Information

My name is Marie Gulliford. I have made a career of working with pets for over 20 years. I have worked in large barns of 60+ horses. I own my own horses. I have boarded them in barns public, private, and now at home. I have always enjoyed training my pets. I have competed successfully in dog competitions and horse events. Recently I was introduced to a training method, which totally astounded me. I would like to introduce you to this very exciting training method and the person responsible for involving me with mules.
Roger Sigler was born and raised on a Kansas farm amidst a myriad of animals. He did no formal training with them until he was in his 20’s. Then he became a professional bird dog trainer, training over 300 dogs. He went on to become a Field Trial judge. Later he dabbled in Schutzhund training. He also became the president of a health care company with a veterinary section. This allowed him to become familiar with the medical side of issues. 10 years ago he became interested in mules. It did not take long to understand that training mules would require new training skills. By looking around at how people trained animals Roger discovered a great way to train. He has been using this method for a year now. Roger and I both believe it is the training method of the future. We would like to introduce you to our exciting discovery.
This method is called clicker training. The reason I am so excited about clicker training is that it is fun for both the trainer and the trainee. You and your mule form a working partnership without the need for harsh treatment of your mule. Clicker training is a tool that helps you and your mule communicate in a positive and precise way. This humane method develops the kind of relationship we all desire to have.
Clicker training is a reward-based method, which has its roots in science. Marian Breland was a student of B.F. Skinner in 1938. When she saw the work he was doing with classical conditioning and operant conditioning she was fascinated. She became a laboratory assistant for Skinner. In 1941 she married Keller Breland, a psychology student. When America became involved in WW2, Skinner and Breland sought to use their knowledge to assist in the war effort. They trained pigeons and dogs amongst other animals to assist the military. The pigeons were trained to guide bombs through visual discrimination.
They needed a way to train animals quickly, and to a high level of reliability. They based their training on operant and classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is when a stimulus becomes associated with a behavior. The closer the stimulus happens to the behavior the better the association. The best known example is when Pavlov’s dogs salivated at the sound of the bell. Classical conditioning happens all the time. Some examples of classical conditioning: you always halter your mule before turning him out. Soon your mule associates being haltered with going out. If there is one person who feeds as soon as he arrives, the mule will associate that person with being fed. The mule does not have a way of making the event happen. He simply reacts to the stimulus.
In operant conditioning the mule learns how to make an event happen. He lips the stall door latch and the door opens. He presses the automatic waterer and water comes out. He bucks and the rider is dismounted. Ooops we didn’t mean for him to learn to do that!
In 1943, after the war, the Brelands decided to try using what they knew about training animals to start a commercial enterprise. They founded ABE, Animal Behavior Enterprises. In 1946 they had their first paying customer, General Mills. Initially they trained animals for promotions, trade shows, television commercials, and special events. In 1954 they had dozens of coin operated show cages, featuring trained animals. These were presented at such attractions as IQ Zoo. In 1954 they broke into television advertising with The Coast Federal Savings bunny commercial. The parrots they trained for Parrot Jungle are still performing today. ABE developed roller skating and other acts that have become standard in bird shows today.
