Clicker Training

By Training Staff, PetSuites of America - 11 Houston Locations, PetSuitesOfAmerica.com

When you are out at the dog park or on a walk with your pup, you may see other dog owners giving a command to their pet and using a device that makes a clicking noise when the pet responds with the desired behavior. The click is followed up with a treat or other positive reinforcement for the behavior. This device is called a clicker and is used for marker training, otherwise known as clicker training.

The clicker device is a metal strip inside a small plastic box that makes a distinct clicking sound when pressed. During training, dogs associate the sound of the click with positive rewards that mark the behavior (such as sit, down, etc.), thus teaching the dog to continue offering the good behaviors in exchange for a reward.

To teach a dog the meaning of the click, a treat is given immediately after clicking, which is called “loading the clicker”. By loading the clicker, this is the first clue to the dog that a treat will follow a click. Next, you can progress to asking for a behavior, such as sit, and as soon as the dog complies, click and treat. The timing of the click is essential - it must be immediate to mark the exact moment of the behavior. Once your pup catches on, you do not have to give a treat every time, perhaps intermittently after the behavior is learned to reinforce, but it’s very important to use strong rewards a lot during initial training stages. One very important element of marker training is to also use praise. The treat is a reward but additional praise and affection is also a valuable tool. Eventually after your dog has mastered basic commands, you can move to more advanced training by simply clicking for small steps toward the behavior and work the dog toward the final, completed behavior.

Once you get started with the clicker, you will discover many opportunities to use this tool in shaping your dog’s behavior including teaching basic obedience, tricks, dog sports, or even to modify unwanted behaviors such as reactivity or anxiety. To get started, there are many online tools including videos and articles to assist you in working with your animal!