Clicker training is a dog obedience training method used for military and police k9 training, service dog training, and search and rescue dog training. But it’s not reserved for dogs being trained for specific jobs. It’s for your dog, too: the hunting dog, the agility dog, the running buddy, or the lap dog.
The clicker itself is a small, handheld gadget that makes a “click” sound when a button is pressed. It costs about a dollar at pet supply stores.
When properly implemented, clicker training establishes a link in your dog’s mind among the click, reward, his or her actions, and your commands. The method relies entirely on positive reinforcement, making any kind of punishment unnecessary.
A clicker is known in the professional training world as a conditioned reinforcer. Operant conditioning, the fancy name for this type of training, is used for training dolphins, horses, and even cats and goldfish. And if it can work for a goldfish…
In a nutshell, when your dog does something favorable, the click (accompanied by a treat) delivers a quick, consistent indicator to your dog that he or she has done exactly what you asked. An association is made between clicker and treat, and then between clicker and good behavior, and then between command and correct behavior. Using the click/reward method five to ten times will establish an association in most canine brains.
The clicker dog training method tends to be more effective than the human voice because our voices vary with mood, health, and time of day. Also, words take longer to speak than a clicker takes to click. Often, by the time we can give a “good dog” voice reward, the dog is on to something else and confused about what he or she is being praised for. These considerations make the clicker the most consistent and precise method for reward-based dog obedience training.
Clicker training is, paws down, your exclusive ticket to good dog behavior. No other dog training method is more tender, speedy, or effective. No other dog obedience training method delivers a more motivated, or blissful, dog.