In 1955 they trained dolphins for Marine Studios in Florida, then they trained the staff. Marian and Keller wrote the first practical dolphin training manual. This work with dolphins brought the Kellers and Bob Bailey together. Bob Bailey was in the military stationed at Point Lagoon. In 1964 the first dolphin to work in the open ocean successfully completed its mission. After the early demise in 1965 of Keller Breland, Marian continued to operate ABE. By the late 1960’s they had perfected their training so that wild caught dolphins would work at sea in 90 days from the start of their training. Marian married Bob Bailey in 1976. Together they successfully trained hundreds of animals for many acts and the military. They have traveled the world to Japan, Mexico, and South American countries spreading the word of operant conditioning. Business and manufacturing companies were shown how to apply operant conditioning to their needs. In 1963 the Brelands were among the first to use operant conditioning to help the mentally retarded learn to do every day tasks. In spite of all their accomplishments their method of training did not catch on in the general public.
Karen Pryor became interested in operant conditioning in 1963 when she took over dolphin training at Sea Life Park. She became familiar with Robert Bailey in 1964. Her position as Head Trainer and Curator of Mammals gave her the opportunity to not only train dolphins but also whales and other native Hawaiian animals. Karen raised Welsh ponies and broke in 4-6 youngsters each year using a praise word in lieu of the clicker at that time. In 1984 Karen Pryor published “Don’t Shoot the Dog”. This book is about the application of operant conditioning to everyday living. The book still sells well. Karen has just completed a revised edition with better terminology and a chapter on clicker training. (for more information go to www.clickertraining.com)
Karen Pryor met Gary Wilkes after giving a talk at the Seattle Humane Society in early 1990’s. Karen and Gary Wilkes popularized the clicker training method amongst dog trainers, by doing seminars together from 1992-1998. Gary has focused on dogs, especially shelter dogs and pets with severe problems. Today many people train dogs with clicker training for all sorts of uses including, aiding the disabled, obedience competition, bird dog trials, breed shows, and police work. . Karen used operant conditioning in 1963 with her staff and her children. She recently introduced the method to people teaching autistic children in 1998. This method has worked remarkably well with these children, who are so hard to communicate with.
Karen met Alexandra Kurland, a riding instructor of High School Dressage amongst other disciplines, on the internet. Who was basing her work after reading “Don’t Shoot the Dog” 1991and after watching videos about clicker training. She wrote a series of articles for Hoofprint and her website in 1996. Alexandra Kurland wrote “Clicker Training for Your Horse” in 1998. She is in the process of finishing her second book on clicker training and horses. She is in the process of popularizing clicker training with horse owners. Horses respond incredibly well to clicker training. It is a training method they really enjoy. All sorts of problems can be overcome with clicker training. Trailer loading, fear of new objects, giving to the rider, walking on lead, lifting hooves for the farrier, upper level performance, and fun tricks just to name a few things you can train using clicker training.
Over the next few issues Roger and I will be writing about the application of clicker training to mules. We will be discussing the theory and the application. We will be taking photos to help you see just what we are writing about. In a section titled “Tigger Talk”, we plan to teach you through his eyes and ears. Tigger is a Red Dune with very prominent tiger striped legs. He is an 18 month old Impressive quarter horse bred mule. He started his clicker training when he was 6 months old. He lives with Roger and the rest of Rogers’ herd. We hope you will become as excited about clicker training as we are. Most of all we hope you and your mule will enjoy learning together.

