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Clicker Training for Dogs

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Dog Clicker Training

Dog Clicker Training
Dog training clickers.

The power of clicker training for dogs is amazing. You are rewarding a thinking dog, which is awesome!

Many people use a verbal marker, such as yes to replace a click sound. Keep in mind that people can say yes using many different tones so this can be confusing and may not be the ideal word to use for the behavior praise. The click is a consistent way of marking the behavior before rewarding the treat. The click sound always stays the same whereas the cadence, tone, excitement, clarity and words used with a voice are not always the same.

Why Clicker Training Works

Hypothetically, if I placed a chair in the middle of a room and asked you to sit in it, the moment that you sat down in the chair, I would click and reward. That is the premise we have discussed using clicker training so far. Sounds simple, yet it’s possibly something that a human might get bored with rather quickly. But if every time that she asked you to sit, after you have properly done so, I could click and then reward you with a $100 bill.

What might the outcome be?

Most people would immediately continue to stand up and sit back down in the chair. What has happened is that the dog trainer has now reinforced the proper behavior using clicker training! You have learned that each click meant that you did what was asked. In this case, you were then given a $100 for doing so.

When you should click:

  • Sit: As your dog’s behind touches the ground.
  • Down: As your dog’s elbows touch the ground.
  • Loose Leash Walking: When the leash is loose (your dog is not pulling).
  • Attention: When your dog looks at you instead of the other dogs or distractions.
  • Barking: When your dog stops barking even for a nanosecond, click/treat!
  • Anything you like! If you can think it and your dog is physically able to do it, go for it!

– When your dog stretches while coming out of his crate, click and treat. Do this several times and add a cue, such as “pray.”

– Click when your dog looks to the left and add a cue, such as left.

– Click when your dog backs up and add a cue, such as back.

I have trained my Beta fish, Dribble, to touch my finger with his mouth, follow my finger around his bowl and swim through a hoop using these same clicker training methods.

While I’m not sure he could hear the sound of a click, I used a pen light and blinked when he did the correct behavior and fed him Beta kibble as a reward!

Apply Clicker Training to Other Animals

You can train chickens, horses, cows, guinea pigs and bunnies to do agility by using clicker training. I have even trained humans to sit in a chair. There are tons of games that can sharpen your clicker training skills and keep your dog mentally stimulated. I enjoy 101 Things to Do with a Box. Have fun training your dog!

VIDEO: How to Use a Clicker

What dog training clicker games do you play with your pets? Tell us in the comments below.

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Clicker Training

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Clicker Training for Dogs

Clicker Training Dogs
Clicker training is fun!

Clicker training is used as a very effective way to train dogs. Clicker training is a positive form of dog training that produces the desired results quickly with minimal effort for dogs and the dog trainer. Professional dog trainer Fanna Easter explains to pet parents in her dog training class that the clicker is a magic tool. Dog owners enrolled in dog training classes have been awed by the power of clicker training. “With a clicker, I can train a dog within minutes to quickly learn a new behavior,” says Fanna Easter.

In this post, you will learn how to train a dog using a clicker!

What is a dog training clicker?

  • A small device that makes a click sound when pressed with your finger.
  • A clicker makes the same sound every time it does not change. It’s a quick sound.
  • A dog training clicker adds consistency to marking the correct behavior that you will want to reward, which lets the dog know immediately that he has done what you asked of them. Remember: cue, click, then treat!
  • When a dog trainer clicks, it’s a promise that the dog has rightfully earned a treat.
RELATED: Dog Trainer Karen Pryor

How to Train a Dog Using a Clicker

  • Click when your dog is doing something you like. It’s that simple.
  • The click sound marks the good behavior and the dog learns that s/he did well and earned a treat.
  • The sound of a clicker is meaningless to your dog, but if you click and then immediately give your dog a treat, your dog learns to associate the click sound with rewards for doing what was asked of him.
  • Use this powerful tool to your advantage when training a dog. Click and treat to imply he is correct.
  • Dog treats are the dog’s currency or motivator so use treats that your dog loves!

Clicker Dog Training Guidelines

  • When you click, always give the dog a treat. If you do not, then the dog will learn to ignore the click sound. Even when you clicked at the wrong moment, your dog is still learning.
  • Click once and then treat once. Multiple clicks are confusing, as the dog does not know which click marked the correct behavior.
  • The clicker is not a remote control so no need to point it at him. Just hold the clicker with your leash hand, as shown in the video “How to Train a Dog Using A Clicker.”

VIDEO: How to Train a Dog Using a Clicker

3 Steps to Clicker Dog Training

1. When training a dog with a clicker, use the clicker to mark the new behavior that you are teaching.

2. Once your dog responds to the cue, such as sit, mark the correct behavior with the training clicker and then treat the pet with a reward.

3. Once the dog gets the cue, correct 80% of the time. You can remove the clicker from the equation.

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How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

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Stop Your Dog From Barking Now

Barking Dog
Elenarts/Deposit Photos

Wow wee, this is a tough one! But don’t worry folks, I have lots of tips for your barking dog. 🙂

Barking is a symptom and we need to find the cause to effectively address this behavior. First, it helps to understand why your dog is barking so we can manage and redirect this behavior. Many clients will correct their dogs whenever they are barking instead of understanding what is causing them to bark. This will confuse you and your dog quickly, which leads to frustration.

