CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS CLICKER TRAINING?
What is Clicker Training?
Dani Weinberg quote: Weinberg, Dani. 2006. Teaching People Teaching Dogs. (New York: Howln Moon Press), 27.
Dani Weinberg’s website: http://home.earthlink.net/~hardpretzel/DaniDogPage.html
The Butterfly Project: https://www.clickertraining.com/the-butterfly-project
Training Pouched Rats to Detect Landmines: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151006-giant-rats-landmines-cambodia-science-animals/
Are There Different Styles of Clicker Training?
ClickerExpo: www.clickerexpo.com
Karen Pryor clicker training: www.clickertraining.com
Art and Science of Animal Training Conference: http://www.artandscienceofanimaltraining.org/conference/
Suggested resources on reading body language in horses:
Many resources are available on this subject but do be aware that they are based on the author’s interpretation. Here are a few that I have found useful, as they describe the types of body language that we need to learn to observe.
Bennet, Deb, Ph.D. 2000. The Birdie Book: An Internal Geography of Rider and Horse. This is available on her website www.equinestudies.org as a CD-ROM. It has lots of pictures and descriptions of horse body language.
Draaisma, Rachael. 2018. Language Signs and Calming Signals of Horses: Recognition and Application. (Boca Raton, Florida: Taylor and Francis Group, LLC).
McDonnell, Sue, PhD. 2003. A Practical Field Guide to Equine Behavior: The Equid Ethogram. (Lexington, Kentucky: The Blood-Horse, Inc).
Are we Trainers, or Teachers?
Kay Laurence: www.learningaboutdogs.com
Alexandra Kurland (The Click that Teaches): www.theclickercenter.com
Connection Training: http://www.connectiontraining.com/
Alexandra Kurland’s blog: www.theclickercenterblog.com
Claudeen McAuliffe quote: McAuliffe, Claudeen E. 2006. Mindful Dog Training. (Oconomowoc, Wisconsin: Kindness Canine Behavior Consultants LLC), 1. This book is available from www.dogwise.com.
Kurland, Alexandra. Notes from the 2013 Equine Clicker Conference, included with her permission.
Why Do I Clicker Train?
Kathy Sdao’s website: www.kathysdao.com
Kathy Sdao quote: Sdao, Kathy. 2012. Plenty in Life is Free. (Wenatchee, Washington: Dogwise), 81-82.
CHAPTER 2: CLICKS, TREATS, AND WHAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN
Training with Food
Dr. Kellon’s website: www.drkellon.com
ECIR website: www.ecirhorse.org
Learning About the Clicker
The clicker as a marker signal: Pryor, Karen. 2009. Reaching the Animal Mind. (New York: Scribner). 83.
More information on marker signals: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/marker-signals-thinking-beyond-the-click/
Jenifer Zeligs’ website: https://animaltraining.us/about-2/
Jenifer Zeligs quote: Zeligs, Jenifer. 2014. Animal Training 101. (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Millcity Press). 55.
Research on click vs. voice: Wood, Lindsey. 2008. Her Master’s Thesis on Teaching Shelter Dogs with a clicker vs. voice makers. You can read about it at: http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1960.
blog post on marker signals: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/marker-signals-thinking-beyond-the-click/
i-Click: https://www.clickertraining.com/node/4397
The Basics of Food Delivery
Alexandra Kurland’s blog showing backing for food delivery: https://theclickercenterblog.com/2015/11/20/
Website article on strategic food delivery: http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/food_delivery.html
Website article on food delivery for riding: http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/getting_started_riding.html
Mugging
Blog post on chains: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/fetch-a-fun-game-and-an-introduction-to-behavior-chains/
Reference to Dr. Susan Friedman’s Living and Learning with Animals Course. Offered through www.behaviorworks.org every fall.
Motivation
Definition of motivation: www.oxford dictionaries.com
Friedman, Susan. 2010. “P-A-R-R-O-T do Tell, Best Practices for Teaching Animals” PsittaScene August 2010. 14-17. (Information on constructs) – https://tinyurl.com/yd9a3apl
Barbara Heidenreich: www.goodbirdinc.com
Barbara Heidenreich paper: “The Ethics of Animal Training and Handling.” 2008. Presented at The International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators Conference: Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands, March 5–8, 2008.
