Clicker Training For Dogs: How And Why It Works, Plus Best Clickers

If you’re researching the optimal method to coach your puppy or adult dog, you might have encountered the phrase “clicker training” and are curious about its functionality. Many trainers and dog owners claim that clicker training is an efficient and effective technique for numerous dogs. However, you may be wondering if clicker training is suitable for you and your furry friend. Our assistance will help you make an informed decision.

What Is The Purpose Of A Clicker In Dog Training?

Positive reinforcement is used in clicker dog training, which is a popular method for training puppies or adult dogs. The aim is for your pet to quickly learn and repeat the desired behavior. A hand-held device called a clicker is used in clicker training, which produces an audible clicking sound when pressed, replacing the conventional “good” or “yes” marker words. The clicking sound is distinct and effective for attention-grabbing, making it a preferred mode of communication for many.

Clicker training, also known as mark and reward training, relies heavily on treats as a crucial aspect. The reward of a tasty treat reinforces to your canine that the behavior he exhibited, in combination with the click, will yield a delectable prize. Undoubtedly, this serves as a powerful incentive for your pet to stick to positive behaviors.

The popularity of clicker training and other positive reinforcement techniques stems from their ability to direct your dog’s attention towards desirable behaviors instead of negative ones, which is a characteristic of aversive training where corrections are made for unwanted behavior. With positive reinforcement, your dog learns how to perfect the right actions. Studies have demonstrated that dogs subjected to this method are more relaxed and display improved performances compared to those subjected to aversive training.

How To Clicker Train A Dog

Timing and consistency are crucial when it comes to clicker training. Success requires promptly clicking the clicker for every positive behavior and then providing a treat. In case food doesn’t motivate your dog, other rewards like a favorite toy can be used, but it’s important to give a reward after each click. Small training treats are generally the most effective.

It is important to remember two things: limit training sessions to 15 minutes or less and give your dog plenty of praise when they succeed. Before beginning training, ensure that you are comfortable with your clicker and have an adequate supply of tiny treats. Below are some initial steps and crucial details on utilizing a clicker for dog training.

Introduce Your Dog To The Clicker

Choose a quiet location in your home with no distractions .
Have your clicker in one hand and a treat in the other , keeping both hands at your side.
Click once and immediately reward .
Repeat this several times until your pup begins to associate the click with the reward. Tip: you’ll know he’s getting the hang of it if you click when he’s not paying attention to you and the click makes him look at you (because he wants his treat!).

Teaching Basic Commands With A Clicker

Decide which command you want to work on first. Sit is always a good starting place.
You can gently encourage your dog to sit at first.
The moment your dog sits, click and reward.
Repeat this process until your dog catches on (it can take a dog anywhere from 5-20 repetitions to catch on, depending on the dog and the difficulty of the skill you’re teaching).

To instruct your dog on certain abilities, you can entice it using treats so that it comprehends the movement you want it to make, such as turning around. Once it executes the act, reward it with a click and treat. However, avoid repeatedly using treats as a bait. After a few tries, execute your gesture without a treat, and when the dog performs the desired action, reward it with a click and treat. Gradually, this method can turn into an innate hand signal for the skill.

Transitioning To Vocal Commands

Once your dog is performing the desired action every time, you can begin adding your vocal command (e.g., “sit” or “shake”).
Add your verbal cue when you click and then reward. Repeat this process.
You can then transition to only clicking and rewarding when your dog performs the action on your verbal command.
When your dog performs the skill every time (and in different locations) on your verbal cue, you’re ready to start phasing out the clicker and treats.

Capturing Good Behavior

In addition to teaching your pup commands and tricks, clicker training can also serve as a useful tool for reinforcing positive behaviors your dog displays throughout the day. This technique, known as “capturing,” requires diligent attention from you to click and reward your dog when they exhibit desirable behavior. However, it is an effective way for your dog to learn which actions are approved outside of training sessions. Examples of opportune moments to capture good behavior through clicking and rewarding include:

When your dog doesn’t immediately jump up on a visitor in your house.
When your pup doesn’t beg at the dinner table.
Not barking or lunging toward another dog.

Shaping Behaviors With A Clicker

Another advantage of clicker training pertains to “shaping” behaviors. Shaping refers to dividing the teaching of a specific behavior into incremental stages (such as resting in its bed, relocating to its crate, fetching a ball, etc.). This necessitates an increased level of proficiency and endurance on your end, and you must develop a strategy for decomposing the stages.

Similar to the process of basic training, it is essential to reward your pup with a click for each step and repeat each step until your dog grasps the concept. To illustrate, if you intend to teach your dog to enter his crate and remain in there when prompted, you could use this sequence:

Start by clicking and rewarding when your dog walks toward his crate.
Then, you can move on to when your pup sticks his head in his crate.
The next step could be when he fully gets in his crate.
And the final step is to train him to stay in his crate.

