THE CLICKED RETRIEVER
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About this ebook
The retrieve is one of the most difficult skills for most dogs to master in competitive obedience. It is difficult because it involves a long series of steps that the dog must learn in order to complete the exercise successfully. Many trainers are realizing that teaching a complex series of behaviors like this is most easily done through the use of clicker training. The Clicker Retiever teaches you step-by-step how to clicker train your dog to do a solid, enthusiastic and reliable retrieve. Learning no-force techniques builds trust between you and your dog, makes training more enjoyable for both of you, and sets you up for life-long training success built on scientific principles, respect and fun. The Clicked Retriever also shows you how to apply retrieving skills to other activities such as flyball and service dog training. Click here to view an excerpt.
What reviewers are saying...
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
Written by professional dog trainer Lana Mitchell, who has helped pioneer clicker training since the 1990s and achieved High In Trial awards in both obedience and herding, The Clicked Retriever is a straightforward guide to using the clicker in retrieval training, one of the more complex types of training a dog can undergo because of its many steps. Chapters discuss how to build trust with one's dog without using force, training basics, retrieval basics, how to impress and strengthen the chain of retrieval steps, turning, holding and carrying, the directed retrieve, scent articles, and much more. Though written especially for dog show and dog obedience handlers, The Clicked Retriever is also ideal for anyone interested in teaching a hunting dog useful behaviors, or even ordinary pet owners who want to instruct their dog to play "fetch" rather than "tug of war". The Clicked Retriever even demonstrates how to apply retrieving skills to such activities as Flyball and service dog training. A superb, step-by-step pet trainer's manual. James A. Cox
DOGWORLD
First published in 1997, this new edition is jammed with training tips and step-by-step instructions. If you are new to clicker training, you will reap the benefits of the author's extensive knowledge of the art and science behind this training method... A glossary of clicker training terms is included at the end of the section, and the well-organized and detailed table of contents serves as the book's index... Even if you choose not to use a clicker, The Clicked Retriever is a valuable resource for your bookshelf. Terry Long
Lana Mitchell
Lana Mitchell is a pioneer in utilizing clicker training for competitive obedience, herding and conformation. Her clicker trained dogs have achieved High in Trial awards in both obedience and herding. After she started training with a click in the 1990s, Lana taught conformation and obedience workshops around the country with Karen Pryor and Gary Wilkes. Currently Lana competes in AKC obedience and herding trials, teaches clicker training classes and workshops for obedience, conformation and herding and is a regular contributor to the Clicker Journal. She lives in Louisville, KY with her Australian Shepherd, Nemo and her retired cutting horse, Ky.
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Reviews for THE CLICKED RETRIEVER
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THE CLICKED RETRIEVER - Lana Mitchell
The
Clicked
Retriever
Lana Mitchell CLICK! for Success Dog Training
The Clicked Retriever
Lana R. Mitchell
Distributed by:
Dogwise Publishing
A Division of Direct Book Service, Inc.
PO Box 2778
701B Poplar Wenatchee, Washington 98807
1-509-663-9115, 1-800-776-2665
website: www.dogwisepublishing.com
email: info@dogwisepublshing.com
© 1997, 2006 Lana R. Mitchell
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of printing brief quotations for reviews in articles. Written and printed in the United States of America.
Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty:
The author and publisher shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance, or use of the instructions and suggestions contained in this book.
Photos by Lana Mitchell
Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request from the Library of Congress.
ISBN: 1-929242-31-X Printed in the U.S.A.
FOREWORD
I was taking a traditional obedience training program for AKC open class with about 20 other students over several weeks. Things were going okay for me until we got to the retrieve exercise. The instructor started to explain to the class that we would be using the ear pinch
method. I was not feeling very good about this and it got worse after he explained the details.
I was determined to find another approach that did not require an aversive. I found a couple of great trainers certified by APDT that helped me hone my clicker skills and then one of these trainers told me about the book The Clicked Retriever by Lana Mitchell. I found what may have been the last used book on the market since it was out of print at that time.
I began following Lana’s detailed step by step approach to teaching a retrieve based on using a clicker and positive reinforcement. I was very impressed with Lana’s logical and detailed approached. It was also amazing to me that as I would read and practice a question would come to mind and in the next paragraph she anticipated my question and provided an answer. It is quite clear that Lana has done much research and taught this method before committing it to book form.
I felt it would be a terrible loss to the world of dog training for this work to remain out of print; not only because of the specific example of a positive retrieve method, but also because of Lana’s great instructional writing style (I wish more books were available in this style.) Anyway sometime after myself and other Lana Mitchell fans asked Dogwise to bring back this wonderful book I was excited to hear that they had decided to publish it. So I have to add that I was impressed that Dogwise really listens to their customers!
