Release cues - useful or not?

[snowbunny]

I went for a Labrarun for the first time in ages - with the clocks changing, it means I can fit them in a bit better now, and at last don't have to worry about it being too hot, hurrah!
Anyhow, the podcast I was listening to made an interesting point about release cues. I'll preface this by saying, I use release cues. I talk about release cues. But now I'm thinking that they might not be efficient.

Apparently, according to the podcast, no other type of animal training has the concept of release cues - that is, almost a "one size fits all" cue that releases the dog to reinforcement, whatever that reinforcement might be. They have specific cues to release them to specific reinforcers. I do have a few release cues that mean specific things - or are more defined than just a general "OK", "free", or "break", but I could probably be clearer.

The example given was, let's say a dog is set up at an agility start line. They have a jump in front of them, a bowl of food to one side and a toy to the other. If the dog only has a generic release for all of these behaviours, what should they do when given the "free" cue? You can easily see that it can create conflict. Whereas if they had three separate cues for the three behaviours (take the jump, take the food, take the toy), then it would be clear, and avoid confusion. We know that confusion is aversive for pretty much anyone. Of course, we wouldn't deliberately put them in that scenario where there are conflicting reinforcers, but sometimes we're not aware of other environmental reinforcement that might be available for the dog. Let's say we were reinforcing a sit-stay with a bowl of food as a distraction. If we use a generic "OK" cue to release them from the sit and take their reinforcer, we might find that they're off and legging it to the scent that they got a whiff of in the distance. And who is to say that that's wrong? They were just told "take advantage of the reinforcer", without specifying what that reinforcer was. It's not their fault that they knew of a different one we couldn't detect. Whereas if we give a cue that means "take that food", there is no ambiguity.

Because a release cue is cueing a behaviour, it makes sense that we make it as clear as possible, as we should be trying to do with all our other cues. Otherwise, it's no different to a certain someone (love you, sweetheart ) just saying "Shadow, Shadow, Shadow" and expecting Shadow to know that that means "Come, heel, sit"...

 

[Boogie]

If I have a chain of cues I just go from one to another. I only use a release cue if we are taking a break or we’ve finished the session.

 

[snowbunny]

The "end of session" cue is something that is used in all animal training, and isn't really a release cue in terms of how it's usually used. That's a "there is no further reinforcement available" cue, compared to "do the thing you want to do", which is what we're generally talking about in terms of release cues - "jump off your bed", "break your sit/down/stand", "get the ball", "tug the toy" etc.

I have "all done" at the end of a session, which means that there is no more working for reinforcement. I usually pair this with a scatter of food so it's not aversive - considering the dogs love to train.

In my case, I'm thinking of ditching my "OK" release, which I use for "get off the sofa/table/bed/rock" when they have been cued onto it, "put your front feet back on the ground" when they've had them up on something, or on me, "get the ball or food" if I've been using that as a distraction, or in a "zen bowl" type situation. Also for getting out of the car, going through a gate or doorway etc.
I also have "take it" which can mean either food or toy, either on the floor or to tug.

So those are the places I can think of right now where I could be a bit more directive with my releases.

My start-line release I'm happy with because I use "go", which is the same cue I use for every jump, so that makes perfect sense. My retrieves I'm happy with, because I have "away" for a mark and "blind" for a blind (duh ). I have "fetch it" for fetching any other object and bringing it to me outside of a formal retrieve.

 

[HAH]

Now this is where my poor tired brain get fried. I struggle enough to remember a release cue (“break” is what I’ve been using) so frankly creating a bespoke release cue for every action might be too challenging for me to remember.
However it makes complete sense that they’re pretty nonspecific and often confusing - sometimes I’ll see that in Kipper’s expression, especially since he generally is enjoying the thing we’re doing (because achievement + reward + enthusiasm - what not to love?!) so a ‘break’ plus scatter feed is great, but he’d still like to be doing the thing please. Definitely one to think about some more; maybe pairing with an activity-specific physical cue might help...

 

[snowbunny]

I think in some ways it's easier to remember, because you're saying something that's very specific to the "thing". There are only a few "things" that we have. So, in the case of releasing through a doorway, it would be easy to remember "door" or "through" as that word. Releasing them from the car, or a crate, then "out". If you are releasing them from being on something, then "off" makes sense as your cue. Your releases are already reinforcing (eg going through that door) or you go out of your way to reinforce so they're strong (eg "off"), so it doesn't matter that the "release" is actually another cue - in fact, that's the whole point. It's thinking of the behaviour of "releasing" as a cued behaviour in itself, which is precisely right.