Timing
SMART x 50: Sdao, Kathy. 2012. Plenty in Life is Free. (Wenatchee, Washington: Dogwise), 48-64.
Loopy Training: Kurland, Alexandra. 2011. Loopy Training. (DVD) The Clicker Center LLC.
Website article on loopy training: http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/loopy_training_new.html
CHAPTER 3: A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENCE
Susan Friedman quote: Friedman, Susan. 2008. “10 Things Your Parrot Wants You to Know About Behavior,” PsittaScene May 2008. You can read it here: http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/10%20Things%20Your%20Parrots%20Want%20You%20to%20Know.pdf
Operant Conditioning
B.F. Skinner biographical information: Vargas, Julie. 2009. Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching. (New York, New York: Routledge). 7-8.
Definition of operant conditioning: Chance, Paul. 2003. Learning and Behavior, 5th edition. (Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning). 138.
Definition of a stimulus: Chance, Paul. 2003. Learning and Behavior, 5th edition. (Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning). 454.
Poisoned cues: The best source for more information on this is Alexandra Kurland’s DVD “The Poisoned Cue,” available on her website, www.theclickercenter.com. If you want to read the original study, you can find it on the ORCA website, under The Effects of Combining Negative and Positive Reinforcement.
For more information on operant conditioning, I recommend finding a used copy of a textbook. The one I use the most is Paul Chance’sLearning and Behavior, but I’ve seen some others that contain similar information. Books on Behavior Analysis can also be helpful, but they tend to contain more jargon.
Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz bio: https://orgs.unt.edu/orca/bio/dr-jesus-rosales-ruiz/
Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies for Animals (ORCA): http://orgs.unt.edu/orca/
ClickerExpo notes on Dr. Jesus Rosales-Ruiz’s talk on the quadrants: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/notes-from-clickerexpo-dr-jesus-rosales-ruiz-the-quadrant-quandry-clarity-and-perspective-on-an-icon/
Karen Pryor on extinction (notes from ClickerExpo): http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/clickerexpo2014_new.html#Pryor
Jesús Rosales-Ruiz on resurgence (notes from ClickerExpo): http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/clickerexpo2014_new.html#Rosales-Ruiz
Two books that I recommend are Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog, and Pamela Reid’s Excel-erated Learning. Both books were written for the general public and are easy to read. They may contain some different terminology than that used by professionals in the fields of psychology and behavior analysis, but the material is clear and well presented.
Punishment
Bob Bailey’s website: www.behavior1.com
Susan Friedman quote: Friedman, Susan. 2010. APDT Journal March/April 2010. You can read it here: http://behaviorworks.org/files/articles/APDT%20What’s%20Wrong%20with%20this%20Picture%20-%20Dogs.pdf
Steve White quote: White, Steve. Trainer’s Pocket Reference. Shared with permission from Steve White.
Steve White’s website: www.proactivek9.com
Karen Pryor quote: Pryor, Karen. 2009. Reaching the Animal Mind. (New York: Scribner). 14.
Brené Brown quote: Brown, Brené. 2012.Daring Greatly. (New York: Penguin (Gotham), 184.
Classical Conditioning
Definition of a stimulus: Chance, Paul. 2003. Learning and Behavior, 5th edition. (Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning). 454.
Definition of classical conditioning: Cooper, John O., Heron, Timothy E., and Heward, William L. 2014. Applied Behavior Analysis, 2nd edition. (Essex, UK: Pearson Education Limited). 15.
Classical conditioning is not just for reflexes: 2018. Private discussion with Dr. Joe Layng and Dr. Rosales-Ruiz.
Discussion of types of classical conditioning: Chance, Paul. 2003. Learning and Behavior, 5th edition. (Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning). 79-80.
