Clicker training can be a successful and effective means of teaching a puppy acceptable behavior. In this type of training, trainers use a clicker, which is nothing more than a small mechanical noisemaker, to show the puppy that he or she is performing in an acceptable way that will earn positive reinforcement.
Clicker training was devised by Marian Kruse and Keller Breland while they were studying under renowned psychologist B.F. Skinner. Skinner used the clicker training method to teach wild pigeons he caught to bowl. The same method of training was later used in training more than 140 species of animals, including whales, dogs, cats, bears, lions and humans.
Clickers, which are no more than small plastic devices that make noise, are used when first introducing a new behavior. Once the puppy shows regularity with the behavior, verbal commands are added and the clicker is no longer needed.
Clicker training is a simple, but very effective, means of letting your puppy know exactly what you expect. It is the trainer’s task to learn to excel at the timing of the clicker.
When using this method to train a puppy, click only during the behavior that you are attempting to teach. For example, if you are trying to teach the sit command, click and treat the puppy the second his or her butt begins to touch the ground. Do not wait until the puppy is fully seated. Your job is to make it crystal clear that he or she is being rewarded for its current behavior.
Introduce the clicker to your puppy by clicking 10 to 12 times in fast succession. Offer the puppy treats while you are clicking the mechanism so that he or she learns to associate the clicking noise with something positive.
Once the dog understands that the clicking sound is a good thing, start to use it to teach behaviors such as sitting, staying, heeling and coming to you. You may also gradually reduce the amount of “clicks” you do when the puppy begins to associate the sound with the behavior.
Don’t overdo the use of the clicker in the beginning. Three or four repetitions are good for a normal training session. Don’t attempt more than four sessions a day.
When the dog proves that he or she has an understanding of the connection between performing a specific command and the sound of the clicker accompanied by a treat, it is time to begin using verbal cues or commands with the clicker.
As time goes on (the length of time will depend on the dog), you can stop using the clicker and rely on verbal commands alone. You can also begin cutting back on the treats. Try treating intermittently rather than every time he or she performs to your expectations.
Be sure to end all clicker-training sessions on a positive note.
It is also important to note that the training clicker should never be used for anything other than training. Don’t use it as a toy and don’t tease the dog with it.
The clicker training method is relatively new in the world of dog trainers. While it works well for a lot of animals, it may not be the best method for you. Much is dependent on you and the intelligence and personality of your dog.
For more information on clicker training, check out our free eBook:
Perfect Puppy Training Guide – Chapter 6 – Clicker Training
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