Author archive: Terrie Hayward

For today’s dog training and animal behavior tidbit we answer the often asked question, “What is a clicker and how do you use it in dog training?”

If you prefer to read about what a clicker is, and how to use it when training your dog, below is a lightly edited transcript of the video.

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Hi, thanks for joining us. I’m Terrie Hayward from Positive Animal Wellness and today we’re going to talk about a question that I often get asked which is, “What is a clicker and how do you use it in dog training?”

For those of you that are not familiar with a clicker, a clicker is a small device that makes a consistent and repeatable sound. This is called a box clicker and on the back, it has a little bit of metal and when I push my thumb into one part of it, it makes a clicking type of a sound. There are other clickers that look similar maybe with rounded corners, maybe with a little bump instead of the box design, but they’re all set up to do the same thing.

Basically, clickers are a marker and a marker is a communication device. They allow us to communicate with an animal and explain, when you hear this noise it means that the thing you just did was what has now earned you access to something you find reinforcing.

A marker allows us to pinpoint a behavior that we’d like to highlight and then what we need to do is make sure we pair our marker with something the animal, the individual learner, finds reinforcing. That’s key because otherwise, a clicker on its own is just a plastic box. But if the animal understands that every single time you make this “click” noise it means something good is on the way to them–then they start to look out for that noise. The animal realizes the thing I just did earns the click–let me do that more often because it means I now have a road or path to access something I like.

In particular, clickers are handy because they are a unique sound in the environment, they carry no emotion, and it sounds the same no matter who uses the clicker. However, in addition to a clicker you can also use a verbal marker. Sometimes people use the word “yes” or the word “good.” Remember, a verbal marker is always paired with something the dog finds reinforcing.

Additionally, you can use another type of auditory marker. You may have seen the use of a whistle with marine mammals. We can use whistles with dogs too, again, always pairing our marker–whether it’s a clicker, a verbal marker, or an auditory marker–with a reinforcer. We can even use visual or tactile markers. I frequently work with deaf dogs and so this “closed fist, open fist, closed fist” is my visual clicker. Just like my auditory clicker anytime I make that sound or make this “starfish” hand gesture I always pair it with something that my learner finds reinforcing.

When it comes to training your dog, I hope that you’ll consider using a clicker and doing some clicker training. Whether it’s with your clicker, with a verbal marker, or with a visual marker to better communicate your with your animal.

Thanks so much for joining me!

Are you a deaf dog parent that struggles with communicating with your deaf pup? Then the video below is for you.

If you prefer to read about “How to Communicate with Your Deaf Dog” below is a lightly edited transcript from the video.

Hi, thanks for joining us. I’m Terrie Hayward from Positive Animal Wellness and today we’re going to talk about a question that I often get asked which is, “How do I communicate with a deaf dog?”

I did write a book, “A Deaf Dog Joins the Family.” Which might be handy and I also have an online course that’s coming out soon.

But just to give you some of the basics, I came up with an acronym which is CALM and it stands for Communication, Attention, LIMA, and Management. I’m going to explain what those words mean.

Basically, the first step is that you need a mode of communication with your deaf dog so this means that you need to teach and condition a visual or a tactile marker.

A marker, which I’m going to talk a little bit more in-depth about in another video, explains to the dog that the thing that they just did is the thing that has now earned them access to something that they find reinforcing. That allows you to have that dialogue back and forth.

The next part is attention because if a deaf dog isn’t looking at you (certainly there’s tactile to be considered as an option) they can’t “hear” you.

Therefore, we want to teach your deaf dog to actively and consistently check in with you. And we want to make that behavior of them looking back at you something that they do often, something that’s a default, and something that they find reinforcing.

The third component I mentioned is LIMA, which stands for
Least Invasive Minimally Aversive. This means that we want to use positive reinforcement techniques to communicate with
your deaf dog. Further, it means that we want to research and understand and find people to work with, and ways to go about teaching and training, that use these positive reinforcement methods.

