What is a Clicker?
Clickers are an amazing tool that comes in handy and makes training a whole lot easier for you and the dog. The small device makes a unique sound that can be used as a marker for correct behavior. Once your dog hears the click they know they did something right and are likely to do the behavior again.
Clicker training is based on proven scientific principles that have been used effectively in all types of animal training. The sound of the clicker is clear, short, unique and consistent every time and means the same thing - a reward is coming. When I started using the clicker my dogs caught on very quickly. I suggest buying one, if you can't, use a retractable pen, or make your own unique sound.
Associating the Clicker
At first, a clicker means nothing to your dog. That's why we need to associate the clicker with the treats. To associate the two we first get a bunch of bite size treats and put them in your pocket. You then get your dog's attention and "click". Right after you click you give your dog the treat. You do this many times until you know your dog understands it; usually the dog may perk it's ears, be focused on you, lick it's lips, or act exited and wag it's tail. Soon whenever your dog sees the clicker it will know that it will be given treats.
The clicker and the treats are only used when building new tricks and behaviors. Once your dog has mastered the behavior you can phase out the clicker and the treats by reducing the amount of treats and increasing the amount of praise.
The clicker and the treats are only used when building new tricks and behaviors. Once your dog has mastered the behavior you can phase out the clicker and the treats by reducing the amount of treats and increasing the amount of praise.
Beliefs on Clicker Training
There are some false beliefs about clicker training. Most of these problems, however, can be avoided.
- Your dog will only do the trick with the clicker.
The clicker should be used to recognize the correct behavior during training, not to maintain behavior. Once a behavior is performed each time the dog hears the command, the clicker is discontinued.
- Dogs become fat with clicker training because they eat too many treats.
You should be treating your dog kibbles of its regular dog food or any other "bite-sized" treat. (Smaller dogs get even smaller treats. Larger dogs get only slightly larger treats.) And/or you can use other rewards other than food, like toys, praise, and attention
- You can't clicker train in noisy environments.
Training for distractions should be done by first training without distractions and then gradually adding distractions to the training environment.
- A dog may only listen and obey if the owner is carrying treats. If the owner does not have treats, then the dog will pay attention to whoever may have treats and food rewards.
In clicker training the food should not be visible to the dog until the behavior is completed. This could also happen when the trainer uses only one type of reward. If the trainer uses only food, then the dog clearly learns that if food isn't present, then it doesn't have to do the behavior. You should use a variety of reinforcements and hold training sessions where food isn't present.
- Some dogs are sensitive to noise and frightened by a clicker.
If your dog is afraid of the clicker, then simply choose a different marker—perhaps even just a word like "Good Job", the clicking of a retractable pen, or a juice cap.
- Your dog will only do the trick with the clicker.
The clicker should be used to recognize the correct behavior during training, not to maintain behavior. Once a behavior is performed each time the dog hears the command, the clicker is discontinued.
- Dogs become fat with clicker training because they eat too many treats.
You should be treating your dog kibbles of its regular dog food or any other "bite-sized" treat. (Smaller dogs get even smaller treats. Larger dogs get only slightly larger treats.) And/or you can use other rewards other than food, like toys, praise, and attention
- You can't clicker train in noisy environments.
Training for distractions should be done by first training without distractions and then gradually adding distractions to the training environment.
- A dog may only listen and obey if the owner is carrying treats. If the owner does not have treats, then the dog will pay attention to whoever may have treats and food rewards.
In clicker training the food should not be visible to the dog until the behavior is completed. This could also happen when the trainer uses only one type of reward. If the trainer uses only food, then the dog clearly learns that if food isn't present, then it doesn't have to do the behavior. You should use a variety of reinforcements and hold training sessions where food isn't present.
- Some dogs are sensitive to noise and frightened by a clicker.
If your dog is afraid of the clicker, then simply choose a different marker—perhaps even just a word like "Good Job", the clicking of a retractable pen, or a juice cap.