If you are new to dog training, it is likely that you have come across the term “clicker training” a few times.
You may have heard a student in your obedience class expressing great enthusiasm about using a clicker to teach her new puppy impressive tricks at home. Alternatively, you might have come across this concept in a training book or article, but didn’t fully understand its meaning.
The process of using a clicker to work with a dog may appear mysterious or magical to those who are unfamiliar with it. Does the click indicate a command for the dog? Is it a signal for sit, come, or lie down? Does it have the ability to discourage bad behavior?
What is expected to happen next?
If you do not know what a clicker is for or why you might want to use one, continue reading. This post is intended for you.
To start, what exactly is a clicker?
What is a dog-training clicker?
Dog-training clickers are affordable and readily available in various outlets such as pet stores, online platforms, or brick-and-mortar shops. These clickers, which are small plastic devices, produce a distinctive clicking noise upon pressing due to the presence of a metal strip inside.
What is dog clicker training?
One of the easiest methods to teach your dog commands and tricks is through dog clicker training. It offers a consistent, audible response to your dog’s positive behavior. In this training technique, you click the dog clicker when your dog successfully obeys a command or performs a trick. After clicking, you reward your dog with a treat. Gradually, the dog forms an association between the dog clicker and receiving rewards for following commands.
During training, the clicker is utilized to signify the exact moment when your dog performs a task accurately. Without fail, a treat promptly follows every click. It won’t be long before your puppy realizes that the clicker sound indicates the imminent arrival of a treat, making it a delightful stimulus.
How do I use a dog-training clicker?
This step-by-step guide will assist you in getting started with using dog-training clickers, as they are extremely easy to use.
Introduce your dog to the clicker
- Make sure you have lots of small food treats on hand (ideally 20-30 bite-sized treats), as well as your clicker.Choose a quiet room with no distractions.
- Before you start the training, introduce the clicker to your dog. With a treat in one hand and the clicker in the other, click the clicker once and immediately give your dog the treat.
- Repeat this a few times so that your dog soon learns to associate the click with a treat. Once this association has been made, the click should start to get your dog’s attention.
Use the clicker to teach your dog a command
- Next, focus on the action you want your dog to perform – for example, sitting. As soon as your dog sits, click and give a treat.
- You can gently encourage your dog to sit – each time they do, immediately click and provide a treat. Your dog will soon make the connection between the desired action, the click and the treat.
Add vocal commands
- Start adding vocal commands – such as ‘sit’ – to direct your dog. Continue to click and reward each time. Repeat the process.
- After your dog has mastered this step, progress to only clicking and rewarding your dog when they perform the action on your vocal command. Don’t click or reward if your dog sits without the command.
- When your dog sits on command every time, you can start phasing out the clicker and the treats. Some trainers find that using a marker word like an enthusiastic “yes!” can help replace the function of the clicker as you transition your dog away from it.
When teaching your dog to sit using a clicker, make sure to click immediately after his rear end touches the ground, then reward him with a treat. This will help him understand that sitting will result in a click and treat. Eventually, your dog will learn to sit promptly whenever you ask, knowing that this behavior leads to a click and treat.
Alright, you may argue. It appears quite simple. However, what is the significance of it? Wouldn’t it be simpler to simply commend and offer a treat when he sits, without employing the clicker?
In considering things in a sequential manner, please rephrase the following text, ensuring that the meaning remains unchanged. Please refrain from incorporating new information and refrain from omitting any information: Hmm…
Like many aspects of dog training, it is contingent upon various factors.
It is generally simple to teach basic commands such as sit, lie down, and come to most dogs, even without using a clicker.
If all your Labrador puppy needs to learn is how to sit, you can likely achieve this without a clicker just as effortlessly.
Ensure that the same meaning is maintained without adding new information or removing any information by thinking step by step.
The cool aspect of clicker training lies in the fact that it can provide a game-changing advantage in various situations.
Please consider these examples as a guide to help you rephrase the text step by step.
Training a retrieve or engaging in distance work involves thinking step by step.
Typically, when we aim to teach a new behavior, we achieve it by providing the dog with a treat (or alternative reward) precisely when it performs the desired action. For instance, in the case of teaching the command “sit” mentioned earlier, we must give the treat at the exact moment the dog’s backend makes contact with the ground. Accuracy in timing plays a crucial role!