Notes on how to use classical conditioning: Sdao, Kathy. 2014. Lecture at Clicker Expo. My original notes are available athttp://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/clickerexpo2014_new.html
Definition of desensitization: Cooper, John O., Heron, Timothy E., and Heward, William L. 2014. Applied Behavior Analysis, 2ndedition. (Essex, UK: Pearson Education Limited). 17.
Definition of flooding: McGreevy, P.D. and Boakes, R.A. Carrots and Sticks: Principles of Animal Training. 2007. (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press). 287.
Reference to exposure therapy: Boudewyns, Patrick A. and Shipley, Robert H. Flooding and Implosive Therapy in Clinical Practice. 1983. (New York, NY: Springer Science and Business).
Definition of habituation: Ramirez, Ken. 1999. Animal Training. (Chicago, Illinois: Shedd Aquarium). 542.
Reinforcement
Definition of reinforcement: Chance, Paul. 2003. Learning and Behavior, 5th edition. (Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning). 454.
Definitions of types of reinforcers: Chance, Paul. 2003. Learning and Behavior, 5th edition. (Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning). 453-454.
Research on different reinforcers: LeBlanc, Michel-Antoine. 2013. The Mind of the Horse. (Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press). 5 quotes – locations are 5639-40, 5734, 5766, 5782, 5797 (kindle locations on e-book).
Leslie McDevitt quote: McDevitt, Leslie. 2007. Control Unleashed. (South Hadley, Mass: Clean Run Productions LLC). 211.
Kay Laurence quote: Laurence, Kay. 2013. Clicker Revolution. (Chipping Camden, UK: Learning About Dogs Limited). 92.
The Click as a Conditioned Reinforcer
Blog on marker signals: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/marker-signals-thinking-beyond-the-click/
Research on the effect of treating after every other click:
Wennmacher, Pamela L. (2007) Effects of Click + Continuous Food Vs. Click + Intermittent Food on the Maintenance of Dog Behavior.http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3598/
On the effect of clicking multiple times before reinforcing:
Martin, S. & Friedman, S.G. (2011, November). Blazing Clickers. Paper presented at the Animal Behavior Management Alliance Conference, Denver. Co. You can read the article on Dr. Friedman’s website www.behaviorworks.org.
Blog on conditioned reinforcers (ASAT 2017 notes): https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/notes-from-the-art-and-science-of-animal-training-conference-orca-dr-jesus-rosales-ruiz-on-conditioned-reinforcers-are-worth-maintaining/
How Neuroscience Can Help Us with Training
Dr. Jaak Panksepp on the seven systems:
Panksepp, Jaak. 2014. Lecture at The Art and Sciences of Animal Training Conference in Denton, Texas. You can find the same material in his book Archaeology of Mind, page 35-38.
TED talk by Dr. Panksepp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65e2qScV_K8
Karen Pryor on the SEEKING system:
Pryor, Karen. 2014. On My Mind. (Waltham, Mass: Sunshine Books (KPCT), location 198.
Reinforcement and Bribery
Susan Friedman quote: Friedman, Susan. 2005. ‘He said, She said, Science Says.” Good Bird Magazine Volume 1-1, Spring 2005. You can read it here: http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/He%20Said,%20She%20Said,%20Science%20Says.pdf
Karen Pryor quote: Pryor, Karen. 2009. Reaching the Animal Mind. (New York: Scribner). 144.
CHAPTER 4: TRAINING STRATEGIES
An Introduction to Cues
Rules of stimulus control: Pryor, Karen. 1999. Don’t Shoot the Dog. (New York: Bantam). 73.
Blog post on cues: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2016/02/05/do-you-have-a-cue-for-that/
Targeting
Touching the Goblins: Kurland, Alexandra. 2003. The Click That Teaches: A Step-by-Step Guide in Pictures. (Delmar, NY: The Clicker Center LLC). 118.
Blog post “Aurora gets a bath:” https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2016/06/14/aurora-gets-a-bath-some-tips-on-how-to-train-your-horse-for-husbandry-behaviors/
Blog post “Tooth Inspection:” https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/teaching-husbandry-behaviors-with-clicker-training-tooth-inspection/
Blog post on body part targeting: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/body-part-targeting-moving-beyond-nose-targeting/
Blog post on using targets to ride out: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/using-targeting-to-build-confidence-when-riding-outside-the-ring/
Luring
Notes on luring: Laurence, Kay. 2015. Intelligent Dog Trainers Course. On-line course where I learned the finer details of luring. Kay teaches a variety of courses and you can find them listed on her website, www.learningaboutdogs.com.
