Brief review of Ready, Steady… Click! By Stephen G. King and the Ready, Steady… Click! Workbook by Claire L. Davies and Stephen G. King

What I like about Ready, Steady… Click! is that it is readable and concise but also accurate. It explains the principles of learning in such a way that makes it fun. Dog guardians will find in this book everything they need to get started in dog training and problem solving. A terrific job of providing extensive information on learning, training and problem solving in 88 pages.

Ready, Steady… Click! starts with a discussion of the science of behavior in order to put the topic in context. It proceeds to outline the basic procedures of clicker training and the principles of behavior. The resources at the back of the book include a glossary of terms bibliography and other resources, and a handout on successful training tips.

The workbook is a welcome companion for those wishing to maximize the benefit they derive from Ready, Steady… Click! More authors should provide a workbook to help readers work through the primary text, monitoring their success, identifying areas in need of improvement and providing further support for the learning process. Training is a hands-on practice and while the knowledge is a necessary prerequisite, there needs to be hands on skill practice and the workbook helps to guide the reader through this process. Good strategy and good books.

James O’Heare, CABC.
Certified Animal Behavior Consultant
Doctoral Post Graduate Certificate in Comparative Psychology
www.JamesOHeare.com

Ready, Steady, Click! by Stephen G. King is an excellent introduction to dog
training based on positive reinforcement. The author clearly and concisely
describes the science that underlies learning in all species, and applies it
well to the training of pet dogs. The twenty Training Tips for Success at
the end of the book are great guidelines for all trainers.

Deborah Jones, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Kent State University Stark Campus
Planet Canine / Akron, OH
APDT Member #1663

Here is another excellent and useful publication from Crosskeys and Stephen
King. King is a pioneer in putting forth the practice of clicker training
and the scientific principles that underlie it.
Karen Pryor USA

“What an excellent book. Enough science to get the message across with practical usage well explained. Another winner!”Eileen & Brian J Smith, Collingwood ON, CantassYour Canadian Dog Friendly Training Resource www.cantass.com

“Clicker training can be fun for dogs and keepers!Stephen King’s book is a technical introduction to classical and operant conditioning. The use of reward as a ‘positive reinforcer’ of behaviour is the key word for all behaviourists, human and canine! The glossary is essential for readers who are not fully conversant with psychology terminology. Stephen’s practical, methodical approach is to spell out why ‘clicker training’ is excellent for bringing out the best behaviour in canines. The unique signalling system of the ‘clicker’ is that it is not voice-dependant (great for all the family to establish training sessions with the dog) and can be used to communicate to canines in a gentle and caring way. ‘Ready, Steady… Click’ takes its readers through the ‘science’ of conditioning, the practical development of clicker signalling, training and understanding behaviour modification. A must for dog keepers and those studying or applying dog training.
Dr David Sands PhD

Following on his videos on clicker training, Stephen King has now produced a very readable and informative soft back book which explains in detail the principles of Clicker training and the use of a Target stick. He first explains the science of changing the dog’s behaviour outlining how our dogs learn, and how the use of positive reinforcement can turn the most uncooperative dog into one that any owner will be proud of. He follows on with clear directions for getting started on actually using a Clicker with your dog. Then follows an explanation of teaching such important responses as getting the dog to walk with the owner comfortably, followed by some excellent information on the timing of rewards – an important part of clicker training – and shaping a behaviour by rewarding any movement towards the wanted actions. Some of the terminology will be unfamiliar with those new to this increasingly popular hands-free dog training method, but Stephen thoughtfully rounds off the book with a Glossary of Terms, and some quick reference training tips for success.There are some lighthearted cartoons interspersed with the text, and also some black and white photographs of actual training situations.This is an excellent introduction for the newcomer to the art and science of Clicker Training, and useful too for those already working with this gentle and fast way of training which allows the dog to make decisions for himself.
Dee Woodcock

Stephen G. King’s “Ready, Steady…Click!” provides a wealth of information
in a handy, two-volume set that is easy to access, easier to understand, and
even easier to follow successfully. Throughout, he provides behaviorally
accurate information on behavior, as well as techniques that are
behaviorally sound. And he does so in a clear, well-structured manner that
every reader will appreciate. This set belongs on the bookshelves of every
conscientious dog owner and professional trainer.
Stephen C. Rafe MSc USA
STARFIRE, Celebrating 20 years’ service to dogs and their owners. 1982-2002.

“Ready, Steady, Click” offers the reader the ABCs of clicker training,
all the way through to the XYZs. This book focuses on positive
reinforcement training, but also recognizes that there are other methods,
and makes a strong case for making the right choice.

This slender book is full of information. It explains how dogs learn
and how to best teach them. It contains everything anyone needs to know
about getting started in clicker training—from what the clicker is, and
when and why to click, all the way to the complex schedules of
reinforcement. This book teaches you how to train your dog to do something. But it
also explains how to teach him to refrain from doing certain things, or at
least to do them less annoyingly or less frequently. Here is a book that
runs the entire gamut of training possibilities, both positive and negative,
but with anultra-heavy emphasis on the positive. In doing so, the author points his
readers in the right direction, helps them make the right decisions, and
arms them with enough information to travel safely and effectively down the
chosen road of positive reinforcement training. What a blessing for their dogs!

(—from Sheila Booth, author of the award-winning book, Purely Positive
Training.)

READY STEADY CLICK WORKBOOK:

By Claire L Davies, MA with Stephen G King

Price £6.99

Following on the success of Stephen King’s  manual “Ready,

Steady,Click”, in conjunction with Claire L Davies, Stephen has now produced
a Workbook to encourage the reader to put into practice all the skills of
Clicker Training and use of the Target Stick learned from the original text.

The reader is introduced to a series of questions, each designed to make

you think about the principles behind Clicker Training, and just why it works
so successfully. This is a great way to test your knowledge – and yes, the
answers are given at the back – so any misunderstandings or misconceptions
can soon be ironed out. As an example, the reader is asked to consider
such questions as “Deprivation occurs when a reinforcer becomes less powerful
after a dog has gone a period of time without it” – True or False?

Each section is followed by a Summary of Points covering the key elements of
that section.

But is it not all brainstorming!     At the end of each section there are

some fun practical tasks to try out with your dog, and even some designed to
get you thinking about your own behaviour.

Ready Steady Click Workbook ends with a Pop Quiz of questions for you to

answer, and this time there are no printed answers to which to refer.

An interesting and fun way to test your knowledge, and at the same time,

brush up on those areas where you find gaps.

Dee Woodcock
Fellow of the Animal Care College