How to Train a Dog Using a Clicker

So, thinking of clicker training your dog, but not quite sure how to get started? To train your dog effectively using a clicker, it is important to first understand what makes a clicker so effective for training your dog. The whole concept of the clicker is for the dog to equate a click with a “yes” or a “good job” or “good boy/girl”. So, when training, it helps the dog know what he/she did right, and later it helps him/her know what you want them to do.

When you first start clicker training, use small but delicious treats every time you click. It is essential to communicate to the dog that a click is a good thing. When clicker training a dog, you always want to click when the dog is DOING the right thing, not after the dog has DONE the right thing. The whole point of the clicker is to let the dog know EXACTLY what it was that he/she did a good job at. This way, when your dog has learned the trick, command, etc… when you click the clicker, they will know EXACTLY what to do.

Clicker training is based on positive reinforcement. When a dog does something good, something good happens. When a dog does something wrong, there is no positive reaction. So you see, clicker training is not only more pleasant for your dog, but it will also help your dog make more sense of the commands you give, and will definitely help you communicate with your dog in ways you didn’t know were possible.

Remember to keep the practice sessions relatively brief, and if your dog does an extremely good job, don’t reward with more clicks, reward with more treats. (hence, you keep your dog from getting confused.)
Remember that big things happen in small steps, so reward the small steps your dog takes in the right direction, and soon you and your dog can accomplish big things together.