Clicker Training Blog

Golden retriever nurses stray kitten

By Miranda Hersey Helin on 10/09/2007

A golden retriever has stepped up to the plate as surrogate nursing mother to a stray kitten, according to an Associated Press report.

The hungry kitten, found in an old tire at a concrete plant, refused to drink from a bottle and her rescuers feared she would die. That's when Honey, the family dog who hadn't given birth in 18 months, stepped in with her motherly instincts.

"She started licking her and loving her. Within a couple of days, Honey started naturally lactating," said Kathy Martin, whose husband, Jimmy, brought the kitten home six weeks ago. "The kitten took right to her."

Clicking for Credit: Video of ClickerExpo Cleveland, 2007

By Aaron B. Clayton on 10/05/2007

Don't miss this great video from the 2007 Cleveland ClickerExpo. Entertaining and informative. If you've never been to ClickerExpo, this clip provides a great feel for the event—and if you've been before, see if you recognize anyone! Click here to watch!

Horse Needs to Calm Down? Try Football!

By Aidan Bindoff on 09/30/2007

A Thoroughbred x Irish Draft Horse given up as "unridable" has calmed down after learning to play football (or soccer as you may know the game). Horse trainer, Emma Massingale, taught her horse, Kariba, to play football as a therapeutic game to expend some energy.

Register by 9/30 for ClickerExpo Los Angeles and save $50

By KPCT on 09/26/2007

Only a few days Left to save $50 on ClickerExpo!

Alex the African Grey Parrot Dies of Natural Causes, Aged 31

By Aidan Bindoff on 09/18/2007

Earlier this month the world lost a very special bird, Alex, the African Grey Parrot.

In 1977, Dr Irene Pepperberg, then a doctoral student at Harvard, went to a pet store to purchase an African Grey Parrot for her Avian Learning Experiment (Alex is an acronym of this title). Dr Pepperberg didn't choose Alex as an extraordinary example of the species, insisting that the store-keeper choose a "typical" African Grey for her.

Guide Dogs for the Blind: Puppy Raising Clicker Trial

By Miranda Hersey Helin on 08/27/2007

Guide Dogs for the Blind, serving individuals across the US and Canada, has just announced that preparation is underway to launch a puppy raising trial program using clicker training techniques. The first Puppy Program Clicker Trial will commence in early 2008 using approximately 25 new puppies entering the program.

Over the past four years, the Training Department at Guide for the Blind (GDB) has skillfully utilized clicker techniques and fully appreciates the exceptional outcomes of using this powerful training tool. In the past year, GDB has successfully expanded the use of clicker training with students and alumni, and continues to assess other program areas that may benefit from clicker techniques. (Post continues....click "read more" below.)

Clicker trainer takes first place and special honors at International Freestyle Competition

By Miranda Hersey Helin on 08/23/2007

Our hearty congratulations to Michele Pouliot and her Australian shepherd "Listo" (pronounced "Lee stow") for winning first place and both of the special Attila and Fly awards for High Technical and High Artistic merit at the 2007 International Freestyle competition, held in Greeley, Colorado. The performing duo even received a perfect 10 from one of the judges. Michele's 8-year-old English springer spaniel "Cabo" wasn't far behind, taking fourth place. Want to learn how Michele does it? She'll be teaching sessions on freestyle and guide dog training at ClickerExpo 2008.

Way to go, Michele!

Are McDonald's wrappers a conditioned reinforcer?

By Tia Guest on 08/10/2007

When I heard about the study where preschoolers were found to prefer foods in McDonald's wrappers, I told my husband that the paper wrappers were a conditioned reinforcer. I was joking when I said it, but then realized it was true! The study showed that not only did kids prefer identical menu items wrapped in the familiar label compared to plain-wrapped food, but they even preferred healthy foods like carrots and milk when served up in the familiar McDonald's packaging!

What effective marketing McDonald's has created—youngsters have such a positive association with their brand. I wonder if the combined effects of play and socialization also contributed to the conditioning?

The research findings were published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine; an abstract is available here.