Syn Alia

Overview of SATS, Bridge and Target

We teach three signals, which tell the animal when he has done what we want, when he is on track, and where he is to go (make contact). These signals are the Terminal Bridge (TB), the Intermediate Bridge (IB), and the Target (T), respectively.

We use the T to demonstrate where and how the animal is to move or position himself. For example, for a high jump, raise the T and the animal will jump in order to make contact. Set the target in place and ask the animal to touch it, start the IB as he moves to make contact, thus giving him feedback that “Yes, you are on the correct path”. The instant he makes contact with the T, he gets the TB, telling him that he has successfully completed the request.

We teach concepts and attach verbal, graphic or other labels to these concepts. For example, touch the ear, and say “Ear”. Touch (cover, or touch below it) the eye, and say “Eye”. Then hold a hand halfway between the two and ask for one of these, saying, for example “Ear”, and start the IB, encouraging the animal until he makes contact between his ear and the hand. (In this case, he is targetting his ear to the hand). Then ask for the other option, “Eye”, start the IB and support him until he contacts the hand with his eye. (This is simplified, and there is a bit more involved, such as we start with really small distances at first and make these larger as the animal gains confidence and proficiency, and we do a few trials of each choice before asking for the discrimination between the two.)

The label attached to the body part, ear, was the word “Ear”, in this case.

Similarly name directions (up, down, right, left), locations (seat, crate, pen, yard, corner), individuals (animal’s name, other animals, people), actions (eat, feed, walk, swim, wait, go, come, execute), body parts, targets (hand, pole, station, mark, animal body part), etc.. Often the target is used to demonstrate the concepts, for example, I might lead an animal over a hurdle, using the target, then name this “Over”.

We teach, often through context, ideas like “Touch,” “Show,”"What,” “Who, “Where,” and “Ready”.

We then combine concepts any way needed, and can ask the animal for anything needed, in new situations, without previous, specific training for that event, and often get it. For example, one might say, to an animal who has injured his foot by jumping over a fence, and has never been in that situation, or place, before, “Your foot has pain. The vet is coming. The vet will give you an injection. The injection will help the pain in your foot. Be ‘Easy’ xxxxxxxxxxxx Good jobxxxxxxxxxxx be Easy xxxxxxx” etc.

(Even if we do not teach every connecting word, like “has” and “the” and “will” the animals seem to get the critical information from the context, experience and the words that we have taught, and so we just use normal human syntax. This way, the animal is used to hearing normal speach, and can even sometimes get information directly from other people, like a person arriving on the scene of an accident telling a dog to relax and allow a leg to be examined.)

PS For startup directions, send your name and email address in the comments below and put SATS in the subject line.

Comments

Comment from Sue Ketland
Time: 17 January, 2008, 5:11 pm

Don’t knock the idea of talking to your animal. Where’s the harm in giving it a go? Believe me when I say IT WORKS! This technique cannot be beaten when it comes to behaviour modification - SATS SAVES LIVES!!!

Comment from Michelle
Time: 22 January, 2008, 12:39 am

SATS

Comment from Michelle
Time: 22 January, 2008, 12:40 am

Sorry, I was trying to follow the directions above for start-up directions. I’ll try email.

Comment from mirjam top
Time: 28 January, 2008, 4:00 pm

SATS

Comment from Carrie Welsh
Time: 1 February, 2008, 6:39 am

Great site. Would like to join the discussion group. Interested in shaping and particularly interested in the use of the ib to reach the target behaviour

Comment from Elaine
Time: 6 February, 2008, 1:25 pm

please change the web page colors. The dark background with the muted text is very difficult to read.

Comment from Pats
Time: 6 February, 2008, 6:12 pm

SATS

Comment from Brice Cavanaugh
Time: 6 February, 2008, 10:23 pm

SATS

Comment from Adrienne W
Time: 21 February, 2008, 4:29 pm

SATS Please! Have tried CT but find this so much more refined - horses and dogs love the interation!

Comment from chris
Time: 21 February, 2008, 6:03 pm

sats

Comment from lydia
Time: 28 February, 2008, 6:15 am

sat

Comment from Brittany
Time: 4 March, 2008, 5:50 pm

sats

Comment from cynthia
Time: 4 March, 2008, 6:12 pm

sats

Comment from Jo
Time: 8 March, 2008, 3:26 pm

SATS (as directed in AND) Thanks.

Comment from Tina
Time: 10 March, 2008, 11:03 am

sats

Comment from Patrick Nolan
Time: 12 March, 2008, 10:38 pm

Please send your start up information

Thanks
pat Nolan

Comment from Glen Grobler
Time: 16 March, 2008, 2:25 am

SATS.

