Question about using the variable schedule, help please!!!

Hi, I agree with Christina that the first example you gave is the preferred option. Always treat when you click, the click is a promise.

Is the criteria just to jump? Does it get any harder than that?

Regards,

Aidan

http://www.PositivePetzine.com

If you intend to use a variable schedule then your first suggestion is the best.
Always click and treat (or better to say: click and reward, as the reward do not need to be food)never click without following the click with a reward. If you do that the click end up loosing it's meaning. I see the click as a promise: the click tells my animal: you earned a reward. Keep that promise every time.
As for using a variable schedule there is some discussion about when to use it and if it is needed at all, some recommend staying on a fixed schedule (reward every time) I prefer this personally, because that helps me when I am increasing criteria - then a no click means "not exactly what I wanted, try again"
However a variable schedule does make later extinction of the behaviour harder - which is why it can be good to use a variable schedule.
I do not know enough about falcon behaviour to advice you on that.
But as I started out saying the answer to your question is: use the method described in your first example.
Please let us know how you progress. Birds of prey are amazing, I would love to hear more about training them!
Christina