What is Clicker Training?

You may have heard of clicker training, the fastest-growing training trend that has re-united dog enthusiasts and trainers around the world.

Considered more of a philosophy than a training method, clicker training has become popular because it delivers precision and quick results in a relatively short period of time. The best part is that all you need is a clicker and tasty snacks.

What if you don't have a clicker or don't want to use one? While it is preferable that you use a clicker to train a dog, the good news is that you can still effectively train your dog without one once you get used to the principles behind clicker training.

We'll take a look at the process in the next few paragraphs, but first let's understand what clicker training is and how it can benefit you and your dog.

An Insight into Clicker Training

Just as the name suggests, clicker training involves using a clicker, but what exactly is a clicker? At its most basic level, a clicker is simply an audible device in the shape of a small box. Its name comes from the little “click” noise it makes when you press it with your finger.

For a dog that has never been exposed to the clicker, the sound it makes can be almost negligible. However, dogs that have been introduced to the clicker properly understand that it provides important guidance. To better understand how this works, let's start with an example.

Imagine going to a fun party where you have the possibility to play several different games that reward you with prizes. A private game consists of throwing a wooden ring at an object on the table. Every time you hit the ring on the object, you hear a sound that announces your victory along with flashing lights. Seconds later, you can claim your prize, a stuffed animal of your choice.

Clicker training works in a similar way. Just like in the ring game, the sound and lights communicate that you've won; the click sound lets your dog know that he's performed the proper behavior and has earned a reward in the form of a tasty treat. The clicking sound then becomes a marker, something that “marks” the appropriate behavior as it reveals and communicates to your dog that he got it right. For this reason, clicker training is sometimes also called “marker training”.

But as mentioned, dogs are not born knowing that the clicker sound means approval. To learn the meaning of the clicker, dogs must be conditioned to use it through a brief process that trainers call “loading the clicker”.

Loading the clicker

To start with the right paw, as mentioned, you will need to “load the clicker”. All you will need for this process is a clicker and some snacks. Start in a quiet room with no distractions. Keep in mind that during this process you will not be asking your dog for specific behavior. Simply click the clicker and immediately give it a treat. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Do this several times in a row. What you are trying to achieve here is to teach your dog that the click is followed by a treat. Make a noise that initially meant nothing to your dog, you are now turning it into the desired sound that soon becomes music to the dog's ear!

How can you determine how successful your clicker is loading? Watch your dog. If at the sound of the clicker your dog shows signs of waiting for the treat, most likely the dog has made the association. It usually takes between eight and fifteen repetitions of clicks combined with the treat to get a reliable response. Now that the clicker is well-loaded, you are ready for the next step which involves adding operant conditioning.

Making clicker training happen

Now that your dog has learned that the click equals the treat, it's time to make your dog work for the clicks. If you're trying to train your dog to sit, you click the moment the dog's bottom touches the floor and immediately offer a treat. If you are training your dog to be together, click the moment your dog is next to you. If you are training your dog to pick up an object, click the clicker the moment his nose makes contact with the object and reward.

What if your dog is reluctant to perform the behaviors or has never been trained before? In this case, you may need to break the exercises into smaller steps and reward gradual approximations to the final behavior, a process known as modeling. So, for example, if you are teaching your dog to touch your hand, you can first click when he looks at your hand, then click by walking towards your hand, then by sniffing your hand, and finally by making contact with your hand.

To provide clarity and make clicker training effective, you need to ensure that you are clicking correctly when the desired behavior is occurring. The moment is very important! If you are late for even a second, you risk marking the wrong behavior.

For example, if you click and reward your dog the moment he stands up, you will be rewarding the act of getting up instead of sitting down, which is not quite what you expected! Learning the art of clicker dressage takes time and skill, even the best trainers participate in courses to improve their skills.

Alternative to using Clickers

As mentioned, you don't necessarily need a clicker to benefit from clicker training principles. If you're hesitant to use a clicker because you're afraid of having to carry a clicker around all the time, there's good news for you. The good news is that clickers now come with wristbands. The good news is that clickers are most important in the early stages of learning. Once your dog has learned the exercise, the click can be replaced by a verbal marker.

But what if you don't want to use the clicker? While many find that the clicker works better, any noise that can effectively mark behaviors as they arise can work. While many like to use words like “yes” or “click” instead of a clicker, a little noise is preferable as it is a natural tone that is consistent, distinct and non-emotional.

An alternative to clickers is whistles, a snap of your fingers, or a noise made with your tongue. Some dog owners afraid of the clicker sound may use the click of a retractable pen while deaf dog owners may use a flash of light to provide guidance for the dog.

Reaping the Rewards of Clicker Dressage

So why are so many dog ​​enthusiasts so fond of clicker training? There are many reasons! Clicker training provides accuracy, reliability, and because it is reward-based, dogs tend to respond with enthusiasm and high motivation. It's not uncommon to see a dog's eyes sparkle and its tail wag when it sees a clicker.

Clicker training is also great for shy dogs that are reluctant and quitters and need a confidence boost. Best of all, clicker training is fun, provides mental stimulation and improves the bond between dog and human.