Finally, management is an important component when we’re using any type of teaching or training because we want to set up the learner for
success. This means we want to avoid situations where the problem might arise while we’re subsequently teaching what we want the dog to do. And then reinforcing those behaviors so if we can use our acronym of CALM we can certainly have effective communication with our deaf dogs.

Thanks for joining us!

 

Remote dog training is going to be the new normal for the foreseeable future as the dog training profession has been upended due to Covid-19. When it comes to online training and behavior consults I have been working virtually for many years. Often times my clients are surprised to learn that I’m talking to them from the island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean!

I started working remotely with clients when I began consulting on separation anxiety in dogs. Online work lends itself well to separation anxiety cases since my presence could change the dynamics of the situation.

I also often work with special needs dogs and found that there were many clients seeking help who I could  reach out and connect with virtually, too. My remote model organically expanded from there to where I now work with clients on-line about ninety percent of the time.

Another reason I initially transitioned to online work was because I was looking for an alternative means to income generation that wasn’t specifically tied to my geographical area.  Additionally, I recognized that sometimes finding a qualified positive reinforcement trainer close to clients was a barrier to effective training. I’m lucky that via virtual behavior consults I’ve been able to help people around the world!

Initially, I began working at a distance with phone consults and then moved to a variety of platforms for video conferencing. Ultimately I ended up primarily using Zoom.

My online dog training consult evolution has led me to also launch a business with my husband called Pet Trainer HQ. We developed a platform that brings clients and professional, qualified, positive reinforcement trainers together. The virtual consult model was something that had been successful across other fields for a long time. With Pet Trainer HQ the idea was to facilitate smooth, easy connections with appropriate, positive reinforcement-based trainers and consultants and people who needed help.

Remote Dog Training Consults – Getting Started

People might feel a little bit nervous at first when thinking about offering virtual behavior consults. Questions arise like; “What exactly are the requirements?”  “How would I go about doing this?” “What type of technology do I need?” and “How do know what behavior modifications are needed if I’m not there with the dog?” 

When considering working with your dog training clients virtually the tools that you need are not complicated. The first key is a reliable internet connection and preferably a backup internet service as well. I actually have triple redundancy with two paid services and a phone-tethering option. 

You want to also consider the camera that you’re using. Most laptops, tablets, and/or smartphones have a built-in camera. However, recently I came across two clients who had older computers that didn’t have cameras.  A workaround for this scenario is to suggest folks purchase a separate camera. Most external cameras have a USB port that you can plug right into a laptop without a lot of complications. This is generally an easy and seamless solution. 

Keep in mind that you want to have anything you want to use when you’re interacting with your client handy. If you’ve got a live demo-dog or a stuffed animal make sure they are close. Be sure you have your treat pouch, clicker, and anything else you might need for a demo nearby. Things like a food puzzle, muzzle, or harness might be helpful for your session and should be within arm’s reach.

Remote Dog Training Consults – Booking and Payment

The next step is making sure that you can schedule appointments and get paid for your time. As mentioned previously, I frequently use the Zoom platform. Within the Zoom interface you are able to create a meeting link, which you can send to clients. The link also automatically populates in your calendar. The advantage of having appointments auto-populate, either via Zoom or with a scheduler like Acuity is you are less likely to double book or forget an appointment altogether. 

Pet Trainer HQ uses Acuity scheduling, which handles booking and payments, and sending appointment notifications with a Zoom meeting link.

There are also several online payment options. Most people are familiar with PayPal, which is an online platform that will link with your bank account. For U.S based trainers, Venmo is a payment app that doesn’t have a fee. Some other payment choices include Stripe, Amazon Payments, Dwolla, and Braintree.

Online Dog Training Consults – Logistics (Background, Lighting, Sound)

Once you’ve sorted your camera, scheduling, and payment, the next important logistics are background, lighting, and sound. 

You want to have a clean background and a quiet spot where you can work. Moreover, you want to take into consideration any other potential extraneous noises. Sounds like an accidental video playing in the background, outside traffic, or client dog’s barking that could get your own dogs barking would be things to think about and proactively sort ahead of time. 

A professional online image is as important as your image in real life, so you want to confirm that whatever is in your client’s line of view looks tidy. Having a neat and quiet space for your work is important because it helps your clients to stay focused on what you’re discussing.

The background refers to what your client will see behind you during the video conference. You want to make sure that you have a tidy workspace. Before going online, take a glance around your meeting area and pick up random dog toys. Check that there isn’t a lot of clutter or that there aren’t distracting items in the camera view.  You also want to take note of the location of mirrors and other reflective surfaces like picture frames which could inadvertently add unintended images into the scene.  

Another critical component of doing remote dog training consults is lighting. A good way to test your lighting set up is with your cell phone. Move around and take a photo or shoot a video while you check out different spots to get the best light. You want to think about various times of day as they will give you different lighting and shadows.

An additional consideration for a successful remote training consult is sound. Be sure that your sound quality is good. Determine if you need a separate microphone. Most laptop computers have a built-in mic. and in most cases, it is sufficient. Also think about situations where you might need to do a demonstration  away from the screen. Be sure that you speak loud enough and enunciate clearly and that your microphone is strong enough to capture your voice.

Virtual Dog Training Consults – Record Keeping

I have two laptops–and it’s like command central! With two computers I have a comfortable set up for viewing and for note taking. It’s really helpful to think about how you’ll compile notes so that you can email them to your client afterward. This enables your client to be able to focus on the lesson vs. trying to jot down reminders.  

Additionally, with online behavior consults, you have the benefit of being able to record and send the session to your client. This way they can review your meeting and go back to any parts that they might have found confusing or might like to review. At first you might cringe when recording training sessions, but video is a good tool which clients often find very helpful.

Remote Dog Training Consults – Handy Tips

When moving to working virtually it is important to ensure that you sell the benefits to clients.  The model that most people are accustomed to is that either you go to their home or a specific spot, or they come to you. Sometimes people pose the question, “How will you understand the behavior problems that I’m having if you’re not here to see them?”

Since you don’t want to encourage a dog to practice unwanted behaviors, ask clients to take a short video on their phone, and send a little snippet so it’s possible to observe the situation.

Another advantage is that working virtually can eliminate flooding. If you go into the home of a fearful dog this might exacerbate their anxiety.  Some dogs feel more relaxed working in their own house without a stranger present. With fearful dogs, clients can also use headphones to further minimize disruptions.

There’s also the convenience of scheduling. There’s no commute time, which is a bonus on the trainer side too. This means that sometimes you might be able to do appointments at times that are closer together than others, or later or earlier than you might otherwise be able to offer in person.

Remote Dog Training Consults – Effective Communication

Working virtually provides the perfect opportunity to finesse communication skills and to use and become more fluent with techniques like TAG points. 

For example, when working on behavior issues in person it might be tempting to just grab the leash and show the client the skill yourself. However, when consulting online, instead you’ll need to do a demonstration with your dog or with a stuffed dog and then walk the clients through the mechanics of the behavior. This process also helps us remember to break down skills into small approximations which facilitates skill mastery. 

If working virtually is new for you, you want to make things as easy on your end as possible too.  Preparing some TAG points in advance can help the lesson flow more smoothly.  Too, I often send clients an email ahead of a lesson and let them know of any props, special treats, etc.  that they need for our meeting. 

A final advantage of working online is the ability to share your screen. This affords you the option of creating some PowerPoint slides or to preparing a video and then share your desktop to show concepts to clients.

Virtual animal training and behavior consulting have many advantages, the least of which isn’t that we can still successfully help modify and teach behaviors online with clients!