Modern Principles of Shaping - 3. Train one criterion at a time!

I'm writing a 10 part blog post where I discuss the Modern Principles of Shaping by Karen Pryor, to help solidify them in my mind.

3. Train one criterion at a time. Shaping for two criteria or aspects of a behavior simultaneously can be very confusing. One click should not mean two different criteria.

 

1. One click should be for one criteria.  That makes sense. And it goes in line with other principles about helping the learner succeed, but not making it confusing.  
2. You need to plan to have single criteria to use as building blocks. 
3. In preparing, try to state it in 5 words to make it memorable to yourself. 
4.  Use positive language, so you know what you want (not what you don't). 
5.  Relax the strictures for other requirements if you're training a new one.  The other will come back quickly after you've trained the new one. 

Outstanding Questions: How many times should you repeat something?  Should the same criteria be used for multiple rewards in a single session?  Or is switching between criteria every C/T OK?