I've done the same sort of exercises concerning horse cues. The natural tendency for most people is to think that animals are stupid or stubborn in a training session, until they try to figure something out using only the cues an animal could perceive.
Try this with willing participants:
The person playing the animal holds one end of a rope or leash in their hand. The trainer holds the other end and thinks of an action that the "animal" is supposed to do when the trainer's cue (which is some steady backward pressure on the rope) is given. The trainer can want something very simple such as: Hand move up, or to the left, or to the right, or down, or pull back. The reward for the correct response is release of pressure from the trainer.
Sounds easy? Nope.
If the trainer were to initially expect a complex set of movements (IE hand down and then up and then pull back) before the reward is given the person doing the experiment would give up in frustration before they figured it out. If they just lucked into the right answer the first time they still might not know exactly why they got the reward and might not get it right the next time.
If you do this experiment and think that the person you picked to participate is really stupid, have them try it with you being the "animal". It will really give you a whole new perspective on how the animal sees things.
This will also help you to see the importance of very clear and consistent cues.
Very good trainers who get amazing results from their animals already know about asking for small steps and using very consistant cues.
As a result of doing exercises like this I like to give my animals as much help as I can in figuring out what I want and then gradually removing the "help" when they have a better idea what the cue is for.

I also have Susan's first book "Ruff Love" and her first DVD "Success with one jump". Excellent stuff!!
She just released a new DVD called "Crate games for self-control and motivation". I haven't bought it yet, but it's on my list.
I am really fortunate to live about 30 min. away from Susan's training facility in Alberton, ON.
When I get my new pup next year I'm heading straight for her puppy camp!
Other good DVDs that teach clicker/shaping to young puppies is "Clicker Puppy / by Doggone Crazy" and "Puppy Kindergarten DVD / by Corally Burmaster" both available from http://www.dogwise.com
I have them both but probably liked Corally's better.

 Quote: melissa blazak

I also have Susan's first book "Ruff Love" and her first DVD "Success with one jump". Excellent stuff!!
She just released a new DVD called "Crate games for self-control and motivation". I haven't bought it yet, but it's on my list.
I am really fortunate to live about 30 min. away from Susan's training facility in Alberton, ON.
When I get my new pup next year I'm heading straight for her puppy camp!

Ruff Love is a good resource, we do sell that one here already.

I am lucky enough to live 1/2 hour from Ann Braue who teaches Susan's foundation for agility(I think Ann even teaches up at Susan's sometimes too) I've learned so much since I started training there!

My son Andrew and I are headed to Ann Braue's puppy camp in 2 weeks with Swift and Rush (our 2 newest Malinois family members)

Are these 2 pups from your last litter? Their names sound very appropriate "Swift" and "Rush"!!!
Not draggin' their heels are they....

 Quote: melissa blazak

Are these 2 pups from your last litter? Their names sound very appropriate "Swift" and "Rush"!!!
Not draggin' their heels are they....

yep, they are from the last litter. The little monsters are now 9 weeks old.

we should have named them "rip" and "slash"

here is the book Shaping Success that we mentioned earlier.

http://www.leerburg.com/986.htm

 Quote: cindy easton rhodes

One point that I have learned with free shaping is that placement of reward can really speed up the learning.

Great tip...will try tonight! I totally "get" how placement of the reward in my case was not helping things. (I was spitting or feeding reward from my hand.)

Learning new stuff is fun (for me and the dog)