Clicker Training
The highly successful, rewards based style of training used on this website involves a technique called “clicker training,” so-called because it employs a small simple teaching aid called a clicker.
This hand-held device does exactly what you would expect — it clicks. This click is a signal that tells your puppy: “Yes! That’s right! Well done! A reward is coming!” This is known a “click-and-treat” — a click followed by a food tidbit or other treat — and this phrase will appear in many of the step-by-step instructions given in this site, especially for basic training. The clicker acts as a marker to indicate correct behavior. The clicker is not used as a command. Nor should it be used to gain your puppy’s attention.
Before commencing your training, you slowly “tune in” your puppy to the sound of the clicker. Start by simply clicking and giving him a treat several times over — without expecting him to do anything in return. Don’t click in your puppy’s face, but muffle the sound initially — by clicking in your pocket — until he gets used to the sound and associates it with something pleasant, like a treat. Watch for any movement or sign that indicates the puppy is beginning to associate the sound of the clicker with a food treat. Very soon the clicker itself becomes the main indicator that he has performed correctly.
The clicker is a useful aid to training. It tells your puppy clearly and unambiguously when he has performed well and can expect a reward.
Advantages of Clicker Training
Clicker training is a more accurate communicator than praise. It helps your puppy to concentrate, because it removes the need for him to try to pick out the one word that he may understand from all the words and sounds he maybe hearing. Also, the clicker easily transfers from person to person — the click sounds the same whoever does it. It is completely positive and it is never emotional — you can’t make a clicker sound cross or upset. The clicker can also be used over distances.
Remember that while teaching your puppy using this method, there is no place for any form of punishment (not even “No!”). If your puppy gets it right, he gets a reward. If he gets it wrong, there is no reward. Once “tuned” to the clicker, the sight of it is enough for most dogs to respond enthusiastically. You can start each session with a couple of free click-and-treats if you like to make sure he knows “the game is afoot.”
The Basics of Clicker Training
Start each session with a hungry pup and stop while he is eager and interested. Keep at it! Practice regularly but for very short periods only. Short regular practice sessions are the most effective. Just like a human, a puppy learns best when he is mentally alert, and his attention will wander when he gets mentally and physically fatigued, so limit the sessions to no more than five minutes at a time.
At first, work on one obedience skill at a time. Take a break or change to another area or part of the room before beginning to work on another command. When teaching a new command, always click-and-treat every time at first. Then “tease” to see if he is getting the idea. Click-and-treat a correct response. Relax and be patient — there is no need to rush. If using a lure, such as a treat in your hand to lure the the puppy into position, try to phase out the lure as soon as possible by pretending that you have a treat in your hand. Eventually, your hand movement alone will have become a signal to your puppy. Then click the correct response, and treat from your pocket. Use this as often as possible. You could also try to introduce alternative reinforcements, such as praise, a game, a walk, or whatever.
“Tune in” your puppy to the clicker device by clicking and giving him a food treat several times, so that he starts to associate the sound with a reward.
Time your click!
The clicker is used to indicate “Great job! That is the response I wanted,” so you must always time the click so that your puppy hears it when he is responding correctly. The click must be immediate. For example, click when you have asked the puppy to “sit” and he is actually sitting down-it is no use clicking a “sit” after he has stood up again!
CLICKER DOS AND DON’TS
Do click when the puppy has performed well.
Do time your click so that the puppy hears it while he is behaving correctly.
Do keep the clicker in your pocket or behind your back at first (since puppies are sensitive to sound).
Don’t click to attract your puppy’s attention.
Don’t click in front of your puppy’s face.
Don’t click incorrect behavior.
Reinforcing and Motivating
It is important for your puppy to receive frequent reinforcement in the early stages so that he remains highly motivated to keep trying. When you are working on a “down,” for example, you don’t need to wait for the puppy to go right down perfectly before you reinforce his actions with a click-and-treat. Watch out for any movement that looks likely to lead to your end goal, and click-and-treat that. Then, by small steps, you will progress toward the desired behavior.
When he has achieved the complete movement, give him a jackpot-click, lots of treats, and warm praise. Get into the habit of giving your puppy extras for excellence. Let him know that you are delighted with him. It will motivate him, and he’ll work even harder. Over the weeks, gradually aim to increase his motivation still further by trying to get two or three correct responses for one click-and-treat, and then progress to click-and-treat at random.
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