Definitions:
- Approximations
- Starting at the beginning of a behavior and reinforcing the incremental steps needed to arrive at the finished behavior. This would eventually include changing some part of the training picture like location or duration. Changing up the picture must be done slowly and incrementally. At first, change only one variable at a time - either location OR duration.
- Behavior
- Is the action you want the dog to perform.
- Capture a behavior
- Sometimes called Free Shaping is a method where the animal figures out the desired behavior without any help (beyond marking and subsequent reward). You capture the moment (the behavior), so to speak, by marking it and rewarding. It is felt that this method of training versus luring teaches the animal to think more on its own instead of relying on the trainer.
- Charging the Mark
- Over and over again, click or say the marker word, then pause a second, reward. Doing this before you start actual training introduces the dog to the concept of MARK means REWARD.
- Context, Changing Context
- Refers to changing the training picture - like location or duration. Changing up the picture must be done slowly and incrementally. At first, change only one variable at a time - either location OR duration.
- Cue
- In old-school speak is a command.
- "Don't name it until you love it"
- Don't cue the dog (name the behavior) except at the exact time the dog is doing the behavior correctly (you love it). Once the dog understands a behavior such as looking into your eyes brings a reward you can start to name the behavior using a cue word like "focus" or "watch me," then mark it (yes or click) and reward. (I wish I could remember the name of the trainer that coined this phrase)
- Jackpot reward
- Increasing the amount or value of the reward.
- Luring
- Teaching a behavior by using a reward to "lure" a dog into a position or action. It is felt that this method of training a behavior still relys on the trainer showing the animal what behavior is wanted versus capturing or free shaping where the animal works the behavior out, learns to think, for itself. However, there are reasons why luring might be the best method to train a behavior, such as, inability to capture such a behavior, finer control of the behavior, time (waiting for the behavior to just happen).
- Marking, Mark it
- Using a clicker or word at the exact time the expected behavior occurs, letting the dog know that what he is doing at the moment is correct. Frequently the word "Yes" is used as a verbal marker. Be consistent with this word and don't let it slip into conversation with your dog.
- Proactive
- Prevent unwanted behavior so you don't need to go back and fix the problem.
- Reward
- Positive reinforcement that has value to your dog. Food treats, life rewards like going outside or for a car ride, and toy rewards like playing fetch or tugging.
- Shaping
- Marking and rewarding incremental behavior that eventually leads to the finished behavior.
- Superstitious Behavior
- Inadvertently reinforcing an incidental behavior that you don't want so it becomes fixed in the dogs mind as necessary to gain the reward. This can occur when there is a misunderstanding in how your dog is making associations; it's an accidental correlation. Superstitious behavior often happens when reinforcement for the wanted behavior occurs close together in time with an incidental (unwanted) behavior. Therefore, the incidental behavior is accidentally reinforced. Punishment, pain or fear can create superstitious behavior too.