Comment from Ola
Time: 23 March, 2008, 7:50 am

SATS

Comment from Teddy
Time: 24 March, 2008, 12:40 pm

SATS

Comment from Colin
Time: 25 March, 2008, 8:59 am

SATS

Comment from Elizabeth
Time: 2 April, 2008, 12:36 pm

SATS

Comment from Gerrit Beumer
Time: 5 April, 2008, 7:18 am

Compliments with this enlighted, mordern method of communication and cooperation!

Apart of these commments I would also like to receive some “start up directions” as mentioned in the information above.

Yours sincerely

Gerrit

Comment from Lily
Time: 21 April, 2008, 10:49 am

I’ve clicker-trained before but always questioned the trial-and-error aspect of that kind of training. SATS seems to resolve that issue. I would appreciate “start-up directions”. Thank you.

Comment from Shannon
Time: 22 April, 2008, 11:52 am

sats

Comment from Gill
Time: 25 April, 2008, 5:22 pm

sats

Comment from marcy
Time: 27 April, 2008, 5:50 pm

I’d love to get those start-up instructions
Thanks!!

Comment from Susan Heggie
Time: 29 April, 2008, 2:15 pm

SATS

Comment from Chris Duffey
Time: 1 May, 2008, 9:59 am

SATS

Comment from Chris Pappalardo
Time: 1 May, 2008, 2:23 pm

SATS

Comment from Deborah Tolar
Time: 3 May, 2008, 12:39 am

SATS

Comment from M. Anbeek
Time: 16 May, 2008, 2:41 pm

Sats

Comment from Mike Wolfe
Time: 18 May, 2008, 12:20 am

I have already been to the first seminar and I highly recommend everyone checking it out. Thank you Kacye for being so nice and helping me through the seminar. It was a pleasure to meet you.

Comment from Yvonne Kramer
Time: 18 May, 2008, 7:31 am

SATS

Comment from jared kohler
Time: 25 May, 2008, 3:57 pm

love the approach and concepts!
id like the start up directions
thanx so much!

Comment from Sabine Peters
Time: 28 May, 2008, 8:27 am

SATS

Comment from Pam
Time: 31 May, 2008, 6:31 am

SATS please
What a really great way to train a dog. I was trying free shaping but we were not quite getting it - much better to tell him what you want and that he is going the right way to getting it

Comment from Troy
Time: 8 June, 2008, 10:06 pm

Interested in Sat and bridge for my young dog.. hard to imagine how she would response!

Comment from Tony Checa
Time: 1 July, 2008, 9:08 am

SATs please!

Comment from Betsy Copeland
Time: 2 July, 2008, 3:23 pm

SATs please….I have a dog that gets frustrated very easily at the “guess what i want” part of clicker. This sounds like just the ticket for him

Comment from Dede
Time: 7 July, 2008, 11:38 am

SATS

Comment from Daphne
Time: 9 July, 2008, 4:37 pm

SATS

Comment from heike haas
Time: 15 July, 2008, 3:48 pm

SATS

Comment from Nicola Bebb
Time: 1 August, 2008, 4:39 pm

SATS please

Comment from Alison Skeats
Time: 7 August, 2008, 6:14 pm

I have just looked at your website and some of the you tube videos. I would love to learn more to communicate with my horses.
Thanks.
Alison

Comment from Marlana
Time: 18 August, 2008, 4:52 pm

SATS

Comment from Judy Hemping
Time: 21 August, 2008, 5:43 pm

SATS

Comment from Judy Hemping
Time: 21 August, 2008, 5:45 pm

SATS information

Comment from Angela
Time: 21 August, 2008, 5:47 pm

SATS

Comment from Teressa Hill
Time: 22 August, 2008, 6:47 pm

SATS

Comment from Sarah
Time: 24 August, 2008, 9:17 pm

SATS

Comment from Jo
Time: 29 August, 2008, 6:12 pm

SATS

Comment from Adrienne
Time: 14 September, 2008, 1:16 pm

SATS

Comment from Kylee
Time: 16 September, 2008, 1:25 pm

SATs please!

Comment from Jörg
Time: 26 September, 2008, 2:58 am

SATS, please !

Comment from Deena Morando
Time: 27 September, 2008, 2:24 pm

SATS
Thank You.

Comment from Julie Garland-Powers
Time: 1 October, 2008, 2:35 pm

start-up instructions please

Comment from Barbara Croy
Time: 3 October, 2008, 4:17 pm

STATS

Comment from Terri
Time: 5 October, 2008, 1:06 pm

SATS startup please

Comment from Dawn Gilkison
Time: 6 October, 2008, 10:25 pm

SATS startup

Comment from Sylvia Diamond
Time: 21 October, 2008, 7:23 pm

SATS

Comment from Dorothy Doggett
Time: 23 November, 2008, 11:35 am

Re: SATS

Joined UKSATS and TRAINEST yahoo groups in Oct. but sites appear to have been ‘down’ ever since!
Need help - please send start up directions.
Many thanks!

