Lapka
Where to start
A clicker marks the moment of a chosen action; a reward follows it. Start by pairing the sound with a reward before asking for a trick.
Introduce the sound
A click marks an action and is followed by a reward. Start by clicking and immediately offering a treat. Later, click as the chosen action happens. Keep the sound away from your cat’s ears; if it frightens them, stop and choose a different approach.
Write a one-action brief
Your brief can be as simple as: “Today I am introducing the sound; I am not asking for a trick.” For a later session, choose a single observable action, such as touching a target. Write the action before you begin so your report describes that action rather than a general impression of how training went.
Record what you saw
Try a note with these headings: goal, reward offered, response, reason for stopping. “Offered the reward after each click; cat accepted it, then left” is more specific than “bad at training”. Keep observations separate from guesses about what your cat thinks. Do not record an action as learned merely because it happened once.
Where Lapka fits
Lapka gives you a personal programme based on your cat’s profile and your goal. Each lesson explains the setup, the action and what to look for. After practising, record attempts and results, then return to the programme to see your progress. You can choose a trick or describe a habit you want to work on. Personal programmes require a subscription.
Example first-session note
Goal: introduce the sound. Reward: the treat offered today. Observation: looked towards the treat after the click. A trick was not requested.
When it does not go to plan
Should I click before or after the action?
Once you are practising an action, use the click to mark the action as it happens, then offer the reward. Keep “getting used to the sound” and “practising a trick” as separate goals in your notes.
How can I tell whether the sound means anything yet?
Watch for your cat looking for the reward after the click. Record that observation separately from any trick. If the sound startles your cat, stop rather than repeating a louder or closer click.
Sources and further reading
