Kay Laurence - Learning About Dogs

Training Myths: The Three Second Rule

July 03, 2019 Sue McGuire Season 1 Episode 18
Kay Laurence - Learning About Dogs
Training Myths: The Three Second Rule
Show Notes

Click - shove

Click - shove

Click - shove

How many of us have heard that in order for understanding to happen when clicking and reinforcing behavior, the “treat” must be delivered within three seconds of the click?

That training protocol was to prevent any other behavior from sneaking in between the click and the reinforcer. Boy is that looking at the process too narrowly.

Learning fast does not  mean learning well.

In this episode Kay Laurence and Sue McGuire dive into the three second rule fallacy and what we really should be focusing on in the reinforcement process, 

People who click and shove should be asked, “What are you trying to teach as opposed to what are you trying to suppress? You can't count reinforcement by number of clicks per minute,” says Kay Laurence.  

The click represents the start of the reinforcement process. That process can vary, and should, depending on the behavior and placement of the reinforcement.

There is an online course on "Reinforcements and Rewards" starting July 10th through Learning About Dogs.