Clean Run - March 2011 - 38

When to Add a Formal Cue If the behavior is simple and is easy for the dog to perform, such as a “pet sit” (as opposed to something much more structured like a front for obedience), then the formal cue can be added early in the shaping process. If the behavior is a complex one and a high degree of accuracy is needed in the final product, then wait until your dog has been shaped to at least 80% accuracy for performing the entire behavior. Just remember that performance standards should always be shaped first before attempting any stimulus control. Shaping performance first avoids any confusion for our dogs regarding performance versus stimulus control errors. Performance errors occur when your dog performs the cued behavior but it doesn’t meet criteria; so your dog doesn’t get reinforced because the performance doesn’t meet standards. Control errors occur when your dog offers the behavior but your dog hasn’t been cued yet (remember the tests of a powerful cue; the dog must wait for the cue, he can’t just offer it). So if you start adding your formal cue too early in the shaping process, how is your dog supposed to know why he isn’t being reinforced when it could be for any one of several reasons? Be sure your behaviors meet performance criteria first before you begin to add a formal cue and put the behavior under stimulus control. Training Tip: When introducing new cues, the cues should be sharp and clear. A cue can later be refined to an even a smaller signal if needed.

Here I am giving a huge arm signal to back up. When the cue (a byproduct of my throwing the treat at him to get distance on the back-up) was established more firmly, I reduced the arm signal to a smaller movement.

Just remember that performance standards should always be shaped first before attempting any stimulus control.
How to Add a Formal Cue First identify any existing cues. These are cues that you intentionally or inadvertently attached to the behavior while you were shaping your dog. Say or give the formal cue just before the behavior occurs. If you have an informal physical cue, then remain perfectly still, say your formal verbal cue, then immediately follow it with the informal physical cue. You are trying to link the verbal sound to the informal physical action you create just after the sound. Do not reward your dog for guessing or offering any other behaviors when working on stimulus control. Your dog must learn to wait for the cue. The timing is critical because the presentation of the formal cue acts like a click to reinforce your dog for waiting to be cued. It goes something like this: Verbal Sit cue from handler; the dog sits; the handler marks the behavior and tosses a cookie to the side so the dog gets up to get the treat. The dog walks back to the handler and the handler hesitates a nanosecond (so the dog doesn’t do anything but stand there and look at the handler), and the handler rewards the dog’s waiting for a cue by giving the Sit cue. Remember to wait until your dog is calm and still, then give the cue for the behavior. Your dog must learn to wait until cued to do the behavior. Once you have started to put a behavior on cue, do not reward a behavior unless you have cued it.

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Clean Run - March 2011

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