Clicker Training

Dog training is a rewarding journey that builds a stronger bond between you and your canine companion. A method that has gained increasing popularity within dog training is the use of a clicker. Clicker training is an effective and positive reinforcement technique that helps shape desired behaviors in your dog. In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of clicker training and how you can utilize it to train your dog.

What is a clicker, and how does it work?

A clicker is a small handheld device that produces a distinct clicking sound when you press it. The sound is consistent and precise, making it an ideal signal for marking correct behavior in your dog. Clicker training is based on the principle of positive reinforcement. When your dog performs the desired behavior, you click to mark it, and then reward with something your dog loves, usually a treat.

Advantages of clicker training:

1. Clear Communication: The click sound is constant, creating a clear marker for your dog, reducing confusion and misunderstandings.

2. Swift Feedback: Clicker training provides immediate feedback to your dog when they do something right. It helps your dog connect their behavior to the reward.

3. Precise Timing: Since the click sound is exact and predictable, you can mark the desired behavior with precision.

4. Positive Learning: Clicker training focuses on rewarding desired behavior rather than punishing unwanted behavior, creating a positive experience for your dog.

How to train with a clicker:

Step 1: Preparation:

• Acquire a clicker and treats that your dog loves.

• Find a calm and distraction-free training area to begin. I always recommend starting indoors in a place where you can have some peace.

Step 2: Charging the clicker:

1. Sit with your dog, with the clicker ready in one hand and a treat in the other.

2. Press the clicker and immediately give your dog a treat. Repeat this several times to establish the association between the click and the treat. Some dogs will understand this right away, while others may require several days of repetition before proceeding to the next step.

Step 3: Training Basic Commands:

1. Choose a fundamental command like "Sit."

2. Wait for your dog to sit naturally or guide them by holding a treat in front of their nose and lifting it towards their ears, which often encourages a sitting position.

3. When your dog sits, click and reward with a treat, then use a release command to let them know they are free to move.

4. Repeat this process multiple times.

5. As your dog begins to grasp the concept, add the verbal cue "Sit" and click as soon as they sit, followed by a treat.

6. Continue the exercise until your dog associates the click with the sitting behavior.

Step 4: Shaping Behavior: Clicker training is a powerful tool for shaping more complex behaviors. You can use it to teach your dog to roll over, give a paw, or perform other tricks. Mark the behavior or any slight attempt or tendency to the movement with the click and then reward.

Step 5: Be Consistent and Patient: Consistency with the clicker is crucial. Use the click every time your dog exhibits the desired behavior, and always reward with something your dog loves. Also, be patient; some dogs may take longer to grasp clicker training than others.

Step 6: Choosing the Right Treats: Select treats that are highly valued by your dog, but not overly fatty. Many commercial treats contain sugars, salts, and unnecessary additives. Try to find natural, healthy treats. Ideally, you can make your own! I purchase meat and offal for my dogs' meals directly from a small farm butcher. I usually buy a few extra lungs, kidneys, and hearts. I cut these into small pieces and dry them in the oven. It typically yields a substantial amount, which I store in bags and freeze. This dried treat will keep for a long time. I take out and thaw as much as I need each week. Look through my PDF files, there you will soon find descriptions of how you can make your own healthy candy.

Common Issues and How to Address Them:

1. Dog is Afraid of the Click Sound: Some dogs may initially be scared of the click sound. To address this, allow your dog to become familiar with the clicker by having a helper click from a distance while you reward without requiring a specific behavior. For dogs that still find it frightening, you can try wrapping the hand holding the clicker with a cloth or towel to muffle the sound slightly. Get creative; some dogs may respond to a regular ballpoint pen click or tongue click.

2. Misunderstandings: Ensure precise timing and use the clicker exactly when the desired behavior occurs to avoid confusing your dog.

3. Over-rewarding: Make sure not to over-reward your dog. Use small rewards to prevent weight gain or other health issues.

4. Patience: If your dog appears frustrated or tired, take a break and continue later. Clicker training should be enjoyable and positive.

Clicker training can be a fantastic method to develop a well-behaved, happy, and well-adjusted dog. With patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency, you and your dog can enjoy the training experience together. So, pick up your clicker and start training your dog.

It is important to be able to click at exactly the right moment, and to get good at it, you can do a number of different exercises without a dog.

• Practice on a friend, decide that you will click on a given signal that the friend will periodically do. You can also practice clicking and pretend to give the friend a reward.

• Take the clicker with you out into the forest on a walk (without a dog) and click every time you pass a rock, tree or something else.

• If you are brave, you can take the clicker with you when you walk around town and click every time someone passes you, a car drives by, or you pass a pole.

Only the imagination sets the limits here!

//Mirabelle Wesden