Train Using a Clicker
By Danz Bar
A clicker is a small, hand held, toy-like object with a metal strip inside; when you press the metal strip, it makes a sharp, very distinctive click, much like the sound of a camera. Clicker training is a clever, popular way to train dogs. It's a fun, fast, and positive approach to encouraging good behavior and teaching obedience and tricks.
- Some people (like me) use the clicker when introducing a new concept, especially with distractible dogs, and then phase off its use after the dog knows the trick or movement. Others use the clicker for training their dog full time, affixing it to their body like jewelry. Other people can't master the coordination or just don't like using it.
To use this gadget, you have to figure out the best way to use the clicker, and you have to work with your dog (very briefly) to help her understand what a click means. In this section, I discuss how clicker training works, give you some examples of the training process, and suggest an alternative if clicker training just isn't right for you.
- Associating the click with a treat
When using a clicker, always pair the snapping sound with a tasty treat. The first time you introduce the clicker, just go one for one - click-treat, click-treat, click-treat - and before a minute passes, your dog will connect the sound with getting rewarded. After that, you're ready to train with a clicker.
What's the magic here - why do dogs learn faster with the clicker? The click sound is distinct from any other sound in the dog's world. As soon as a dog discovers that the click is followed by a goody, guess what - the dog will want to hear the sound as often as possible, and you can use the clicker to highlight good behavior. For instance, say I want to use my click sound to get a dog to sit: Each time the dog chooses to sit, I click and reward. What do you think happens? That's right: The dog starts to sit more often.
Here are a few rules of paw for using treats in clicker training:
- No clicks go unrewarded! If you click, you must reward with a small treat. One click, one reward. Even if you make a mistake click, reward your dog.
All treats should be small and easy to swallow so your dog can wolf them down and not fill up.
Don't treat your dog when she's not having lessons, or getting a reward won't seem as exciting.
Using a clicker effectively
Here are some tips on how to use clicker training most effectively: Use the clicker to reinforce each step of your dog's trick progression. Think in terms of stage-by-stage training -break the lesson into steps, and click when your dog masters each one; as you build up to the full trick, the dog will have to do increasingly more for a click.
- For example, say you want to teach your dog to make a left circle. You first plan to sit with your dog and click when your dog takes one step to the left; that's stage one. Then you hold out your click for two steps, then three - then a full circle. Training this way definitely takes longer than pulling your dog in a circle, but after your dog figures out the sequence, she does a circle with far more zest and enthusiasm than if you were to tug her around and around.
Capture the exact moment your dog is doing something right with a click. If you want to give clicker training a go, timing is everything. A poorly timed click confuses a dog and can result in naughty behavior. When you've clicked, the treat should be given immediately afterward, before requesting another behavior.
Attach a spoken command to the behavior after your dog has figured out what's making the clicker work. Use your command after your dog is already offering you the behavior. Initially, click and reward each time your dog sits in front of you. (You may show her a treat or reward to prompt her cooperation, but initially do not use the command.) When your dog is sitting rapidly, attach the command to the behavior - say "Sit" as she's planting her bottom on the ground. After you've paired the two, a couple of days later you're ready to prompt the position by saying the command ahead of time -just before you offer the reward. Command "Sit" first, and then click and reward the good behavior. Soon you'll be able to say "Sit" away from clicker training exercises, and your dog will be spot on.
- As your dog masters each new command, begin phasing off the use of the clicker and rewards, but always praise your dog for a job well done. Use the clicker when introducing new concepts and behaviors to high-light their importance.
Checking out why it's not for everyone
If clicker training is so effective, why would anyone choose differently? Honestly, I'm not a clicker-exclusive trainer. I use a lot of methods to teach dogs, and my approaches are all upbeat and fun. People have different skills, and dogs do, too.
For people who can coordinate the timing of the clicker and remember to use it, it's a godsend. Dogs learn much faster -nearly twice as quickly - when it's used properly. That said, in some homes a clicker can fall into the wrong hands or fail to fit into the daily plan. For families with young children or people who get discouraged easily or have trouble finding their car keys, just working the device can be an unnecessary frustration. Over clicking or clicking at the wrong time confuses dogs, and a clicker in the hands of a young child can give a dog career-stress overload. Don't feel bad if the clicker doesn't work for you!
Although I can guarantee the clicker's effectiveness, it's not the only way to teach your dog. If the how-to of clicker training leaves you turned off to trick training, don't be; remember, there are many ways to teach dogs. A better option for you may be to insert a sharp word cue like "Yes!" or "Good!" each time your dog successfully completes a maneuver, and leave it at that. The take-home message here is that a sharp, declarative sound used to target breakthroughs in cooperation helps your dog understand what you want her to do.
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