Utilizing shaping can be a beneficial approach to instilling a sense of enjoyment in the learning process for your canine companion. By implementing a series of simpler, achievable steps, it allows for a gradual mastery of skills, thereby reducing any potential confusion or frustration when attempting to teach more intricate behaviors.

BONUS: How To Become A Dog Trainer

Are you interested in becoming a dog trainer? Many individuals who adore dogs and desire a profession shift contemplate dog training. This job can provide considerable satisfaction since you will spend your workdays in the company of dogs and have the opportunity to assist people and their furry friends in achieving a happy and peaceful coexistence.

Frequently, individuals seek the assistance of a dog trainer only when confronted with a difficulty, such as dealing with dogs exhibiting reactivity, separation anxiety or other behavioral problems. Addressing these issues can be demanding and taxing, without assurance of a favorable outcome. Hence, if your ambition is to become a dog trainer and your sole qualification is possessing experience training or owning your dog, it is imperative to recognize that there is a requisite amount of effort involved.

Train Your Own Dog

To begin your journey, it is advisable to train a dog, whether your own or a companion you can be around frequently. Incorporate a consistent training routine that encompasses not only basic commands like “sit” and “down,” but also advanced skills that involve staying in place amidst distractions and at a distance. Working towards passing the AKC Canine Good Citizen test could serve as a great achievement. Additionally, you may want to engage in a dog-related activity that dives into training’s intricate elements, including timing, reinforcement rate, and where to offer rewards. Lastly, tackle any problematic behaviors as they arise.

Ultimately, your canine doesn’t have to exemplify flawlessness. Nevertheless, your prospective patrons will request assistance with a variety of conduct, and hence you should possess practical involvement with the spectrum of knowledge that may be required of you. Such experience will serve to refine your skills. Imbuing knowledge is a mechanical talent, hence you must first attain a considerable level of fluency by practicing on your personal dog before you can display it to pupils.

Apprentice With Other Dogs

It is beneficial to train your pet, but keep in mind that your dog has affection for you and will pardon your errors. Your furry friend may not be disturbed by mishandling rewards or unintentionally praising the incorrect conduct, but your customers may not have the same level of tolerance. Moreover, a skilled dog trainer is knowledgeable about multiple techniques for teaching a behavior. Although the lure-and-reward method may have been effective in teaching your dog to sit, a diverse approach might be necessary for a different dog.

Enhance your skills and experiment with new techniques by interacting with dogs that do not belong to you. Seek permission from friends and family to train their pets, or approach nearby animal shelters and rescues for volunteering opportunities. To gain more knowledge and exposure, consider apprenticing with an accomplished dog trainer. This method will enable you to work with more canines and also receive expert supervision and instructions for your advancement. You can check with dog trainers in your locality to find someone who may agree to take you on as an apprentice or assistant.

Train People to Train Their Dogs

Dog trainers actually focus on training people rather than dogs. As a trainer, your primary responsibility is to educate your clients on how to train their own dogs. This implies that in addition to expertise in animal care, dog trainers must possess communication and leadership skills. Even if you are more comfortable around animals than humans, you should have the capacity to inspire your clients, improve their abilities, and encourage them when they achieve their goals.

Hence, even if you have trained numerous dogs, your qualifications are incomplete until you have dealt with human clients. You have the option of assisting your acquaintances and relatives in training their dogs or apprenticing with a skilled trainer to gain exposure to their clients.

Educate Yourself

Modern dog training is rooted in the scientific understanding of animal behavior and learning, dispelling many misconceptions about canine motivations. Consequently, those seeking to become dog trainers must educate themselves on these topics. This includes comprehending the four quadrants of operant conditioning and how classical conditioning operates. Without a grasp of the principles underpinning their techniques, trainers will be unable to troubleshoot for their clients or modify their strategies in response to specific contexts.

There are plenty of excellent resources regarding dog training that can help build your knowledge. For instance, training schools, like the Karen Pryor Academy , offer a variety of dog training courses and webinars, both in-person and online. Just be sure to look at the credentials of whoever is offering the course to be sure their teachings are scientifically sound. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers maintains a list of resources that can help you start your search.

Becoming A Certified Dog Trainer

After gaining experience working with both dogs and people and completing relevant courses, you are prepared to delve into dog training. To begin, consider joining a reputable professional organization such as the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. This membership showcases your dedication to your profession to your clientele and grants you access to valuable resources and updated training techniques. Furthermore, being listed in the organization’s database of trainers will increase visibility among potential clients.

Afterwards, consider obtaining certification. Though it is not a requirement to have any formal education or certification to declare oneself a dog trainer, validating your expertise before clients can be beneficial. To become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, a minimum of 300 hours of experience in dog training within the past three years and a 180-question multiple-choice test must be completed. Obtaining certification with such rigorous standards can assure potential clients of your competency and could result in them selecting you over other dog trainers.

It is essential to continuously educate yourself in the field of dog training as it is constantly progressing. Keeping up with the latest research and techniques will help you achieve your full potential and become an excellent dog trainer.