1. Train one element at a time.

2. Get a response, get it consistently, then improve on it.

3. Raise your standards in small enough steps that the animal continues to be successful and can be reinforced.

4. Once the behavior is established, shift from a fixed to a variable reinforcement schedule to improve response.

5. When adding a new criterion, temporarily relax the standards of the old one.

6. If behavior deteriorates, go back to a previous step in the training process.

7. If one training procedure is not creating progress, find another. There are many ways to build the steps to the desired behavior.

The printed information contained in this fact sheet is kindly provided by JudyRyder Duffy http://clickryder.8m.com/, and Alexander Kurland; author of "CLICKER TRAINING FOR YOUR HORSE" GETTING STARTED: CLICKER TRAINING FOR HORSES. You can purchase Alex's books by printing off the order form at http://www.crisny.org/users/kurlanda