Comment from terry small
Time: 3 December, 2008, 7:59 am

SATS

Please send start up info’.

Regards, Terry

Comment from Chris
Time: 15 December, 2008, 6:06 pm

SATS startup directions

Comment from Josie
Time: 29 January, 2009, 1:38 pm

SATS
I have a young horse that seems a perfect candidate for this approach. Thank you.

Comment from Esteban
Time: 2 February, 2009, 6:07 pm

SATS
My dog thanks you. He needs more info than C&T.

Comment from Brenda
Time: 5 February, 2009, 4:50 pm

SATS startup directions, please!

Comment from Sue Kinchin
Time: 14 February, 2009, 10:03 am

Please send SATS start-up info

Comment from Joyce Miller
Time: 15 February, 2009, 6:26 pm

Please send SATS start up information that is offered on this page.
Thank you.

Comment from Leanda Erasmus
Time: 18 February, 2009, 4:36 am

SATS

Kindly send me the SATS start-up info.

Thank You

Comment from Darlene
Time: 7 March, 2009, 11:54 pm

SATS start up

Comment from Emma Richardson
Time: 15 March, 2009, 11:07 am

Pleasw send me the SATS start-up info please.

Comment from Laurie
Time: 15 March, 2009, 2:15 pm

SATS - start-up information for horses please. tks

Comment from Lucy
Time: 22 March, 2009, 6:14 am

SATS

Comment from jo jackson
Time: 22 March, 2009, 1:26 pm

i really want to learn how to do this. please please send me info very soon.

Comment from Annieke
Time: 24 March, 2009, 12:29 pm

SATS

Comment from Els Peeters
Time: 8 April, 2009, 1:50 pm

SATS please!

I’m a behavioral biologist and very interested to use it on my dog and 27 cats of my study group!

Comment from Elke
Time: 21 April, 2009, 7:35 am

SATS
Greetings from Germany
Elke

Comment from Hervé Cahay
Time: 5 May, 2009, 2:18 pm

SATS

Greetings from Belgium

Hervé

Comment from Lena Wahlstedt
Time: 11 May, 2009, 7:23 am

SATS please
greetings from Sweden

Comment from Karen
Time: 17 May, 2009, 9:41 pm

Hi,

I heard you on Pet Talk Radio and am interested in finding out more. Could you please send me your start-up instructions.

Thank you.

Regards,
Karen
Sydney, Australia

Comment from Manuela
Time: 20 May, 2009, 2:46 am

SATS

Comment from Elizabeth Martin
Time: 23 May, 2009, 12:43 pm

SATS

Comment from Sue Gray
Time: 29 May, 2009, 10:19 pm

SATS

I’m in New Zealand. Please send start up instructions

Comment from Gail Dobber
Time: 7 June, 2009, 4:36 pm

SATS instructions, please.

Comment from Vica
Time: 17 June, 2009, 12:23 pm

SATS

Comment from Erik
Time: 26 June, 2009, 12:48 pm

SATS

Comment from Lan
Time: 22 July, 2009, 4:30 am

SATS

Comment from Tanya
Time: 7 August, 2009, 10:46 pm

SATS

Comment from Bettina
Time: 15 August, 2009, 8:45 am

SATS

Comment from Jenna
Time: 18 August, 2009, 8:36 am

SATS

Comment from Colette Ogle
Time: 18 September, 2009, 9:00 am

SATS pls

Comment from Terri
Time: 19 September, 2009, 6:07 pm

SATS

Comment from Myra Fourwinds
Time: 20 September, 2009, 11:09 pm

SATS please
Oh, something new and great to learn! More dog fun to be had!

Comment from garry gross
Time: 21 September, 2009, 9:21 am

Sats:
Dear Kayce, I have been training dogs for nine years and must admit I am beginning to experience burn out. I was looking for something steepen the learning curve and I fortunately tripped over B&T. I find the concepts fascinating. I would love to find someone or some class where I could learn B&T. I was hoping that you might consider teaching it to me for a fee of course. That would be ideal but if not if you know any other place your recommendation wold be appreciated.

Sincerely,
Garry Gross

Comment from Samantha Foss
Time: 21 September, 2009, 9:34 pm

SATS

Comment from Adrienne
Time: 27 September, 2009, 3:21 pm

Please send me start-up directions.

Comment from Nilam Gray
Time: 3 October, 2009, 9:52 pm

SATS

Comment from Deb
Time: 13 October, 2009, 10:57 am

SATS
Thank you

Comment from Sidney
Time: 21 October, 2009, 11:45 am

SATS

Comment from Laura
Time: 26 October, 2009, 11:34 pm

SATS - please send me the start-up information.
Many thanks in advance! I am excited to give this a try (;

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Overview of SATS, Bridge and Target

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