Getting Started

Click & Reward is clicker training for lamas. Clicker training is slang for what behavioral scientists call operant conditioning. It is the underlying method by which all animals and people learn. Operant conditioning uses the skills, creativity, and participation of the lama to achieve the goal behavior desired by the trainer. Operant conditioning is not a new training method, it was developed by behavioral psychologist B.F.Skinner in the 1940’s. In the 1960’s it became widely used for marine mammal training. Its principles were perfectly suited for the “hands-off” training required when working with dolphins and whales. Dolphin trainers had to be very creative - how do you discipline an animal that can just swim away from you? Marine mammal trainers began to concentrate on what the animals were doing right, rather than on trying to discipline them for what they were doing wrong. By using positive reinforcement to shape those correct behaviors, they were able to develop the consistency and reliability of behavior that you see at oceanariums today.
The lama finds this type of training very enjoyable. He knows that he is rewarded regularly with treats (grain or special feed is usually used with lamas) that reinforce his behavior. We call the reward his primary reinforcer. This is simply something the lama really wants and is willing to work for. The conditioned reinforcer is the clicker, which serves as a signal at the exact time of the behavior, to let the lama know that he has performed the correct behavior, and his reward is coming! NOTE - The clicker is not used to call the lamas in from the field, or as a signal for the lama to actually perform a specific behavior. It is used only at the exact time the lama has performed the correct behavior, and is always followed by the reward. Once the lama has learned the behavior,and the behavior has been assigned a cue, these reinforcers (the grain and the click) can be eliminated. Today, this training technology is available to all lama owners. Below are a few simple steps to help get you started clicker training!

Introducing the Clicker

Always select an environment that is suitable for learning, away from other lamas and distractions. When using food (grain) as your primary reinforcer, you will need to adjust the amount of the lama’s normal daily grain ration to include the amount used in your training sessions.

Example: Lama normally receives 1 cup of grain per day. If you are doing one training session per day, reserve 1/4 of that to use during the session. If you were to do 4 training sessions per day, you would use 1/4 cup per training session.

Beginning training sessions usually last from 8-10 minutes, but can be shorter for younger animals. We find best results with shorter lessons, and with more sessions per day, rather than one long lesson. While holding the grain in one hand and the clicker in the other, present the grain to the lama. When his nose touches the grain, click/reward.
Let him have a taste, then pull the grain away. Remember - just a taste, just enough to keep him interested. You need your ration to last the length of the session! (Each click/reward/grain constitutes one round. Average training sessions should use no more than 15-20 rounds.) Present the grain again, let him have another taste, click/reward!
Repeat this 3 times. Then, for the next 3 rounds you will click/reward first, and immediately present the grain. By this time, the lama will start to associate the clicker with something good. (grain.) For the following 3 rounds, gradually increase the length of time between the click/reward and when the grain is given, 1-2 seconds. Finally, you will vary the length of time between rounds waiting 5-10 seconds or longer. By the end of the first session you should have established a one to two second delay between the clicker and the grain, and you should see the first signs of the lama associating the clicker
with the food reward. There should be a significant break between training sessions, at least 1-2 hours.

Simple Targeting

The target serves as a useful tool or prop in the teaching of many different behaviors. Targeting is one of the shortcuts in shaping behaviors. The target can be anything, a small notebook, or pad or piece of folded paper; any object that is close at hand, easy to recognize, lightweight and portable. A neutral object is best, something that has no prior positive or negative connotations for the animal. The purpose of the target is just as it sounds like - it gives the lama something to focus on, something to follow or to make contact with in order to be reinforced. Target training is used to train animals to complete physical tasks that they might not ordinarily do on their own.
Select your target object. Present the target to the lama - when your lama makes even a small effort to go near it, or even looks at it, click/reward! The object is to eventually get him to touch the target. At first, click/reward any movements in the direction of the target, until he is actually touching it. Because of the lama’s natural curiosity, it usually only takes 2 or 3 rounds for the lama to touch the target, and associate touching it with the click/reward. Once your lama is consistently touching the target, start moving it further and further away from the lama, in different directions. Try a few feet at first until eventually after a few sessions, the lama will walk 15-20 feet in order to touch the target, to hear the click, and come back to you for his reward. After a few sessions of target training, the animal will begin to actively seek out the target, and will be able to identify it in a variety of different areas.

Haltering

Once your lama consistently goes after your neutral target, you can teach him to target the halter. Choose a halter that is several sizes larger than your lama needs. A halter that has a stiffer noseband that will stay open works very well. Present the halter to lama backwards, with the cheekstraps and buckles towards you, and the nose open to the lama. Use the same process here that you used with your paper target - when the lama looks at or approaches the halter, click/reward. Once he is touching the target, only click/reward when he puts his nose in, even if only for a moment. Then reward for the lama putting his nose in and remaining still, then slowly extend the amount of time that the lama needs to hold still in the halter to get his reward. Eventually you can shape the lama to cross the pen in order to touch the halter, put his nose inside, and stand perfectly still until you buckle it. In essence, you are changing the animal’s attitude towards learning. Instead of pushing, pulling and forcing, your animal will actively want to participate and get the halter on! If you can condition your animals to run away from the halter, you can condition them to run towards it. This complete behavior will only take about 90 minutes (in 15 minute sessions, over 3 or 4 days).

This is just a sample of what can be quickly accomplished with clicker training. It can be used for many practical behaviors such as loading, standing for grooming, obstacle work, or for standing square and proud in halter class. Clicker training also works well for eliminating undesirable behaviors, such as kicking, spitting, dragging on lead, etc. Incorporate this new training technology into your training program today - you’ll be glad you did!

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