"Introduction to Clicker Training"

By Jill Rose

Let's discuss a technique that you can use no matter what you are trying to teach your dog -- clicker training.

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement method of training. It involves using a clicker, a small device that fits in the palm of your hand and can be pressed to make a clicking noise. The click is used to mark appropriate behavior, and lets your dog know that reward is on the way.

The click is more effective than a word because it is not something your puppy will hear under other circumstances the way he would a word, and the sound never changes as a word might with different tones of voice or inflections.

Clickers can be purchased at most pet supply stores. There are a few things you need to know to get started using clicker training:

When you ask your dog to do something and he complies, you should click as soon as he performs the behavior.
For instance, if you ask your dog to "sit," you need to click the moment his rear end hits the floor. The click is used to mark the exact behavior you are looking for.

A click should always be followed immediately by a treat/reward.
This is basic classical conditioning (think Pavlov's dog). You won't always have to use a clicker when you ask your dog to do something, but every time you do use a clicker it needs to be followed by a treat. Your dog will quickly make the association between the sound of the clicker and the treat.

For the clicker to be effective, you need to "charge" it.
All this means is that you have to make the clicker meaningful for your puppy. Get your puppy to do something simple to start with, and click and treat. For example, call your puppy's name and the minute he turns his head to look at you, click and treat. Repeat this for several minutes, and your puppy will soon learn that the click is marking his behavior of looking at you when his name is called, and a treat is soon to follow.

Timing is everything.
It's important that you mark appropriate behaviors immediately and that a treat follows as soon as possible. For your puppy to learn the behavior you are trying to elicit, you need to be precise. For example, if you ask your pup to "sit" and click while he is still in the act of sitting your pup will start thinking that "sit" means to get his rear end halfway to the floor.

Once your puppy is savvy to the meaning of the clicker, you can start capturing behaviors that he is performing in everyday life.
This is when clicker training really gets fun. Keep your clicker and some treats handy, and you can train your puppy to do just about anything on command. Do you think it's cute when your puppy sits up and begs? Wait until he does it, and then click and treat. After he does this a few times you can add the command "beg."

Now that you know what to do to reinforce your puppy's behavior when he complies with a command, it's time to consider how to elicit the behaviors to begin with.

One note before you begin training. Keep training sessions short -- about ten to fifteen minutes tops. Practice only one command during each training session.

Read about Jill Rose's guide, Painless & Positive Puppy Training, here!

© Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved.