Introducing Spoken Commands From Free 'shaping'

[Casey76]

Knowing me, I've done this completely back to front  

I did a bit of clicker training with Pinto a while ago, and he targets really well (I really want to try it in the manege next with the target along way away - there is only so much you can do in a 10x10stable!)

I managed to teach him to 'look away' without the clicker, though he will only do it for his mum, he still looks for treats from everyone else  <_<

At the weekend I got the clicker back out again with the intent of teaching him to lower his head.  I started with my hand on his poll and the command 'head down' (after doing a bit of targetting), but he didn't really like it too much, and I didn't fancy getting squished, so I backed off, and just started C/T whenever he lowered his head.

It didn't take long for him to click on (no pun intended :P), and now if he wants a treat he'll look away, step back, and if that doesn't work he'll bob his head *how cute is that*

I started to introduce the command "head down" and then only C/T when he lowered his head after the command, but it's very hit-and-miss, so I was wondering if I was doing things correctly.

Should I still be C/T for a head "bob" or should I also be holding out for a more sustained head lowering, or should I wait for a nose-to-the-floor?

Obviously my intent is that, on command, Pinto will lower his head to the floor, and keep it there until I say otherwise, but I'm getting confused with the progression of the exercise.

Help? anyone?

[michelle c]

hi, i have just taught my mare to do this and she loves it so much that when we stand together and do nothing for a while she puts her nose on the floor and waits for a treat!!!

you want to reward each progressive try, for instance he puts hs head lower than the last time click/treat him, if he is doing the same hight every time with hold the click untill there is improvement. it only has to be slight as you dont want to confuse him or he might get bord of the game you want to make it as easy as possible!!! also when you do get his nose to the floor he may try different positions like central to the left or right, you want to then reinforce click/treat when his head is down and central! then you can build duration.

hope this helps
michelle

[horsefreak]

Ok - well I did it like this --

- first I taught Ebby to lower her head by putting a small amount of pressure on her poll, and when she put her head down (even only a small amount) she got a click and treat. We played with this for a couple of days, till I only had to touch her poll lightly and her head was lowered.

- Next, I introduced the word 'down'. I did this by putting my hand on her poll, and saying 'down' at the same time - head lowered, click treat. I carried this on for a few days, however it was only till I rode out and thought Ebby's like some grass after being very good on a long hack that I put this into 'real life' practice - I leant forward, put my hand towards her poll and said 'down' without touching her - head went down, a click and her treat was grass.

From there she had realised that now 'down' meant a lowered head, and a click and either a treat or grass. I found this really useful in that when riding I could easily not let her eat, but I could when I felt she'd like some/been really good/needed a bit of a perk - all I had to say was 'down'.

For you personally, I think you'd best introducing a more 'physical' cue rather than a word - a hand on the poll, for example. This gives Pinto something he can rely on as a 'stable' cue, rather than 'head down' (which I think is a bit of a long phrase for a cue - you might want to say one word only, like just 'head' or 'down'). He may at first have no idea what you are on about, but as soon as his head lowers the click must be there - Ebby's so quick for this, if your timings not right then she won't forgive you that easily, and will become dis-interested straight away