question for clicker/marker trainers - Page 1

just wondering what command do you use to let your dog out of a stay command? do u use a mark like yes?


also what do you use to let your dog out of a heel? do you use yess? or do you use okay go free? just curious

I use GOOD as a marker word to let my dog know that the behavior they just did or are doing is correct. I use OK as a release command..

jyl does a marker word always have te followed by a command? like yes 


like do you mark yes then give treat and not say any command or make any gestures ever?

Kudos to clc for such a succinct and informative response.

The clicker IS the marker for a desired behavior.  the dog expects a reward will ensue for that behavior.

Just to add, cause i was not sure what you were asking.

If you want to release the dog from the heel, I say "Free dog" and raise my arms, he knows he is free from training

But, you brought up another good point.  I always start each training sessing with the marker, "Let's work"

I finish the training session, with "We're done now"

yes ,, thee is always a begining and an end to a request .. as well as a release. yes the clicker is the marker .. BUT .. so aren't  YOU .. the advantage of the clicker is that 1. it is non-emotional  & 2> communicates exactly the microsecond that you wish to acknlowledge the dog's correct behavior [ or part of the behavior] .. for example .... jumping a hurdle .,. you can click to communicate the correct take off point approaching the hurdle , or you can click midpoint , as the dog is over the hurdle in which the dog has tucked up into the body it's rear legs. however .. a key is to always pair the  use of a clicker with  yourself- this way the dog learns to respond to you !!  i use  the words  i.e.  " correct" or "right choice" , even though i may have clicked a moment ago .. because you will not use the clicker for the rest of your life but you can continue to use yourself / your words .. it is good always to give your dog your support , acknowledgement , approval etc. -- last comment .. you can use a marker to communicate insufficient behavior/ wrong behavior , in the abscence of a 'click/treat' .. i use the words : wrong choice , try again "..

If I am training a behavior, I use the click to both mark the correct behavior and let the dog know he can stop doing the behavior, i.e. downing or heeling. If I can't find my clicker, I use "yes". Once the behavior is trained, I switch to a general release word. I don't think the clicker has any benefit once the dog knows what to do. I also, once the dog has a clue about duration behviors like staying or heeling, use a coaching work like "good". Good to my dogs means keep doing the behavior, click means end the behavior.

No ,.,, the click does not mean 'end the behavior" or " end of the behavior". ,,,, the meaning is NOT intended to address a behavior in a totality BUT also the integral parts/parameters  that contribute to a behavior .. .  some exercises are actually taught begining with the end result firsrt.  e.g ' bring to me' .. that can start with the dog 1 inch away giving you something .... if the object that is taught to be given now becomes 1 foot , 5 feet , 10 feet away from you .. the only way the dog can present that object and 'bring to me' , is that the dog has to first get it ! Distance is only one attribute dog a behavior , the time and duration of a behavior is another , the speed of a behavior is another.. again the clicker is meant a a communicating tool that an specific aspect of a behavior is acknlowleged not merely the whole behavior  .eg a sit .. to the next paramater , i want a' fast ' sit ... the criteria can change and it is the clicker that communicatges the accomplishment of a new parameter , time , disatnce speed etc. behaviors can be broken into parameters or components.

Well Alphapup,
We may have to agree to disagree.
The clicker can mean whatever you want it to, i.e. teach the dog what it means. This may be different for your dogs vs my dogs.
If I am working on different components of an exercise I would break them down into each single one. If I want speed on a retrieve, and I click the speed when the dog is returning with the dumbell, the dog is allowed to drop the dumbbell and concentrate on getting his reward. If I click a speedy down, the dog is allowed to break the down to get his reward. After the pattern of speed is set, I then might incorporate speedy down, and then stay there until clicked/released.... For my dogs, I don't want to add the criteria of "stay" or "complete the behavior chain" into the meaning of the click. I am not saying either one of us is right, this is just how I use my clicker.
Shade

To me a click does not end a behavior.  I use the word "OK" as my release word.  I do not always mark commands either.  Typically if I am using a clicker or marker word (mine is "yes"), I am doing so to SHAPE a behavior, something the dog doesn't yet know.  I am breaking it down into baby steps and marking those.  As the dog is being shaped, the criteria changes.  For example, if I am using freeshaping to backchain a formal retrieve, my first session is to mark and reward the dog for putting his mouth on a dowell, not for taking the dowell and holding it perfectly for 5 minutes straight.  Normally there is no command given or introduced until the dog is already reliably doing the behavior or a part of the behavior you are trying to shape.  I typically use a marker word but do get out a clicker when timing and consistency are absolutely critical.  For example if I am polishing a behavior the dog has already learned, I'll probably use my marker word and mark as I've given a command and the dog has complies, but if I'm training a new behavior like the hold part of the retrieve I will use a clicker.