OzVet

This is from Dragonfly Farm’s levels program for training a dog using positive reinforcement (clicker training). However, it applied equally as well to other species.

Humans are natural lumpers. We think “This dog needs to learn a 60′ retrieve over a kangaroo” and we don’t stop to think if the dog has ever MET a kangaroo, or if the dog knows anything at all about retrieving. As you follow one behaviour through all the Levels, I’m hoping it will help you learn to split behaviours into smaller pieces.

This is, in effect, the essence of effective training, being able to train in increments and split the behavior down into manageable levels. If you don’t train with distractions, or in strange places, or with strange people, or in the rain, it’s unfair to expect the same level of performance from the animal in these situations. Likewise, you make it much harder for a dog (or any other animal) to learn if you start with the finished behavior rather than starting with small approximations of the behavior.