What is free shaping?

• A. No instruction, cues or input is given, except for the clicker.
• B. Rewards every time the dog sits
• C. Use a lure and treat with continuous prompts
• D. The dog must perform without any rewards

Answer: (A)

Free shaping is a training approach where the dog is allowed to produce any behavior, and a marker (like a click) is used to indicate when the behavior is on the right track, followed by a reward. There are no deliberate prompts or cues guiding the dog to a specific action; instead, you reinforce successive approximations toward the desired behavior. The dog actively explores movements, and you click and reinforce only when the emitted behavior gets closer to the target. Over time, you raise the criteria so that only the exact desired behavior is reinforced.

This differs from prompting with a lure or continuous prompts, which provide guidance toward the target, and from rewarding a single, immediately triggered behavior like sitting. It also requires ongoing rewards; the dog isn’t expected to perform without any reinforcement. The clicker serves as the sole input signal, marking successful approximations as they occur.