| A dog training method called clicker training has | | | | running to you before you click and reward the dog. |
| become popular over the last several years. Clicker | | | | You should click and reward the dog even if it only |
| training differs in several ways from standard dog | | | | takes a few steps in your direction. After the dog |
| training. Dogs are not deprived of food. Food is only | | | | has demonstrated that it can repeatedly perform this |
| used for primary reinforcement. Punishment and | | | | action, you can try to coax your dog into walking a |
| negative reinforcement are avoided as much as | | | | little closer to you before you click and reward it. You |
| possible in clicker training. Also, the training sessions | | | | should allow your dog to do everything on its own |
| are brief. The practice sessions should last less than | | | | without pushing or pulling it. You can also use click |
| five minutes each. Clicker trainers feel that dogs will | | | | dog training to cure your dog of inappropriate |
| learn more over several short sessions than over one | | | | behavior. Instead of berating your dog when it does |
| long session that might get tedious and cause the | | | | something inappropriate such as relieving itself on |
| dog to lose interest. Studies have also shown that | | | | your carpet, you can click and reward the dog when |
| establishing reliable behaviors with clicker training | | | | it acts appropriately. |
| requires significantly less time than with standard dog | | | | When your dog reaches a point where it will |
| training. Another difference is the use of a clicker as | | | | spontaneously show you the behavior that earns it a |
| a behavior marker. | | | | click and a reward, the clicker trainer should teach the |
| The click trainer clicks when the dog performs a | | | | dog a cue. The cue can be a hand signal or a word. |
| certain action such as sitting. After the click, the | | | | To teach the dog the cue, the trainer will say or |
| trainer gives the dog a reward. Eventually, the dog | | | | signal the cue before the dog repeats the behavior. |
| will associate the click with the reward. The reward | | | | If the behavior occurs during or after the cue, then a |
| can be food such as hot dogs or roast beef, petting, | | | | click and reward is given. If the dog does the |
| playing with a tennis ball, or anything else your dog | | | | behavior without the cue, no click is given. If the dog |
| may enjoy. If you want to use a food reward, you | | | | does not perform the behavior after the cue is |
| must make sure that you use small pieces of food | | | | given, then maybe the reward needs to be changed |
| because you do not want your dog to be | | | | or the cue needs to be relearned in an environment |
| preoccupied with eating and forget about the clicker | | | | with less distractions. Also, while clicker dog training, |
| dog training. Also make sure that your dog's meals do | | | | do not verbally or physically abuse the dog even if it |
| not precede a clicker training session otherwise the | | | | is not performing as it should. This may cause the |
| food rewards will not work. It is important to | | | | dog to lose confidence in you and the clicker training. |
| remember that you must click during and not after | | | | The clicker and rewards can be put away once the |
| the desired action. When the reward is given is not | | | | behavior follows the cue on a consistent basis. The |
| crucial. | | | | behavior can be maintained by replacing the |
| A click is more powerful for training than a spoken | | | | expensive rewards with a less costly reward such as |
| word because it is a unique sound that signifies that a | | | | a pat on the head. Only bring out the clicker and |
| reward is coming. It can provide a precisely timed | | | | rewards to train your dog to learn a new behavior or |
| signal to mark good behavior at the exact moment | | | | relearn an old behavior. |
| that it occurs. This will allow the dog to know exactly | | | | Since clicker training does not rely on punishment or |
| what it was doing. Words can be spoken in different | | | | negative reinforcement to get results, it is the only |
| ways and express different emotions each time but | | | | method of dog training that can be safely and |
| the sound of a click never varies. Dogs and other | | | | effectively used with puppies that are weeks old. At |
| pets have problems telling the differences among the | | | | this point, clicker training is not a universally practiced |
| many words that they hear everyday but they do | | | | dog training method but more trainers are using |
| not have problems determining the meaning of a click. | | | | clicker training to teach basic obedience and other |
| If you want to train your dog to come running to | | | | classes. |
| you when called, do not wait until the dog is actually | | | | |