Focus on the student and the process Someone recently asked me how the term “microshaping” developed, and what, exactly, it means. I think I probably originated that term

The limited hold is scientific terminology—laboratory slang, really—for a good way to use the marker and reinforcer to speed up response to a cue. We’re all used to sluggish responses. You call folks

This letter is shared for historical reference and enjoyment. While it reflects the best practices at the time of publication, standards and recommendations may have evolved. You can read

This article is shared for historical reference and enjoyment. While it reflects the best practices at the time of publication (03/01/2005), standards and recommendations may have evolved. This article

Unlocking Animal Creativity What if you could ask an animal to invent something new? The “creative” game, an application of operant conditioning, was first developed with dolphins at

Getting Started So how do you actually begin to teach this to a horse? I start by teaching a simple trick. My intent here is to condition the secondary

Clicker training is a terrific, science-based way to communicate with your pet. You can clicker train any kind of animal, of any age. Puppies love it. Old dogs

Below are The Ten Laws of Shaping, as included in Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. Since it was first published, we have learned more about the

This article is shared for historical reference and enjoyment. While it reflects the best practices at the time of publication (04/01/1997), standards and recommendations have evolved.  However, this article is