Marie Gulliford Roger Sigler
doghair@worldnet.att.net
http://home.att.net/~doghair/index.html

Now that you know a bit about the background of clicker training, we’d like to introduce you to some of the terminology and philosophy. Just like learning any new subject it is important to understand the terminology. The philosophy gives you a basis for the application of the methodology. Most of the terms you have heard before. Clicker trainers like to be clear about what the meanings are so nobody gets confused about what is meant.
First let’s review what operant and classical conditioning are. Classical conditioning occurs when a stimulus becomes associated with an outcome. The stimulus can be anything. Some examples: lifting the lid of the feed bin makes a noise which tells the mule that you are likely to be feeding her soon. The smell of a freshly cut apple may make your mule salivate. The barn lights going on in the morning indicate that the morning routine has begun. Generally speaking these stimuli are meaningless until an association with an outcome for your mule occurs. When you get a new mule it has to learn about these stimuli before it will react to them. The mule cannot make the outcome occur. She simply reacts to the stimuli.
Operant conditioning occurs when a behavior becomes associated with an outcome. The behavior causes the outcome. Some examples: Pressing on the automatic waterer causes water to come out. Rolling on the ground makes that itchy place feel better. Touching the electric fence causes the mule to get a shock. Lifting the foot makes the person stop pulling on the fetlock. The mule learns to operate her environment so she gets what she wants and avoids things she considers to have a bad outcome.
Reinforcement and Punishment have precise meaning in operant conditioning. They are both commonly misused and misunderstood. Let’s take a moment to familiarize ourselves with these terms and their meanings. Reinforcement: This is something the trainee likes well enough to expend energy to get. Please note that the trainee defines what a reinforcer is not the trainer. Just because I have a bunch of rocks in my yard does not mean I can dole them out as reinforcers for work done around my place. If I hired you to work then paid you with a rock you probably wouldn’t show up for work again. On the other hand if I had a pile of diamond rocks I probably could dole them out as reinforcers for work done. There is a high probability that you would show up eager to work the next day after receiving a diamond for working the previous day.
Punishment also has a specific meaning in operant conditioning. Punishment: This is something the trainee dislikes enough to work to avoid, it often suppresses behavior. Again the trainee defines what is punishing. Being sprayed with cold water when it is 60 degrees out may well be a punishment. Alternatively being sprayed with cold water when it is 90 degrees out may well be a reinforcer. If you tap your mule on the nose for biting at you and the mule continues to try and bite you by definition you are not punishing the mule. You may be annoying the mule, but you are not punishing her since she continues to repeat the behavior.
One more definition to understand is extinction. Extinction occurs when a behavior diminishes because it is not reinforced. Animals repeat behavior that is beneficial to them. They also stop doing behavior that is not rewarding to them. Extinction is better to use than punishment because it has no side effects. No desireable behavior is suppressed so none is lost.
There are four quadrants of operant conditioning. The quadrant most often used in clicker training is +R. Positive reinforcement is when the trainer gives something to the mule that the mule likes for doing something the trainer likes. The trainer is adding a reinforcement to increase the likelihood of the trainee repeating that behavior. All beings repeat behavior that is productive for them. If the behavior is not repeated then the behavior was not reinforced by definition.
The quadrant least used in clicker training is +P. Positive punishment is when the trainer does something to the mule that the mule dislikes to decrease the likelihood of that behavior happening again. The reason clicker trainers avoid using punishment is because it has many side effects. Punishment diminishes all behavior not just the target behavior. Additionally punishment needs to be extremely well timed to be effective. If it is delivered even 5 seconds too late it may not be associated with the target behavior, then you will have much work to repair other suppressed behaviors.
The quadrant most used in training mules is –R. Negative reinforcement is when the trainer takes away something the trainee does not like in order to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. The trainer may pull on the reins until the mule stops, then the trainer stops pulling. Soon the mule learns that if it stops right away the pulling stops faster. The mule has learned how to halt by the use of negative reinforcement. The negative being the pulling of the reins, the reinforcement being the ending of the pulling. The fact that the mule stops faster on subsequent trials indicates that learning has taken place.
The least used quadrant is –P. Negative punishment is when the trainer takes away something the mule wants in order to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring. For example you are approaching your mules stall with her food, your mule starts to paw, you back away, your mule stands nicely. When your mule was pawing you took away the possibility of being fed which diminished the pawing behavior. At this point you would probably give her the food as long as she was not pawing.
By looking at the chart you can see that the four quadrants are related. The strongest relationships are along a diagonal line between quadrants. When you use +R you will also be using some amount of –P. By giving a reward for a job well done there will be times you withhold the reward for a job not well done. Likewise –R and +P have a strong relationship. In order to remove something unpleasant you first have to have something unpleasant happening, when you apply that unpleasantness you can be positively punishing the behavior which is occurring at that time.
All this may seem a bit confusing at first. It will become clearer as you go along in your training.
For now it would be a great idea to do a little research with your mule. See if you can identify 10 rewards for your mule. A couple of easy ones are grain and tail scratches. Practice giving your mule these rewards until you can do it quickly and from a variety of positions. Such as from the ground, from the saddle, from the off side, from behind (for when you are driving), and from in front. If you are using grain try to only give a tablespoon amount. Find out the least amount of reward you can give and still have your mules’ interest. If your mule starts to get mouthy or pushy, stop and wait for better behavior before continuing. This exercise is not to train your mule but to help you learn how to reward quickly and efficiently. You may drop some feed at first but soon you will get better and not have so much difficulty.
Next month we will discuss what to use as rewards and why. We will also start doing some training (hooray!!). Until then enjoy learning about what your mule likes and dislikes. To get more information on clicker training for your equine you can sign up for the newsletter by writing to International Clicker Equine Trainers' Society
I-ClickETS

For a newsletter, contact:

Karen Willmus
P.O. Box 191
Glenwood, MN 56334

willmus@runestone.net


There is also a lot of information available on the internet. A list specifically set up for clicking equines is set up at Onelist which provides this address for subscriptions:
http://www.onelist.com/community/clickryder

And this is the address for ClickRyder Website:
http://www.angelfire.com/az/clickryder/home.html

These are run by

JudyRyder Duffy
iceryder@cableone.net

Marie Gulliford and Roger Sigler
doghair@worldnet.att.net
http://home.att.net/~doghair/index.html

Last month we talked about definitions, such as reward (anything the mule will work to get) and punishment (something the mule works to avoid). There are still a few more new terms to learn but we will learn them as we go along. We also mentioned that there are four quadrants to operant conditioning, +R (positive reinforcement), -R (negative reinforcement), +P (positive punishment), and –P (negative punishment). All learned behavior is learned through the use of either operant or classical conditioning. There are behaviors, which do not have to be learned called innate or instinctive behaviors. Some instinctive behaviors are suckling, sniffing, and walking. Clicker training uses primarily the positive reinforcement quadrant of operant conditioning to get behavior to happen. This quadrant uses rewards to motivate the trainee to do behaviors the trainer wants.
Rewards are such a big part of clicker training that I feel we should discuss them a bit. It is important to know what your mule likes. It is also helpful to know of several things your mule likes and in what order. Perhaps your mule likes grain, carrots, and scratches in that order. Knowing this information you can reward most often with carrots and when your mule does something great reward with a bit of grain, this is called jackpotting. If your mule does something correctly but slowly you may decide to reward with a scratch, this is called using the least reinforcing stimulus (LRS for short). I always have two or more types of rewards on hand when I am training so I can vary the reward. This is not necessary to do. I have trained animals just using their normal feed without any difficulty. When I use just the normal feed I jackpot by giving 3-4 portions one after another while praising.
The size and type of reward is also important. First the size, if you are using treats then you would do best by using bite size amounts. The mule should be able to take the treat in one bite and swallow within 5 seconds. Using larger portions slows your training down since you have to wait while your mule chews and swallows before progressing with training. If you use scratches and pets limit the time to 15 seconds. The more time you spend giving the reward the less training time you will have. The release of pressure from the reins should also be 15 seconds or less. If you use dismounting as a reward I would strongly recommend using it as a jackpot or end of training session reward. The type of reward you use will depend on your mule and you as a trainer. Some people are not comfortable giving food as a reward, no problem as long as your mule likes scratches. It is up to you, as trainer to discover what your mule likes enough to work for.
How to carry the treats, clicker and lead rope or reins is another important topic. I personally use a fisherman’s vest. It has many pockets, is durable, and very comfortable to wear in any weather. Other people use a nylon belt bag, also known as a bum bag, or a treat pouch. Some people use feed stations, which are places along the arena where they have placed some treats. It is best not to hold an open container with treats. It is easy for your mule to learn to push the container to spill the treats and have lots of goodies for bad behavior.
Clickers come in a variety of colors and styles. The new tabbed ones are great. The tab makes it very easy to attach them to a wristband. You can also drill through the corner of a regular clicker and put it on a chain. If you are very coordinated you can just hold the clicker in your hand or between your thumb and the lead rope or reins. There are also fancy clickers made for children in the shape of frogs, crickets, and other items. These clickers tend to be fragile and have a softer click noise. A clicker is very inexpensive normally under $4.00 each. It is a good idea to get a few so one will be handy when you want it.
The first thing to teach your mule is the click=reward connection. It is very easy to do. Take your clicker and some treats out to your mule. Click the clicker then give your mule a treat. Repeat this until your mule looks expectant for a reward. Now it is time to teach your mule the second part of the clicker connection, which a particular behavior causes you to click.
I like to train targeting as a first behavior. There are several reasons for this. It is easy for the person to determine if the mule is actually doing the behavior or not. The first learned behavior tends to become a default behavior that the trainee does whenever confused or begging. It is something your mule probably has no previous experience with. Most importantly it has many useful applications later in training.
To teach your mule to target, first pick out a target. It should be something your mule can bite, pick up, push, and even step on safely. A small cone, plastic lid, Frisbee, or even brushes are some suitable items. Now place the target where your mule is likely to touch it with his muzzle. As soon as he touches it click then give him his reward. Take the target away after you click. Repeat this a few times, perhaps 5-20. It is important that you not try to entice him into touching it. There is no need to wave the target about, shove it under his nose, or point to it. Your mule does not even need to have a halter on for this first lesson! Some mules will do really well for a few touches then stop to ponder what is going on. This is OK. If your reward is good enough your mule will return to the task, frequently with more vigor than before. This is the slowest part of clicker training. Never again will it take so long for your mule to understand what is happening. Have patience at this point, the speed at which you can train later more than makes up for this one session. If things are progressing very slowly you may need to click for just being near the target a few times.
Now move the target a couple of inches in any direction, when your mule touches it click and reward. If he can’t seem to find it you may have moved it too far, simply go back to where he was last having success. Soon your mule will be moving quite a way just to touch the target. Congratulations you have trained a new behavior! Quit while you are both having fun. Shorter sessions are better to begin with, about 5-20 minutes. After a break you can go out and try again. Different mules progress at different rates. Some mules will only be touching the target in a 3-foot circle the first session. Other mules may be going 20 feet to touch the target or may even start to fetch the target.
This is a great time to play with your timing. By that I mean when you click. If you click early very often your mule will learn to almost touch the target. If you click late your mule may learn to push the target, bite the target, lick the target, back away from the target, or even lip the target. If your mule offers lots of different targeting behavior you are probably clicking too late on a regular basis. By watching your mule closely you can click when he is touching the target with a particular part of his muzzle, such as the top of the nose, the upper lip, the lower lip, etc. If you want to teach your mule to fetch you need to click for the lips touching the target rather than the nose or chin. Experiment with clicking different types of touches, hard touches, soft touches, and pushy touches. There is no better time than now to learn about good timing and how timing affects your training.
I hope both you and your mule have fun learning how to touch a target. Until next month, Happy Clicking from Marie Gulliford and Roger Sigler. Doghair@worldnet.att.net
I hope everyone had fun last month training their mule to touch a target. This month we are going to take target training and use it to learn more about training. We will also cover using a target to get behaviors that we all want from our mules.
I hope you paid a lot of attention to how your timing affected your mule’s behavior. Timing is such a key issue in all training that I would like to briefly review it here. Good TIMING is one of the things that separates an average trainer from a great trainer. Regardless of the training method used if the trainers’ timing is inconsistent or poor their results will be poor. There are lots of ways to improve your timing. You can play video games, jump rope, play sports. You can practice with the clicker. Drop a ball; click each time the ball hits the floor. Have a friend watch or video tape yourself for really objective information on your timing. You can practice your timing with your mule. Click each time a particular hoof touches the ground, first as the mule walks, then trots, then canters. If you are riding please be aware that your mule may suddenly stop for his reward after you click. I’d really recommend doing this exercise from the ground at this point. You can be working your mule at liberty, lunging him, or even just walking him on a lead rope. Practice your timing a lot and your training will improve immensely.
Another key issue in training is CRITERIA. Criteria is a shorter way of saying what your goal for this training trial is. A trial is one behavior. For target training one touch of the target constitutes one trial. One near miss of the target also constitutes one trial. Your criteria could be a touch of the target with the upper lip. Your criteria could also be two touches of the target with the muzzle. You as trainer determine what your criteria is. The trainee (mule) will let you know if your criteria is too much.
The Bailey’s describe trainers as lumpers and splitters. Lumpers tend to go for large leaps of criteria. Whereas the splitters make criteria changes as small as possible. In their experience while it may look like the lumpers proceed faster; in actuality splitters do a better job of training in a shorter period of time. This is because lumpers frequently have to go back and retrain behaviors since parts of the behavior are not well learned. Splitters by contrast never have to go back and retrain since the animal has learned each part clearly. The animal has more confidence, as it is sure of what to do next.
To understand more about criteria have some more fun with the target you have trained your mule to touch. Start placing it away from you. To begin with you may only be able to move it a couple of inches in any direction from where you start. As your mule continues to touch the target start to move it further each trial. See how far you can move it before your mule doesn’t go to it. Be sure to click when the mule touches the target. Your mule can return to you for his reward or you can go to him. I personally like to go to my trainee as I find it helpful for other training such as ground tying, and driving. Notice how far you can move the target and still have your mule find it. This will give you an idea of how much change between criteria your mule can handle. Every mule is an individual, some may be able to have a change of 1 foot each time others may do best with changes of 3 inches. It is up to you as trainer to discover what works best for you and your mule.
The distance exercise can be used to teach your mule to go out to the end of the lunge line. First you have train your mule to go 20 feet away from you to the target. Then, you set the target at the end of the lunge line. Give your cue for going out as the mule is going out. When your mule reaches the target ask your mule to circle for lunging. You will eventually remove the target after you have the behavior of moving away from you solidly on cue.
Targets can be used in many different situations. Going to a target can be used to teach your mule to go up to scary objects, load into a trailer, and go over jumps. Another use of the target involves teaching the mule to stay at the target. Once your mule has learned to stay at the target you can use it for ground tying, grooming, saddling, farrier and veterinary work. You can train your mule to follow a target. Once your mule is following the target reliably you can use the target to train your mule to lead nicely, lunge, and drive. The key to being able to do all of these things is to pay attention to your criteria and your timing.
Roger started teaching Tigger about touching the target while he was in his stall. Tigger being curious came right up to the jug and sniffed it. Roger clicked then rewarded him. As soon as Tigger was touching the target jug often, Roger changed the position of the jug by a few inches. Tigger soon learned that touching the jug not Roger was what made the click happen. Once Tigger would touch the jug anywhere it was placed in his stall, Roger took the jug and Tigger outside. At first Roger held the jug again. This is because changing locations is a change of criteria for a newly learned behavior. Tigger soon discovered that touching the jug outside was just as rewarding as touching the jug in his stall. At this point Roger put the jug on the ground. Tigger easily found it for a click and reward. Now Roger is able to move the jug further and further away.
I started Sweetie an older mule owned by Kris Anderson the same way. Once she was touching the target (a ball in her case), I added a scary plastic bag to the picture. At first I put the bag some distance from the target. Each subsequent trial I placed the target closer and closer to the bag. Eventually placing the target on the bag. Finally, I placed the target so Sweetie would have to cross over the bag to touch the target. I did not move the target until she was relaxed touching the ball where it was. My criteria was for Sweetie to be relaxed touching the ball. She walked right over the plastic easily, progressing in this way.
I used the same method to teach her to go into a trailer. I started with the ball outside the trailer on the ground. As soon as she was comfortable touching the ball there I changed my criteria. The criteria change was to touch the target about a foot closer to the trailer. I made sure she was comfortable at that distance before making another change in criteria. If she were more nervous I would have only moved the target a couple of inches each time. Within a few minutes she was stretching her nose into the trailer to touch the target. I then moved the target far enough into the trailer that she had to step in with one foot to touch the target. I quit there. We had been working for a long time and I personally like to end on a good note. In her next session I would begin with her touching the target just outside the trailer.
Have fun with your mule. Be sure to pay attention to criteria as you train this month.
Marie Gulliford and Roger Sigler
Doghair@worldnet.att.net

