Learning About Dogs - Clicker Trainers Competency Assessment Program

Clicker Training is a fast growing teaching method that has evolved into thousands of different classes and interests around the world.

Essentially the definition of a "clicker trainer" is a person who trains using a clicker. Competency is not directly measurable by the description. Some clicker trainers are reaching for the sky and able to achieve astonishing results, some clicker trainers are simply adding the clicker to an existing program of training, which may or may not be coercive.

To gain access to this powerful method the teacher (clicker trainer) needs to be skilled, very self aware, observant, able to analyse, adjust the teaching to suit that particular dog at that particular time. As they develop their skills their understanding of the process deepens and they are able to transfer the learning to other animals, other fields of interest and have genuinely learned to communicate with another species through skilled use of the clicker.

I believe the true power of clicker training is seeded in allowing the dog to self teach and in particular through the method of capturing the behaviour. The canine ownership of the learning results in very secure cue association and reliability of quality. The dog truly becomes involved in the learning process, becomes highly motivated and teaches us poor humans a thing or two about learning.

The Competency Assessment Program (CAP) is designed to serve two purposes:

The assessment system is not intended to hi-light what a person has not achieved, but what a person has accomplished and give confidence at their achieved level.

Assessment is given at three grades:

All criteria must at least achieve a 1 to pass.

Achievement in the lower level with Distinction of Merit is required to progress: ie to take Novice Level 2 you will need Merit or Distinction at Foundation Level 1.

Assessors are required to have Distinction in the higher class to assess, ie Distinction in Level 2 to assess Level 1, and will need to shadow assess to gain experience before being a certified assessor.

The assessor will be looking at the process of clicker training through the trainer's technique, ability to be flexible, meet the needs of the dog, develop positive learning experience for the dog and communicate effectively. At no time will the dog be under test. The dog is not expected to be perfect, the assessor will only be looking at the trainer's competency as demonstrated by the behaviours.

The trainer will be expected to take responsibility for selecting the exercises or behaviours to suit the dog and the environment and prove to the Assessor the requirements of the criteria for that level.

Achieving Foundation and Novice level is quite sufficient for most dog owners. They will be able to train the basic behaviours required of society, with reliability in a range of situations. For those wishing to enter sports, train dogs for work or develop behaviour modification programs should follow the curriculum and be assessed at Intermediate and Advanced Levels.

Results of all assessments are kept on a central database at Learning About Dogs. To respect your privacy this is not accessible outside the Approved Assessors.

Successful trainers may use the initials: CAP1, CAP2, CAP3, CAP4 after their names to indicate certification. If you are interested in implementing the CAP system for your training staff please contact us direct.

Assessment opportunities are be held through the year and may be in conjunction with other events or workshops. The cost per assessment will be in the region of £7-£12 ($12-20) depending on the cost of the venue. Assessment by Video or DVD is acceptable, please make sure the format is compatible with the Assessor's.

It is essential you have a clear plan for your demonstration and make sure all criteria are clearly and sufficiently demonstrated, particularly for video assessment. You may refer to your plan through the demonstration.

More advanced trainers can be assessed simultaneously at Level 1 and Level 2, but the trainer is responsible for ensuring their demonstration adequately covers ALL the required criteria.

Trainers may take any assessment as many times as they wish until a Distinction is achieved. Trainers may review their grades and discuss areas in need of improvement with the assessor.Details of certified assessors and assessment days are on the website or in Teaching Dogs magazine.

All Assessors are certified by Learning About Dogs and have achieved Distinction in the Level higher than that which they assess. Two Assessors independently assess the Advanced Level 4.

To become and Assessors you will need previous experience assessing (not judging) in any field or be invited to gain assessment practice alongside a Certified Assessor. To become an Assessor you will need endorsement from an existing Assessor who will be able to mentor your development.

If you would like to book an Assessor for your own class / organisation please contact us for the nearest Assessor direct.

This level is assessing the basic skills of handling the rewards, clicker, lure and target stick/hand. The trainer's ability to communication with the dog without coercion, their observation and decision making skills. Trainers would be expected to be able to add cues to behaviours and have shaped and lured simple behaviours.