My dog ended up doing his retrieve as well as the top 3 or 4 dogs in our class and didn’t have his ears pinched.
Thanks Lana and thanks Dogwise!
Wes Anderson & TD
Click! for Success student and dog
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD
INDEX OF FIGURES
INTRODUCTION
SECTION 1
1 — 1 GETTING STARTED
RECOMMENDED TRAINING EQUIPMENT
OPERANT CONDITIONING — EXPLAINED
THE CLICKER
1 — 2 THE SHAPING PROCESS
SHAPING IS -
YOUR DOG -
1 — 3 THE TEN LAWS OF SHAPING
FROM DON’T SHOOT THE DOG!
THE LAWS OF SHAPING, EXPLAINED
ADDITIONAL RULES
1 — 4 THE TRAINING GAME
HOW IT WORKS
BE PREPARED
DOGS THAT QUIT
THE PRIMARY REINFORCER
ABOUT TRAINING WITH TREATS
JACKPOTS
THE TRAINING W
HELPING THE DOG
1 — 5 RAISING CRITERIA
WHY RAISE IT?
ADVICE FOR RAISING CRITERIA
SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION
CLICKING GHOST
BEHAVIORS
VARIABLE REINFORCEMENT
1 — 6 THE TRAINING GAME
TRAIN OFTEN
REMAIN QUIET
REMAIN CALM
MOVE AHEAD
MAINTAIN GOOD TRAINING HABITS
LATENT LEARNING
CORRECTIONS
CONSEQUENCES
DEALING WITH DISTRACTIONS
1 — 7 TARGETING
THE HYPE ABOUT TARGETING
GET IT GAME
1 — 8 CLICKER TRAINING TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 2
2 — 1 RETRIEVE BASICS
REQUIREMENTS
CONSTANT RETRIEVE COMPONENTS
VARIABLE RETRIEVE COMPONENTS
SCORING THE AKC OPEN CLASS
RETRIEVE ON THE FLAT EXERCISE SCORING
RETRIEVE OVER HIGH JUMP EXERCISE SCORING
2 — 2 SIZING UP THE DUMBBELL
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL
2 — 3 RETRIEVE CHAINS
THE LINKS
DETAILED RETRIEVE COMPONENTS
2 — 4 UNDERSTANDING THE RETRIEVE BEHAVIORS
THE TAKE
THE CARRY (HOLD)
TAKE FROM THE FLOOR
THE SITTING TAKE
PROOFING THE HOLD
THE GIVE
FRONTING WHILE CARRYING
2 — 5 CHAINING
BEGINNING THE CHAIN
STRENGTHENING THE CHAIN
STIMULUS CONTROL — WAITING FOR THE COMMAND
BEHAVIOR CHAIN PITFALLS
2 — 6 THE WORKBOOK
RETRIEVER COOKBOOK
WORKBOOK LESSONS
SECTION 3
3 — 1 SHAPING THE ‘TAKE’ BEHAVIOR
GET THE LOOK — LESSON 1
TOUCH — LESSON 2
REACH TO TOUCH — LESSON 3
WALK TO TOUCH — LESSON 4
LICK — LESSON 5
OPEN MOUTH TOUCH — LESSON 6
BITE — LESSON 7
UP & DOWN, LEFT & RIGHT, WALK, BITE & HOLD — LESSON 8
ADDING THE COMMAND — LESSON 9
3 — 2 TURNING, HOLDING, CARRYING
SHAPING A GOOD HOLD — LESSON 10
GETTING A TIGHT TURN — LESSON 11
THE DOG’S FIRST CARRY — LESSON 12
TURNING AND CARRYING — LESSON 13
THE RETURN, ADDING DISTANCE — LESSON 14
BREAKING THE MINI-CHAIN — LESSON 15
3 — 3 WORKING THE RETRIEVE CHAIN
MAINTAINING THE GAME — LESSON 16
TAKE FROM THE FLOOR — LESSON 17
TAKE FROM THE FLOOR, ADDING DISTANCE — LESSON 18
SHAPING A FAST RETURN — LESSON 19
ADDING THE THROW — LESSON 20
STIMULUS CONTROL — LESSON 21
SHAPING THE FRONT — LESSON 22
SHAPING THE GIVE — LESSON 23
3 — 4 RETRIEVE PROBLEMS
IN THE RING — LESSON 24
TRAVELING BEYOND THE DUMBBELL
NOT PICKING UP THE DUMBBELL
INCORRECT THROWS
FUNNY
DUMBBELLS
BAD
TAKE HABITS — LESSON 25
MOUTHING THE DUMBBELL — LESSON 26
SLOW RETURNS — LESSON 27
3 — 5 DIRECTED RETRIEVE
SCORING THE UTILITY CLASS — DIRECTED RETRIEVE
THE MARKING GAME — LESSON 28
SHAPING THE HAND SIGNAL
INTRODUCING THE GLOVES
THE PIVOT
SENDING THE DOG
GETTING THE CORRECT GLOVE
PROOFING THE DIRECTED RETRIEVE
SCORING THE DIRECTED RETRIEVE
3 — 6 SCENT ARTICLES
SCORING THE UTILITY CLASS — SCENT DISCRIMINATION
PUPPY SCENTING GAMES — LESSON 29
ADDING THE FIND IT COMMAND — LESSON 30
BUILDING DRIVE TO SCENT AND RETRIEVE — LESSON 31
FINDING THE CORRECT ARTICLE — LESSON 32
METHOD #1
METHOD #2
THE ARTICLE PILE — LESSON 33
PROOFING FOR SCENT DISCRIMINATION — LESSON 34
WHEN THE DOG IS WRONG — LESSON 35
SCENT DISCRIMINATION POINT DEDUCTIONS
3 — 7 RETRIEVING FOR FLYBALL
3 — 8 RETRIEVING FOR SERVICE DOGS
OBJECT DISCRIMINATION
3 — 9 GOOD NEWS
CLICK! FOR SUCCESS CONTACT INFORMATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX OF FIGURE