Going operant: Laurence, Kay. 2013. Clicker Revolution. (Chipping Camden, UK: Learning About Dogs Limited). 110.
Shaping
Micro-shaping: Laurence, Kay. 2013. Clicker Revolution. (Chipping Camden, UK: Learning About Dogs Limited). 55.
Blog on micro-shaping: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/notes-from-the-art-and-science-of-animal-training-conference-orca-kay-laurence-on-micro-shaping/
Choosing Your Training Strategy
Self-directed and directed learning: Laurence, Kay. 2013. Clicker Revolution. (Chipping Camden, UK: Learning About Dogs Limited). 44-50.
A Closer Look at the Process of Shaping
10 Laws of Shaping: Pryor, Karen. 1999. Don’t Shoot the Dog. (New York: Bantam). 40.
A Shaping Plan to Teach Whales to Blow Bubble Rings
Ramirez, Ken. 2015. Presentation on Shaping Beluga Whales to Blow Bubbles. Art and Science of Animal Training Conference. Denton, Texas. Unpublished, article is based on personal notes, shared with Ken Ramirez’s permission.
CHAPTER 5: TRAINING SESSIONS
Reinforcement Schedules and Variety
Reinforcement schedules: Chance, Paul. 2003. Learning and Behavior, 5th edition. (Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning). 347-355.
ClickerExpo notes on reinforcement substitutes: http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/clickerexpo2008_new.html
ClickerExpo notes on chains: http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/clickerexpo2011_new.html
How to Introduce Your Horse to Clicker Training
Website article “Taking Clicker Training from the Classroom to Real Life:”http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/classroom_to_real_life.html
What Behaviors Should You Train First?
Foundation behaviors: Kurland, Alexandra. 2005. The Click That Teaches: Riding with the Clicker. (Delmar, NY: The Clicker Center LLC). 13-14.
CHAPTER 6: TARGETING
I learned targeting from Alexandra Kurland and this section is based on a combination of her work and my own experience. If you would like more information on how Alexandra Kurland teaches targeting, you should visit her website www.theclickercenter.com.
An Introduction to Targeting
Reference to Kay Laurence’s Intelligent Dog Training Course, offered by Kay Laurence from 2015-2017. For more information on Kay’s courses, visit www.learningaboutdogs.com
Adding a New Cue to the Behavior “Touch the Target”
Stimulus control: Pryor, Karen. 1999. Don’t Shoot the Dog. (New York: Bantam). 73.
Building Duration: Waiting at a Target
Blog on body part targeting: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/body-part-targeting-moving-beyond-nose-targeting/
Website article on duration: http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/duration_new.html
CHAPTER 7: A RELAXED STAND
“The Grown-ups are Talking, Please Don’t Interrupt”
Grown-ups: Kurland, Alexandra. 2003. The Click that Teaches, A Step by Step Guide in Pictures. (Delmar, NY: The ClickerCenter, LLC). 31.
CHAPTER 8: HEAD LOWERING
I learned head lowering from Alexandra Kurland and the information in this chapter is based on a combination of her work and my own experience. If you would like more information on how Alexandra Kurland teaches head lowering, you can find additional resources on her website, www.theclickercenter.com.
An Introduction to Head Lowering
Head lowering: Kurland, Alexandra. 2006.The Click that Teaches Lesson 3: Head lowering: Your Calm-Down Cue (DVD). (Delmar, NY: TheClickerCenter LLC).
Head lowering: Kurland, Alexandra. 2003. The Click that Teaches, A Step by Step Guide in Pictures. (Delmar, NY: The ClickerCenter, LLC). 23-27.
Head Lowering: Adding Cues, Duration and Movement
Backing in a square exercise: Kurland, Alexandra. 2005. The Click that Teaches, Riding with the Clicker. (Delmar, NY: TheClickerCenter LLC). 38-39.