I think the gist is, if you are expecting your dog to do something precise when you are "releasing", then name it. Just as you would when you ask your dog to go from "sit" to "down". You're giving them the guidance to get the "cookie", rather than leaving them without information. If we give a generic release cue, we're being very flaky and we're only assuming they want that cookie, plus if a dog has been trained to leave food, then it could easily create confusion if that cue doesn't always mean "eat food". The dog might be left wondering if it's allowed the food or not.

On the other hand, if you're indicating the end of a session where the dog is free to go and do his own thing, then that just needs to be named as a "go free" type cue. I use "all done" when we're at home and "go play" when we're out and about and they'll be going off to mooch about. I'm not expecting a precise behaviour at that point, so there's nothing to name; I am just indicating that this is the end of the opportunity to earn reinforcement from me, in this session.

 

[Oberon]

I use what I’d call a generic release cue for only two things - ‘break your stay’ and ‘lead is off so go and run around or do what you like’. Even then, I should use something different for the ‘break your stay’. Other I use specific ‘releases’ (ie. cues) like “out-you-get (from the car)” “off (the bed/couch)”, “out (the gate)”, “yours (eat)”....

I agree with the podcast - generic release cues have a lot of potential to be confusing. We should ditch the concept and just call them all cues and use a different cue for every behaviour.

 

[edzbird]

I think of a release cue to mean "do what ever you want", but now I've typed it......hmmm this is food for thought.

 

[Snowy]

I think of a release cue to mean "do what ever you want",

Me too.

I use it mainly when:
- I'm letting him run free in the forest.
- He's just had his feet cleaned in the utility room, and he is now free to go to the parlour.

He seems to manage very well with the instruction, erm, sorry, cue In fact he manages so well that I wouldn't want to stop using it. Maybe it works well because it is only used in a couple of situations (albeit in difference locations).

 

[Selina27]

If we use a generic "OK" cue to release them from the sit and take their reinforcer, we might find that they're off and legging it to the scent that they got a whiff of in the distance. And who is to say that that's wrong? They were just told "take advantage of the reinforcer", without specifying what that reinforcer was. It's not their fault that they knew of a different one we couldn't detect

Exactly. This says exactly what my current issue with Cassie is. Except that the scent can be right next to us.
Our release cue when out walking has always been "go play", most of the time now she hardly goes any distance from me and constantly returns voluntarily -- unless there is a strong scent that sends her instantly into hunting mode. Which I think is a separate issue which I have started a thread about. But I do think to myself shes doing what I released her to do, but just not how I want her to!! Problem!!
Sometimes though she will ignore the release cue, especially if we have been doing clicker heel or magic hands. I'm never quite sure what to do then.

 

[snowbunny]

Sometimes though she will ignore the release cue, especially if we have been doing clicker heel or magic hands. I'm never quite sure what to do then.

If the “release” is asking for a particular behaviour, it means you need to reinforce that behaviour more. An example is with Willow and the table we’re using for cooperative care. Being on the table has been reinforced so heavily that she doesn’t want to get off it. That’s cool to know she loves being on the table, but it’s a problem when I want her to get off so I can work with one of the other dogs. So I need to put in more work - and reinforcement - into my “off” cue (I’ve just been using “ok” to now, but need to change this).

If what you’re doing is indicating the end of a session, and the dog is free to do what she wants, then it’s fine if she chooses to stay with you. You’ve said she can do what she wants, and what she wants is to be there. But you have to be really clear that the opportunity to earn reinforcement is over, to avoid frustration. That’s why I find using a scatter at the end of a training session works well to delineate the training from the “freedom”.

 

[Stacia]

I believe in keeping things simple, so one release word is suitable for me. We should be aware of any 'dangers' before we release, if a hidden one, it is easy to stop the dog. The major drawback with OK, is that many people use that word and the dog might think it applies to them when another person uses it.

The example given at the agility, jump, food etc I cannot think one would release the dog indiscriminately; you either want the dog to do one particular thing, in which case you indicate which one, or you let the dog free to do what he chooses.