Figure 1 — Holding the Dumbbell
Figure 2 — The Look
Figure 3 — Turn and Carry
Figure 4 — Take from the Floor
Figure 5a — Proofing the Hold
Figure 5b — Proofing the Hold
Figure 6 — Fronting while Carrying
Figure 7 — Waiting for the Throw
Figure 8 — Waiting for the Take Command
Figure 9 — Walking to Perform a Touch
Figure 10 — Small Step Forward
Figure 11 — Short Hold, Turn, Carry
Figure 12 — Giant Step
Figure 13 — Take Back the Step
Figure 14 — The Front
Figure 15 — First Take for the Floor
Figure 16 — Taking a Dumbbell on End
Figure 17 — Directed Retrieve Hand Signal
Figure 18 — Glove Placement Graphic
Figure 19 — Working the Scent Article Pile
Figure 20 — Scent Article Retrieve
Figure 21 — Service Dog Retrieve
INTRODUCTION
This book in its earlier editions helped a lot of trainers not only shape a reliable retrieve chain, but also helped solve many retrieve problems. This newest edition is more concise, with a totally revised Clicker Training Introduction section.
The Clicked Retriever is really three books in one. Section 1, Clicker Training Introduction,
contains information for a novice trainer to learn about operant conditioning training and how to effectively use a behavior marker—usually a clicker. It explains the advantages of using operant conditioning over some of the more popular and better-known training methods, and why a behavior marker helps a dog and trainer team reach their full potential.
Section 2, Understanding the Retrieve Elements
is as much information about the many behaviors that are included in the retrieve chain as anyone can possibly absorb. It explains the necessary elements for the AKC Retrieve on the Flat and Retrieve over High Jump classes and how the exercises are scored. There is a chapter on sizing dumbbells and the importance of choosing the correct size and type for your dog. It contains a study on how chains are formed, and many photographs showing dogs executing the individual behaviors and explanations of how they should be shaped.
Section 3, The Retrieve Workbook, Shaping the Retrieve Elements
explains in depth how to shape each behavior in the retrieve chain. The workbook section is a step-by-step guide to teaching the retrieve from the first look at the dumbbell to executing front and gives behaviors. It contains detailed chapters about shaping your dog to perform all required behaviors in the AKC Directed Retrieve and Scent Discrimination exercises. Also in this section is information on applying the techniques taught in this book to the sport of Flyball and to retrieving skills needed by Service Dogs.
The Clicked Retriever will help you and your dog enjoy the retrieve training experience, and you will enjoy watching, as your best friend becomes a clicker-trained dog.
Lana Mitchell
SECTION 1
CLICKER TRAINING INTRODUCTION
1 — 1 GETTING STARTED
RECOMMENDED TRAINING EQUIPMENT
A well-fitting non-correcting collar — the soft cloth type with a plastic clip closure is an excellent choice.
Lightweight leashes of 2’, 4’and 6’lengths.
A lightweight long line if needed. Retractable leashes are not recommended since they make a clicking sound when the brake button is depressed and confusion between the clicker and the brake is possible.
Two dumbbells made of lightweight wood. An exact description can be found in Section 3.
Favorite treats — wieners (hot dogs), liver, lunchmeat, or anything else the dog will work for that can be quickly swallowed with minimal chewing.
A Clicker — the wrist and finger clickers are convenient and always close at hand.
A sense of humor, an open and creative mind, a distraction-free work area, and a hungry, alert dog.
OPERANT CONDITIONING — EXPLAINED
Since time began, operant conditioning has been the