Karen Pryor Clickertraining - Enjoy

The Ethology of Clicker Training

Karen Pryor — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

I used to think of myself as standing perpetually on a bridge, with a foot in each camp. I used to expend a lot of time trying to talk psychologists into understanding or at least coming to watch what we were learning about the animals with their science. No luck. No luck in the other direction, either: the behavioral biologists were not much interested in training or reinforcement.

Bad Bob

Karen Pryor — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0500

"He's surprised, did you see that?" I said, laughing, to the watching people. It's easy to startle a horse; but this was not alarm: this was just pure amazement. That expression told me two things: first, he thoroughly understood the game we were playing. Second, in his past experience, things usually just went on and on getting worse, not better. What I wanted to do was to pat Bad Bob (which at present he would probably hate) or throw my arms around his neck, or give him a month's supply of alfalfa pellets. What I did was smile, and pay him his treat. Poor thing. Maybe Festina Lente will turn out to be a better place for you.

Clicking Birds: A Veterinarian's Perspective

KPCT — Sat, 01 May 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Leigh Clayton is a resident in avian/exotic animal medicine at Boston's Angell Animal Medical Center, formerly Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, specializing in avian care. Recently we asked her a few questions about why she recommends clicker training for every patient she sees.

Clicker Dogs and Owners Respond to September 11

KPCT — Thu, 18 Oct 2001 00:00:00 -0500

From Bob Sessions, Thunder, and Sky: Karen, I must thank you again for the training foundation skills you share so generously. I am with Maryland Task Force 1, one of the FEMA Task Forces. I was on the first recon team to enter the Pentagon on 9/11.

Amygdala: the Neurophysiology of Clicker Training

Karen Pryor — Wed, 01 Aug 2001 00:00:00 -0500

About a year ago I gave a talk to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers about advances in clicker training, in which I discussed the possible relationship between clicking and the amygdala, a structure in the limbic system or oldest part of the brain. Many people have emailed me to find out more, so I thought I would give you a recap and an update.

An Update: Books, Movies, Glamour—and the Canary

Karen Pryor — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

When I wrote the first edition of Don't Shoot the Dog, back in the early 1980s, I intended it as a handbook for helping PEOPLE dealing with people.

Podcast: Elbows off the Table, Please! Teaching Dinnertime Manners

Aidan Bindoff — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:07:00 -0500

Listen to Aidan's podcast (available at the bottom of the page) to find out more about Teaching Dinnertime Manners. Read the original article here or watch a video on the same subject here.

One Book Closes and Another Opens?

Karen Pryor — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Writing a book is like having a baby. There is never a convenient time to do it. It's much more work than you remember from last time. And it usually takes longer than you thought it would.

Podcast: Independents' Day: Challenges Facing Independent Trainers

Aaron Clayton — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0500

Podcast: The Phoebe Chronicles IV: Phoebe Goes to School

Gale Pryor — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:00:00 -0600

A Change—and a Canary

Karen Pryor — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0600

For six years I have been writing a monthly letter to you. In the beginning, back in 2002, "Karen's Letter" was usually about new products and events, but gradually I began using the letter to talk about the science of training, and about the impact of the new technology we are developing from that science.

Stepping on the Food: A Memo from Karen

Karen Pryor — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

You're training "leave it." You drop a bit of food, the dog lunges toward it, and you cover it with your foot. Are you just managing the environment, or is this negative punishment, taking away something desired?

Saving Jack: Clicker Training an Aggressive Border Collie

Renee Premaza — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:00:00 -0600

I'd like to tell you the story of my relationship with a 14 month-old Border collie. This dog was used to having his own way in life; he was dominant/aggressive and extremely hand-shy when I adopted him. If it weren't for the use of a little clicker toy, I am positive he would not be alive today.

Podcast: Why Isn't Clicker Training on Oprah?

Aaron Clayton — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:00:00 -0600

Listen to Aaron's podcast (available at the bottom of the page) to find out his reaction to the Dog Whisperer appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Read the original article here.

What is Microshaping, Anyway?

Kay Laurence — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

This month I'm welcoming a guest author to the Letter from Karen, British clicker training innovator Kay Laurence. Please enjoy this wonderful discussion of what Kay has dubbed "microshaping."—Karen Pryor

New Year's Resolutions, Clicker-Style!

Aidan Bindoff — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:00:00 -0600

When you make your New Year's resolutions this year, why not include your dog? Popular resolutions such as "get more exercise" can easily include the family pet, and many spiritual, personal growth, environmental, and philanthropical goals can include your best friend, too. Here are our top 7 ideas for including a favorite canine in your New Year's resolutions.

Podcast: Kindness First

Melissa Alexander — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:00:00 -0600

Listen to Melissa's podcast (available at the bottom of the page) to find out why putting kindness first is a start to improving your behavior. Read the original article here.

A Holiday Treat from Karen

Karen Pryor — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

My next book, Reaching the Animal Mind, will be published by Scribner in the fall of 2008. Here's my Christmas present to you: a story from the book.

Clicking in Scandinavia: Norwegian Champions

Miranda Hersey Helin — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Morten Egtvedt and Cecilie Køste, two of the newest ClickerExpo faculty members, are a married training team from Norway. The pair were early adopters of clicker training and are Scandinavia's leading authors on this technology. Morten and Cecilie have been top European competitors in obedience, tracking, and agility. Their clicker training school focuses on using clicker training to win in competition; teachers and students from their school are not just top clicker trainers, but also top-notch competitors in European dog-related sports. Morten and Cecilie edit and publish a full-color magazine on dog training, and publish and sell Don't Shoot the Dog, as well as many other clicker titles in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, and Finnish. Recently we spoke with Morten and Cecilie about their background and success.

Podcast: Defining Common Ground

Melissa Alexander — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Melissa Alexander is the author of Click for Joy! Questions and Answers from Clicker Trainers and their Dogs, an unparalleled guide to the concepts of clicker training. She is also the moderator of ClickerSolutions, a popular online discussion forum.

Listen to Melissa's podcast to find out why defining common ground improves communication. Read the original article here.