Talk to the Animals
 Clicker Training as a Communication Tool
Dr. Doolittle is a fictional character who sparks the imaginations of
children and adults alike with his ability to talk to the animals. Into
his care come cast aways and strays of all description and he befriends
them, studies them and learns to speak their language. Dr. Doolittle
represents as ideal for the humane treatment if animals and an important
reason that his animals are happy is because they can communicate with
him. Talking to the animals seems at first glance as a fanciful notion,
far removed from reality, but may be it is not so far-fetched. Maybe
there is a way to talk to the animals?
In the 1940s, two scientists, students of Harvard psychologist B.F.
Skinner began experimenting with the application of scientific principles
of animal behavior to the practical training of animals. Kellar and Marian
Breland discovered the power of positive reinforcement as a training
tool and their work is the basis for the spectacular marine mammal shows
seen a modern aquarium facilities. The incredible leaps and spins and
complex behavior chains exhibited by dolphins in these shows demonstrates
the effect of clear communication between the trainer and the animal.
Dolphins cannot be trained with physical force or induced with threats
to execute a joyful performance. Instead the Brelands used a marker signal
in the form of a whistle paired with food reward to strengthen natural
behaviors and put them on cue (hand or voice commands) in order to create
the amazing effects seen in the dolphin show. The animals were actively
engaged in the process of their learning, trying new things, jumping
higher, spinning faster in order to cause the trainers to produce the
marker signal and subsequently the food reward. This type of training
is a partnership between the trainer and the animal and the animal learns
to think and solve problems. The highly successful use of this method
with dolphins led to the popular myth that they are the smartest of all
animals, maybe even close to humans in their level of intelligence.
The Brelands also trained many other species of animals and they used
a click sound from a handheld cricket device as the marker signal with
animals such as dogs, cats and birds that were working in closer proximity
and not in a large aquarium tank. The term clicker training and the concept
of its application to companion animals, particularly dogs, was popularized
by Karen Pryor, author of the best selling book, Don’t Shoot the
Dog, the New art of Teaching and Training which was first published in
1985.
There are now more than 300,000 clicker trainers around the world and
the movement is growing quickly. Dog trainers were the first (after the
marine mammal trainers) to pick up on this developing technology, but
now many zoos and animal shelters are also finding that clicker training
can give them results with their animals that were previously impossible.
Clicker training provides a humane way to condition zoo animals to accept
and even enjoy husbandry procedures. At a recent clicker training conference
hosted by Karen Pryor Clicker Training, trainer Angi Millwood showed
dramatic footage of a rhinoceros willingly coming into a small enclosure
to accept as injection and a cheetah being trained to present itself
for a blood draw. Angi is the Associate Director of Behavior Programs
with Natural Encounters Inc and prior to that was the Animal Training
Coordinator at the Fort Worth Zoo, responsible for the Zoo’s animal
training programs for more than 350 animal species. Through the use of
clicker training and by studying and understanding the natural body language
and behaviors of zoo animals Angi and her colleagues around the world
are getting closer to talking to the animals. The animals are talking
back by offering cooperative behaviors and accepting procedures that
previously would have required the highly stressful method of subduing
them with a medicated dart.
Clickers are now being used in progressive animal shelters, thanks to
the pioneering efforts of Karen Pryor who provides free instructional
materials at her website www.clickertraining.com.
The most dramatic effect of using the clicker in a shelter is the noise
reduction which in turn reduces the stress level for both animals and
staff. One dog is not barking, click and treat. There’s another
one, click and treat. This one is not jumping at the fence, click and
treat. Soon all dogs learn that by their own actions (sitting quietly)
they can induce the staff member to produce a click and a treat. This
opens up a line of two-way communication between people and dogs and
suddenly the dogs are quieter, less stressed, more trainable and most
importantly more adoptable. New dogs and new staff members can quicly
learn the procedures from their peers. In a variation of this approach,
Andrea Bratt-Frick of B.U.N.S. rabbit shelter in California, uses the
click and treat method to encourage bunnies to come to the front of the
hutches when people come to visit. She has also taught them to do cute
tricks and to accept handling, which makes them more adoptable. Clicker
training enriches their lives of shelter animals and gives both animals
and handlers something fun and interesting to do while enhancing communication
between the species.
Clicker training is not about dominating an animal and bossing it around.
It is a way of building a strong bond of love and respect between people
and animals. The animals benefit by learning to think and having their
lives enriched and the people benefit by gaining insight into the inn
workings of an animal’s mind. Clicker trainers begin th understand
what their animal is thinking and why it behaves as it does. A very important
side effect of clicker training, especially for children, is the development
of empathy. Human psychologists and behavior therapists have developed
programs in conjunction with local animal shelters in which youth at
risk from violence or at risk from perpetrating violence are given the
responsibility of training a shelter dog using clicker training. Children
marginalized by early experiences with violence and lacking in trust
and empathy for people can learn through the relationship developed in
clicker training a dog to understand and empathize with another creature.
The processes and effects of one such program is described in the book “Teaching
Empathy: Animal-Assisted Therapy Programs for Children and Families Exposed
to Violence) by Lynn Loar, Ph.D. LCSW and Libby Coleman, Ph.D.
The most recent manifestation of clicker training is a teaching method
called TAGteach™ in which the click sound is used to reinforce
human performance. TagTeach™ is being used with child athletes
to fast track athletic skill development and enhance improvement and
enjoyment. The click sound is used as a audible “tag” placed
on a correct respons, action or position and it tells the student when
they are right. Mistakes are ignored and there is no punishment or negative
terminology used. Students can be the teacher and tag each other and
in this way they become kind and caring teachers and demonstrate concern
and empathy for thir teammates.
Clicker training and TAG teaching are much more than just training methods.
Young peole learning and using these methods will grow up to treat all
animals and people humanely and with respect. They will learn to use
positive reinforcement in all aspects of their lives and view this rather
than viopence or punishment as a normal way to influence the behavior
of others. By promoting nad teaching these methods to children we will
be encouraging them to follow the example set by Dr. Doolittle to take
the time to build positive relationships, understand the communication
of others and come as close as possible to being able to talk to the
animals.
Article Supplied by:
Joan Orr
Doggone Crazy!
2295 Mohawk Trail
Campbellville ON
Canada L0P 1B0
905-854-3232 (phone)
905-854-3271 (fax)
http://www.doggonecrazy.ca
|
