Thanks so much, everyone, for your delightful accounts of learning by observation. It's a fun question; I've had over 200 answers so far, and they're still coming in. I hope to pull together a formal report sometime in 2002; here are some preliminary comments.
I was impressed by the overall clarity of the reports. Description is the first and most basic tool of behavioral science. A few people, mostly non-clicker trainers, contributed anecdotes (something they heard about, or something they saw and then interpreted in a personal way). Most people, however, gave good straightforward descriptions of events. Perhaps clicker training teaches us to put aside explanations, interpretations, hypothesis, excuses, and other head trips-and just watch what the animal is doing.
Based on your reports, the evidence seems to suggest that some dogs do indeed learn by observation. Clicker dogs watching other dogs get clicked have a great advantage in that the behavior is very clearly identified. It also seems to be a real advantage to be a gaze hound, or sight hound; they, after all, are bred to use their eyes. Nice descriptions however came in from all across the board: pit bulls, terriers, herding breeds, toys, and mutts.
Interestingly, in the same situation in which one dog has learned to do something by watching, another dog in the same household may draw a complete blank. There does seem to be wide individual variation in this ability within the same breed or even among littermates.
And it won't surprise you to learn that cats, without any training needed, frequently learn behaviors by watching what the dogs are laboriously being shaped to do, and then doing it. And doing it better.
Two weeks ago I went to Houston for the annual big International Cat Show. I'm proud to say that my new book "Clicker Training for Cats," won an award from Ralston Purina for the best cat behavior book of the year, and also an Award of Excellence from the Cat Writers Association. The cat show was great. I especially enjoyed the dignified senior judge who held up each cat, discussed its good points-"Sweet expression...glorious coat..." and then, as he put the cat back in its cage, gave each cat a little kiss on the head.
People are buying the cat clicker book for fellow clicker trainers, or for family members, as a Christmas present. Our company will giftwrap your order and ship it the same day. If you like, I'll autograph your copy.
By the way I'm also always glad to inscribe and autograph copies of "Lads Before the Wind" or "Don't Shoot the Dog." Just put your request in the notes section of the www.clickertraining.com order form; or tell the customer service folks at 1-800-47CLICK that you want Karen to sign your books. They are tenacious about getting this behavior out of me before shipping the order.
And here is a new question for you to play with:
Do you use clicker training (with or without the actual clicker) to help your dog at the veterinarian's?
Example: When my young poodle grew up enough to begin challenging other dogs in the waiting room I got out the clicker and treats to persuade him to mind his own business. I've also used it to teach both my dogs to get on the scales and sit to be weighed. (Mimi the cat also does this for me at the vets.) What do you use it for, and does it help?
Karen Pryor is the founder and CEO of Karen Pryor Clicker Training and Karen Pryor Academy. She is the author of many books, including Don't Shoot the Dog and Reaching the Animal Mind. Learn more about Karen Pryor or read Karen's Letters online.
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