Starter button vs. constant on cues: Kurland, Alexandra. 1998. Clicker Training for Your Horse. (Waltham, Ma: Sunshine Books). 64-65.
CHAPTER 9: MAT WORK
I learned mat work from Alexandra Kurland and this section is based on a combination of her work and my own experience. If you would like more information on how Alexandra Kurland teaches mat work, you can find additional resources on her website, www.theclickercenter.com.
An Introduction to Mat Work
Alexandra Kurland’s approach to mat work: Kurland, Alexandra. 2003. The Click that Teaches, A Step by Step Guide in Pictures. (Delmar, NY: The ClickerCenter, LLC). Kurland, Alexandra. 33-35.
A Training Plan for Mat work
Margaret’s mind map for mat work: http://www.equineclickertraining.com/articles/matdiagram_new.html
More Advanced Mat work
Blog on using a mat as the terminal behavior in a chain: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2016/10/21/a-training-strategy-for-building-duration-backchain-it-by-using-a-terminal-behavior/
CHAPTER 10: BACKING
I learned to shape backing from Alexandra Kurland and this section is based on a combination of her work and my own experience. If you would like more information on how Alexandra Kurland teaches backing, you can find additional resources on her website,www.theclickercenter.com.
An Introduction to Backing
Alexandra Kurland’s approach to backing: Kurland, Alexandra. 2003. The Click that Teaches, A Step by Step Guide in Pictures. (Delmar, NY: The ClickerCenter, LLC). Kurland, Alexandra. 88-92.
Cues as information: Pryor, Karen. On My Mind. 2014. (Waltham, Mass: Sunshine Books). Location 2489 (e-book).2489.
CHAPTER 11: OTHER FIRST BEHAVIORS
Blog on husbandry behaviors:
https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2016/06/14/aurora-gets-a-bath-some-tips-on-how-to-train-your-horse-for-husbandry-behaviors/
Can I Touch You?
Blog on body part targeting: https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/body-part-targeting-moving-beyond-nose-targeting/
Walking Forward
Blog on using cones, mats and poles:https://equineclickertraining.wordpress.com/2017/10/29/cones-mats-and-targets-putting-them-to-use-in-ground-and-ridden-work-to-teach-new-behaviors-and-facilitate-learning/
Happy Faces
Description of Happy Faces: Kurland, Alexandra. 2003. The Click that Teaches, A Step by Step Guide in Pictures. (Delmar, NY: The ClickerCenter, LLC). Kurland, Alexandra. 36.
A Balanced Halt
Pre-WWYLM game: Kurland, Alexandra. Private instruction.
CHAPTER 12: LOOKING FORWARD
Learning from Dogs: Thoughts on Science and Relationships
Alexandra Horowitz quote: Horowitz, Alexandra. 2009. Inside of a Dog. (New York: Scribner). 280.
Alexandra Horowitz’s author page: http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Alexandra-Horowitz/46971319
Find Your Troop
Steve Peters quote: Peters, Steve. 2011. The Chimp Paradox. (New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin). 172
Steve Peters quote: Peters, Steve. 2011. The Chimp Paradox. (New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin). 178
Steve Peters’ author page: https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/prof-steve-peters/1065654/
Educational opportunities page on my website: http://www.equineclickertraining.com/community/educational_opportunities.html
Making Decisions
Malcolm Gladwell’s author page: https://www.littlebrown.com/?s=malcolm+gladwell
Daniel Kahneman quote: Kahneman, Daniel. 2011. Thinking Fast and Slow. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux). 21-34.
Daniel Kahneman quote: Kahneman, Daniel. 2011. Thinking Fast and Slow. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux). 286.
Daniel Kahneman’s author page: http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374533557
Advances in the Use of Positive Reinforcement in Animal Training
Susan Friedman quotes: Friedman, Susan. 2008. Avian Behavior: An Evolving Discipline. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery. 66-72. You can read the article at http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/journals/JAMS%20Round%20Table%20Discussion.pdf
equine clicker training 