I hope everyone had fun last month training their mule to touch a target. This month we are going to take target training and use it to learn more about training. We will also cover using a target to get behaviors that we all want from our mules.
I hope you paid a lot of attention to how your timing affected your mule’s behavior. Timing is such a key issue in all training that I would like to briefly review it here. Good TIMING is one of the things that separates an average trainer from a great trainer. Regardless of the training method used if the trainers’ timing is inconsistent or poor their results will be poor. There are lots of ways to improve your timing. You can play video games, jump rope, play sports. You can practice with the clicker. Drop a ball; click each time the ball hits the floor. Have a friend watch or video tape yourself for really objective information on your timing. You can practice your timing with your mule. Click each time a particular hoof touches the ground, first as the mule walks, then trots, then canters. If you are riding please be aware that your mule may suddenly stop for his reward after you click. I’d really recommend doing this exercise from the ground at this point. You can be working your mule at liberty, lunging him, or even just walking him on a lead rope. Practice your timing a lot and your training will improve immensely.
Another key issue in training is CRITERIA. Criteria is a shorter way of saying what your goal for this training trial is. A trial is one behavior. For target training one touch of the target constitutes one trial. One near miss of the target also constitutes one trial. Your criteria could be a touch of the target with the upper lip. Your criteria could also be two touches of the target with the muzzle. You as trainer determine what your criteria is. The trainee (mule) will let you know if your criteria is too much.
The Bailey’s describe trainers as lumpers and splitters. Lumpers tend to go for large leaps of criteria. Whereas the splitters make criteria changes as small as possible. In their experience while it may look like the lumpers proceed faster; in actuality splitters do a better job of training in a shorter period of time. This is because lumpers frequently have to go back and retrain behaviors since parts of the behavior are not well learned. Splitters by contrast never have to go back and retrain since the animal has learned each part clearly. The animal has more confidence, as it is sure of what to do next.
To understand more about criteria have some more fun with the target you have trained your mule to touch. Start placing it away from you. To begin with you may only be able to move it a couple of inches in any direction from where you start. As your mule continues to touch the target start to move it further each trial. See how far you can move it before your mule doesn’t go to it. Be sure to click when the mule touches the target. Your mule can return to you for his reward or you can go to him. I personally like to go to my trainee as I find it helpful for other training such as ground tying, and driving. Notice how far you can move the target and still have your mule find it. This will give you an idea of how much change between criteria your mule can handle. Every mule is an individual, some may be able to have a change of 1 foot each time others may do best with changes of 3 inches. It is up to you as trainer to discover what works best for you and your mule.
The distance exercise can be used to teach your mule to go out to the end of the lunge line. First you have train your mule to go 20 feet away from you to the target. Then, you set the target at the end of the lunge line. Give your cue for going out as the mule is going out. When your mule reaches the target ask your mule to circle for lunging. You will eventually remove the target after you have the behavior of moving away from you solidly on cue.
Targets can be used in many different situations. Going to a target can be used to teach your mule to go up to scary objects, load into a trailer, and go over jumps. Another use of the target involves teaching the mule to stay at the target. Once your mule has learned to stay at the target you can use it for ground tying, grooming, saddling, farrier and veterinary work. You can train your mule to follow a target. Once your mule is following the target reliably you can use the target to train your mule to lead nicely, lunge, and drive. The key to being able to do all of these things is to pay attention to your criteria and your timing.
Roger started teaching Tigger about touching the target while he was in his stall. Tigger being curious came right up to the jug and sniffed it. Roger clicked then rewarded him. As soon as Tigger was touching the target jug often, Roger changed the position of the jug by a few inches. Tigger soon learned that touching the jug not Roger was what made the click happen. Once Tigger would touch the jug anywhere it was placed in his stall, Roger took the jug and Tigger outside. At first Roger held the jug again. This is because changing locations is a change of criteria for a newly learned behavior. Tigger soon discovered that touching the jug outside was just as rewarding as touching the jug in his stall. At this point Roger put the jug on the ground. Tigger easily found it for a click and reward. Now Roger is able to move the jug further and further away.
I started Sweetie an older mule owned by Kris Anderson the same way. Once she was touching the target (a ball in her case), I added a scary plastic bag to the picture. At first I put the bag some distance from the target. Each subsequent trial I placed the target closer and closer to the bag. Eventually placing the target on the bag. Finally, I placed the target so Sweetie would have to cross over the bag to touch the target. I did not move the target until she was relaxed touching the ball where it was. My criteria was for Sweetie to be relaxed touching the ball. She walked right over the plastic easily, progressing in this way.
I used the same method to teach her to go into a trailer. I started with the ball outside the trailer on the ground. As soon as she was comfortable touching the ball there I changed my criteria. The criteria change was to touch the target about a foot closer to the trailer. I made sure she was comfortable at that distance before making another change in criteria. If she were more nervous I would have only moved the target a couple of inches each time. Within a few minutes she was stretching her nose into the trailer to touch the target. I then moved the target far enough into the trailer that she had to step in with one foot to touch the target. I quit there. We had been working for a long time and I personally like to end on a good note. In her next session I would begin with her touching the target just outside the trailer.
Have fun with your mule. Be sure to pay attention to criteria as you train this month.
Marie Gulliford and Roger Sigler
Doghair@worldnet.att.net

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