Did you know the clicker was first used in training sessions for marine mammals so they could perform tricks at exhibitions? Well, it proved to be such a successful method of training, people began testing it with other animals. Clicker training dogs was introduced in the 1950s and quickly became a popular training method, and one that's still popular today.

So if you've brought a new puppy home or want to teach your dog some new tricks, clicker training is method that has a proven track record. So let's get into it and explore how to use a clicker to train your dog.

What is Clicker Training?

Clicker training is a reward-based training technique. It creates an association between a clicking sound and a reward, which is usually a food treat. The click is used to mark a moment. Any sound could be used, like blowing a whistle, but the reason a click works best is because it’s a sound that your dog’s unlikely to hear outside of training.

For clicker training to be successful, your dog must be rewarded whenever it hears the click. So even if you have accidentally clicked, you should reward your dog. The reward is usually an edible treat, but a favourite toy can be used instead. Choose the reward that you think your dog will respond to best.

Clicker training is effective because it signifies the exact moment that your dog performed the desired behaviour. For example, if your dog was jumping over a hurdle, you’d have to wait until it completed it before praising them. A clicker enables you to click as soon as they pass over the hurdle. Then you can reward with the treat when they’ve landed and come to you. This way your dog knows exactly what good behaviour is being rewarded.

How to Clicker Train a Dog

The two most important aspects of dog clicker training are timing and consistency. Follow these simple steps to successfully train a dog with a clicker:

Step 1: Introducing the Clicker

Before training with a dog clicker, you need to create an association between the ‘click’ and a reward. When your dog is calm and distraction-free environment, click and then give your dog a treat within 3 seconds. Repeat this a few times so that your dog builds an association between the sound and the positive reinforcement that follows.

Step 2: Training with a Dog Clicker

Once your dog understands that hearing a click means a treat is coming, you can start to use the clicker to mark good behaviour. Start with simple commands like training your dog to sit. Give your dog the verbal command ‘sit’ and as soon as they sit, click and reward them. Your dog won’t know what ‘sit’ means to start with, so you’ll also need to use visual cues. This could be holding a treat in your hand and moving it above their head, so they have to move back and sit to be able to look at the treat.

Only click when your dog is performing the action, in this case, as soon as their bum touches the floor. This teaches your dog what action is being rewarded. When your dog has completed the command a few times, you can then remove the visual aid of your hand and use only verbal commands with the clicker.

Practice the same command over a few short sessions to get your dog used to the clicker. Once your dog has learnt that completing a command results in a click, which is followed by a treat, you can then move on to teaching them new commands.

Step 3: Be Consistent

Consistency is key! You’re teaching your dog to build an association between a noise and an action, so you need to maintain this association by continuously doing the same thing. Clicking at the exact moment and taking small steps builds consistency. Remember, don’t click until your dog performs the desired behaviour, otherwise they’ll be unsure what’s being rewarded.

Always reward your dog within 3 seconds of clicking the clicker, even if you’ve clicked by accident, otherwise the association will be affected. This consistency helps your dog learn desirable behaviour. Don’t try to train dogs with multiple methods - if you choose clicker dog training, don’t then try to make them perform a command without the clicker as this will cause confusion.

Once your dog has fully mastered clicker training and the commands that you have taught, they’ll be able to perform them without the click, but make sure you always follow up with positive reinforcement.

Top Tips for Clicker Training Dogs

• Never point the clicker at your dog as this can be intimidating – hold the clicker in your palm and keep your hand to the side of your body.
• Don’t use the clicker for other purposes, like getting your dog’s attention, as this will confuse them.
• When training, only click once so that your dog knows what exact moment is being rewarded.
• Keep training sessions short – you can repeat the sessions a few times a day, but they shouldn’t last longer than 10-15 minutes.
• If you make a mistake and click at the wrong time, still reward your dog with a treat. You don’t want to break the association of click and reward, and you can always perform the command again with the right clicker timing.

Using a clicker for dog training has proven to be a successful method. It teaches your dog that performing an action is rewarded with a treat, and they know exactly what that action is because it’s signified by a ‘click’. Timing and consistency are the key to success. If you stick to the steps and top tips, it won’t take long for your dog to get the hang of it.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetstream.com/treat/canis 

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.