What if we are unable to reward at the exact moment because the behavior is not suitable for receiving a treat? For instance, suppose you aim to train my dog in competition obedience to fetch a dumbbell upon command. When he is in the process of grabbing it with his mouth, it becomes physically impossible for me to reward him. He must release it in order to eat the treat, resulting in me effectively rewarding him for dropping the dumbbell instead of retrieving it.
What should be done?
The clicker is useful in this situation. By timing it well, you can click at the moment my dog grabs the dumbbell. This indicates the specific behavior that is being rewarded, even if he is no longer holding the dumbbell when he receives his treat. The click signals to him that you desire the action of picking up or holding the dumbbell, rather than dropping it. It is quite impressive!
When teaching behaviors from a distance, such as asking your dog to sit or lie down from far away, it is not possible to physically give a treat as soon as the dog performs the action, especially when standing 30 feet away. However, you can use a clicker to indicate when the dog performs the action correctly, and then either toss the treat to him or allow him to come and pick it up.
Please rephrase the text provided: “Make sure to think systematically, in a step-by-step manner, while rephrasing the given text in order to maintain its original meaning. Avoid adding any new information and refrain from removing any information, while also striving to enhance clarity and precision.”
Praising and rewarding for desired behavior may not always be as easy as you anticipate. However, the clicker can also prove to be very handy in these scenarios!
Imagine you have a lively young dog who struggles with staying still, greets people by jumping on them, and eagerly grabs treats from your hand during training sessions. Your goal is to train him to stand calmly with all four paws on the ground. However, you might wonder how to achieve this when he immediately jumps and barks as soon as you attempt to reward him.
It can be done easily using a clicker.
To maintain the same meaning while rephrasing the text, consider the following: 1. Ensure the treats are kept in your pocket and your hands are positioned behind your back. 2. Wait until the dog naturally stops moving, even if it is only for a brief moment. 3. At that instant of stillness, click to acknowledge and offer a treat on the floor for the dog to consume. 4. It is acceptable if the dog becomes excited once more; simply be patient and continue waiting.
After a while, he will eventually stop moving and remain stationary. As soon as this happens, click and provide another treat. Continue clicking and treating as long as he keeps all four of his feet on the ground. If he becomes overly excited and starts jumping again, simply halt and wait for him to become still once more – then click and give a treat. In just a few minutes, you can train your dog to stand still and observe you attentively, rather than continuously jumping and aggressively seeking treats.
By utilizing the clicker, you can clearly indicate the specific behavior you are rewarding for, such as standing still, even if it occurs momentarily.
Training for any behavior should not involve interfering or intervening.
When training beginner dogs in obedience, the common approach is to use a food lure to elicit the desired behavior, followed by rewarding the dog for accomplishing it. To illustrate, you may present a treat near your dog’s nostrils and gradually lower it to entice the dog into assuming a “down” position.
This method is highly effective for the majority of dogs, particularly when it comes to fundamental abilities. It is also straightforward and instinctive, making it effortless for most dog owners to understand. There is absolutely nothing problematic about using this approach!
However, it may catch your interest to know that there are alternative methods to teach your dog a new skill.
By using a clicker, you can utilize a distinct training method known as shaping, which involves allowing your dog to independently determine how to earn a reward without any external influence. You simply click and reward for each small step towards the desired outcome, until the desired behavior is achieved.
Top tips for successful dog clicker training
- Timing is everything. It is important your dog understands the behaviour that’s being rewarded. Try to click during the correct behaviour if you can, and give the treat immediately afterwards.
- Reward every time. In the early stages of training, each click must mean a guaranteed treat. So even if you accidentally click the clicker, give your dog a treat anyway.
- Keep the treats small. Dog clicker training requires lots of treats. Keep them small so your dog doesn’t gain weight.
- End on a positive note. Training requires a bit of effort for both you and your dog (though it’s a lot of fun, too). Always end the training session on a positive note: a correct action, a click and a treat, and lots of praise.
- Phase out the clicker. Remember that a dog-training clicker is only for training new behaviours. Once your dog responds to the verbal command alone, it’s time to phase out the clicker (and the treats).
