Scientific dog training?

The Myth I Want To Bust Is That "Positive Dog Trainers Do Scientific Dog Training."

No, we generally don't. We train (almost) just as unscientifically as all other dog trainers, regardless of training method. We believe, hope, guess and cross our fingers just as much as everyone else. After a training session, we usually have a "feeling" about whether it went well or not, but feelings are notoriously imprecise "science". You can often get far by trial and error and making adjustments along the way based on how you THINK it's going, but that's not "scientific training".

I write "almost just as unscientifically" in the paragraph above, because many good trainers at least understand some scientific learning principles that they base their training on, to a greater or lesser degree. This is many steps better than basing training on anecdotes, misunderstandings and pure trial and error.

At best, I can stretch to say that clicker training is "largely based on scientific principles". But to call what we generally do "scientific training" is an insult to science. So I'd suggest we take a closer look at how we can improve in this area.

How to Train More "Scientifically"?

If we want to train more scientifically, we need to introduce several new things into our training habits.

- First, it's important to define concretely which behaviour is the goal of the training, and in which situation that behaviour should be performed. You should also have an OBJECTIVE target for how well this behaviour should be executed, and ideally a deadline for WHEN the goal should be achieved.

- Second, we need to make observations and collect data throughout the training. The reason for collecting data is, simply put, that we can then KNOW whether training is progressing or not. We no longer need to rely on guessing and feelings. (The prerequisite for being able to collect precise data, however, is that we have defined the behaviour beforehand, cf. point 1.)

- Third, this data needs to be presented in a visually logical way, so we can USE this data to make better decisions in training.

Does our data show that training is progressing fast enough that we'll reach (our objective!) target within the deadline? Great, then we CONTINUE in the same way.

Does the data show that we've reached our target? Great, then we can STOP training this behaviour and move on to the next goal.

Does the data show that training is progressing too slowly? (and do you actually know what "too slowly" is?). OK, then we need to CHANGE something about the training.

And when we make this change, we of course continue to collect data. When we then follow the new data, we can learn interesting things about how this change affects learning effectiveness compared to what we did before. The graph shows the change in effect in black and white. There's no more guessing involved.

Next level, please…

Over the past 20-30 years, the challenge has been to get people to train reasonably "positively" at all. Much has happened here!

I think the next step in development should be to make training more scientific. This will mean that the knowledge we generate along the way will be significantly more reliable than if we just continue to base ourselves on belief, hope, love and feelings (or training diaries with unsystematic notes).

In short – fewer opinions, more data.

Am I saying that ALL dog training must be done scientifically all the time? No.

Am I saying that all dog owners should do it? No.

Do I firmly believe that all INSTRUCTORS and SERIOUS TRAINERS should know how to work scientifically with behaviour change so we can do it from time to time (much more than before!) – and then communicate that new knowledge in an understandable way to other dog owners? YES.

Theory AND Practice!

Scientists are not automatically good dog trainers. Practical knowledge and skills in dog training are therefore at least as important as before. But if over the next 20 years we can also start to supercharge good training skills with greater use of scientific methods, I believe development can be considerably accelerated.

Canis's 1-year clicker instructor course is designed precisely to give you such a platform.

• You learn concretely how well-executed dog training (clicker training) looks in practice
• You learn to observe behaviour precisely (in both dog and handler)
• You learn to collect data throughout training
• You learn about Precision Teaching so you can use this data to optimise your training.
• You learn how the same learning principles we use in dog