The trainer demonstrating that they can:
1. Handle food rewards safely and efficiently.
2. Deliver food rewards from hand or pocket.
3. Deliver from a reserve kept off the handler.
4. Operate the clicker in either hand with a non-visual movement.
5. Give reasons for their choice of reward.
6. Attach a verbal cue to a behaviour without supporting body language.
7. Give a cue without excessive body language or unnecessary repetition.
8. Have taught the dog to respond to the cue without excessive hesitation.
9. Use a target stick or target hand, clicker and rewards and deliver food effectively.
10. Have taught the dog to focus on the target and respond promptly to the target cue.
11. Give the click appropriately to effectively communicate the rewarded behaviour.
12. Withhold the click to gradually extend the duration of a behaviour.
13. Deliver the reward with fluency and good timing to encourage further learning
14. Free shape a behaviour that is interaction with a new object without giving the dog assistance from verbal or visual cues.

The demonstration is the evidence provided by the trainer of their competency in the criteria. Evidence must be sufficient and leave the Assessor in no doubt of the competency of the trainer. The demonstration should take no longer than 20 minutes.

This level is assessing the trainer's ability to secure a solid foundation in achieving a consistent quality and reliability to cue and develop more complex behaviours in free shaping.

The trainer has demonstrated that they:
1. Have taught a behaviour through targeting where the target has been faded.
2. Have transferred a targeted behaviour to a new target or cue.
3. Have achieved and maintained fluency in at least 3 behaviours
4. Have achieved and maintained a consistent quality in at least 3 behaviours
5. Have maintained a consistent standard of 3 behaviours in different locations
6. Have maintained a consistent standard of 3 behaviours with distractions
7. Can attach a verbal cue to a behaviour where the body language is variable
8. Can attach a visual cue to a behaviour where the body language is variable
9. Can change the cue attached to a behaviour.
10. Can demonstrate the behaviour does not happen unless cued.
11. Can use a different reward.
12. Can shape a new behaviour that is a physical movement without luring or targeting
13. Can free shape a behaviour that is interaction with a new object without giving the dog assistance from verbal or visual cues.
14. Can continue with the free shaping by adding a physical movement to the interaction with the without giving the dog assistance from verbal or visual cues.

The demonstration is the evidence provided by the trainer of their competency in the criteria. Evidence must be sufficient and leave the Assessor in no doubt of the competency of the trainer. The demonstration should take no longer than 30 minutes.

The assessor will be looking for different collections of compound behaviours, advanced shaping and evidence of data collection and analysis.

The trainer has demonstrated that they can:
1 Use a single cue to chain at least 3 individual behaviours where a reward is only given on completion of the chain.
2 Maintain the quality of each behaviour within the chain (above).
3 Chain at least 6 individual behaviours where each individual behaviour is cued and reward is only given on completion of the chain.
4 Maintain the quality of each behaviour within a chain (above).
5 Merge at least 3 behaviours that occur simultaneously into one new behaviour.
6 Collect data demonstrating progression of learning and analyse the results.
7 Have free shaped a new complex behavior without overtly directing the learning.

The demonstration is the evidence provided by the trainer of their competency in the criteria. Evidence must be sufficient and leave the Assessor in no doubt of the competency of the trainer. The demonstration should take no longer than 30 minutes.

The trainer must demonstrate that they have completed a research project that makes a distinct contribution to clicker training.

The study must

1. Contain original research with supporting evidence.
This can be contributed from multiple sources, i.e. many dogs or many trainers. Single study subjects may be approved however demonstration of repeatability of study between dogs/handlers is recommended.

2. Include practical application. The published process must contaIn sufficient detail to be replicated by other trainers.

3. Include a summary of results. Raw data is to be available for examination, and contain video evidence.

4. Contain critical assessment of the results and a clear indication how the study makes a contribution to clicker training

5. Include full bibliography and references.

The outline of the project must be pre-approved and the final presentation can be through written or video presentation and suitable for publishing.