| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Freya and Ceece |
Posted - 23 Aug 2010 : 11:41:25 AM
I have started teaching Ceece to bow on command and am using bits of carrot to reward her. She has never done any proper groundwork before and she's 11, so I thought I would need the treat to reinforce the good behaviour, she doesn't normally get them.
She has picked up the trick in about 10 minutes (I'm sooo proud!), but now she is expecting the treat in exchange for everything I ask her. She is becoming quite forcibly nibbly. Obviously this is no good and I just push her away when she does it, even if she has bowed for me beforehand.
Any tips on moving to do the trick without the treats and to help get rid of the nibbly behaviour? I know I may have made a rod for my own back :S. |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Bebely |
Posted - 26 Aug 2010 : 12:10:53 AM
Hi Freya
I found clicker training was brilliant for Tamba as he is bright, quick, mouthy and greedy 
However, you must "load the clicker" and as Trudi says you must get the horse used to the idea that they only EVER get treats when they get the click. If you don't, you will have a horse who will mug you and possibly bite to insist on the reward.
There are a few good books available you could google or pm me and I will give you the titles and authors.
I think it is hard to use treats to train a specific behaviour unless you have taught the clicker/reward response.
Good luck. |
| Fee |
Posted - 24 Aug 2010 : 9:36:54 PM
I used to do carrot stretches with Po and I would tap her knee to get her to put her head between her legs.
We've not done it for ages and ages and even I had forgot about until the other day I tapped her canon for her to lift her foot to be picked out and down came the nose between the legs looking for a carrot!  Nice try I told her! Imagine remembering and doing that out the blue!
Sorry to say but they never forget! Especially when it's treats! 
Fee |
| Freya and Ceece |
Posted - 24 Aug 2010 : 7:53:17 PM
I think I have a clicker somewhere that we used to start the dog's training when he was a puppy. I will have to try it out! I'll keep you updated... |
| Cate |
Posted - 24 Aug 2010 : 12:02:09 AM
I find clicker brilliant! |
| mazey |
Posted - 23 Aug 2010 : 6:14:41 PM
HiFreya, I have just started doing clicker training with my (mouthy) gelding. I was worried treats would make him more prone to mugging, but so far it has been working well. We started off by only clicking and treating him if he turned his head away - if he turns towards me to mug, he doesn't get a treat. I am trying to only use positive reinforcement but at present I have to also use negative, so he gets a flick against his nose to push his head away and then click/treat when he turns his head away.
I'm reading Ben Hart's book on clicker training - he talks about mugging in there. Also I think you have to start withdrawing treats so once the horse has learnt the cue and performs the desired behaviour you don't reward every time.
I'm not sure if you are using clicker training so this may not make sense to you.
Trudi |
