. I have noticed many dogs seem to have preferences or at least differences in their learning style that make one or another more effective for them.
Your goal should be to have a working understanding of all five methods and know when to best use each.
In this blog you will notice that I speak of "shaping" a behavior and also "free shaping" as a method to get a behavior.
- Shaping refers to the process of gradually changing the behavior you are getting to get closer to a final version of the behavior.
- Free shaping as a method to get behavior refers to using shaping only with what the dog offers to you (i.e. not using capturing, luring, modeling or targeting to prompt the behavior).
Luring is best used for getting the dog to move or assume a position, such as luring into a sit or down, or luring them to walk alongside you.
Free Shaping is sort of an advanced form of "capturing" and is used well for behaviors the dog does not offer or do naturally as a complete thing. It develops your dog's creativity and confidence and makes learning into a cool game for the dog.
Gimme here: I especially love free shaping games. I'm very clever and creative and I have oodles of confidence, so I can really shine when we play this game. I'm not bragging, it's the truth.
Targeting is best used to get your dog to move somewhere or when a behavior involves a specific place. Your dog can be taught to target a margarine lid, target stick, your hand, his leash or his bed (or any thing for that matter).
Modeling/Molding involves physical manipulation of the dog into a position or place. It can be effective for simple behaviors with some dogs. Many dogs seem to resent being physically manipulated into position or are uncomfortable with being touched or held in certain ways.
Targeting is best used to get your dog to move somewhere or when a behavior involves a specific place. Your dog can be taught to target a margarine lid, target stick, your hand, his leash or his bed (or any thing for that matter).
Modeling/Molding involves physical manipulation of the dog into a position or place. It can be effective for simple behaviors with some dogs. Many dogs seem to resent being physically manipulated into position or are uncomfortable with being touched or held in certain ways.
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