Now, some dogs are more vocal than others. I’m hesitant to label a specific breed of dog as more vocal than others. I’m just not a fan of labels. Think about a litter of puppies: some are quiet and others are vocal (Sobek, my Rottie, is super vocal and has been since he was 2 days old). Now, think of your family. We all have a talker in the group. In my family, it’s me! I’m much more vocal than my sister and our family video confirms it every holiday!

Why Do Dogs Bark?

Vocalizing (aka barking), for some, is a reinforcing way to release stress and tension. Again, let’s think in human terms. Some folks can deal with stress by bottling it up inside and never speak a word about it. Others must talk it out with anyone who will stand still long enough to listen. Managing a dog and person, both who vocalize due to stress is a tough one, but it can be managed.

Managing vs. Fixing Behaviors

Note that I mention managing an inappropriate behavior instead of saying fixing an issue. With my past experience, I don’t think we can 100% fix an issue with a living being. You can fix a car or TV, but living beings have learned behaviors that will pop up no matter how much you try to fix them. So, when I say manage, we can manage 99.9% of the time, which works for me! Example: I’m terrified of crickets. You can manage my dislike by feeding me donuts when around a cricket, but if I’m shopping at Macy’s (odd place for a cricket) and a cricket suddenly jumps on me, you better believe I will react! My fear of crickets is a learned behavior. Okay, I’ll contain my nerdy side now — back to managing barking.

3 Steps to Stop a Barking Dog

  1. Identify the trigger. What is causing your dog to bark in that environment?
  2. Choose an incompatible behavior to teach your dog (e.g. quiet, look at you or touch).
  3. Reward the incompatible behavior that prevents your dog from barking.

Dog Training Tips

  • Notice I said in that environment, which means the very moment that caused your dog to bark. Was it another dog that approached, a loud sound, a person walking up to your dog, doorbell ringing, umbrella opening, your dog noticing a strange object, or was he standing too close to another dog?
  • If your dog is a stress barker, find out what triggers the stress. Does it happen when you ignore him (attention-seeking behaviors, frustration due to confusion during a training session, an approaching dog, etc.)? Now address the stress and reward the dog when he is quiet (if he exhibited attention-seeking behavior). Take a step back in your training session and reward a simple behavior or walk the opposite way of an approaching dog.
  • Ask your dog to perform the incompatible behavior before he begins barking. If he begins barking, it’s too late. I say, “The horse is already out of the barn.” Back up until your dog quiets and try again. Timing is key!
  • If your dog barks, will not take a treat, or stop barking, back up from the trigger. In the dog training world, we say your dog is over threshold.
  • You need a really good reward. Barking is self rewarding, especially for stress barkers. Break out the really good stuff (cubed lunchmeat!).
  • At first, keep your dog on a leash so you have some control to move away from the trigger.
  • Manage the environment so your dog does not practice the behavior. This means, don’t let him bark at the trigger as this will only strengthen that behavior (think many repetitions of practice to strengthen muscles).

Example: Your dog barks at other dogs through the window.

  1. Close the curtains when you are not around. We don’t want the dog to practice this behavior and it getting stronger.
  2. Leash your dog and click/treat an incompatible behavior, such as quiet. Yes, he needs to breathe in between barks so reward the nanosecond of quiet. Or ask him to look at you and reward that behavior.
  3. If your dog will not focus on you, then back up from the window and try again.
  4. Practice this several times with fabulous treats.
  5. Keep curtains closed until your dog has more success with the incompatible behavior instead of barking at the dogs.
  6. Trust me, your dog will learn not to bark at other dogs through the window. 🙂

What Not to Do

  • Screaming, yelling and telling him to stop it right now. Basically, you are joining in with the barking party. 🙂
  • Penny cans, spray bottles and leash corrections. While it may seem to stop the behavior, it more or less suppresses it in my opinion. And I’ve seen it time and time again, corrections scare the dog and the dog thinks the trigger caused it. Now you have a dog that is scared of other dogs, people, etc. Punishment may work, but you really need to know what you are doing to prevent fallout behaviors. Make your mistakes with positive reinforcement, as it’s much more forgivable and it works!

Barking dogs of the world, unite! Share what causes your dog to bark in the comments below.

More:
Request Dog Barking
Stop Dog Barking Next Door
Attention Seeking Barking
Calming Music for Dogs

How to Train a Rottweiler

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Rottweiler Training
Learn about the Rottweiler breed.

Rottweiler Training

“The Rottweiler breed is my favorite. I’ve shared, and still currently share my home with Rottweilers. As a dog trainer and dog lover, I enjoy every minute of it!” says Fanna Easter.

Certified dog trainers Fanna Easter fell in love with Rottweilers while living in Germany. She was lucky enough to visit the city Rottweil, which means “red roofed” in German.

Origin of the Rottweiler

The Rottweiler was named after the Imperial City, as the breed was the butcher’s dog in the region. Fanna and her husband attended the Rottweiler Specialty, a dog show for Rottweilers only held in Rottweil, Germany. They have both learned a ton about this breed of dog. Rottweilers are very good with families that have older children, as Rotties are big and can knock down small children accidentally.

Rottweilers (Rotties) were bred to herd livestock (the butchers’ dog). After herding the cattle to the market, the cattleman would tie his earnings in a pouch around his Rottie’s neck for the walk home. This would ensure that no one would steal his hard work earnings.

Not only do Rotties herd, but they also guard and draft (pull carts) very well. Think of Rottweilers as little draft horses. They are powerfully built with heavy bones and are extremely well muscled.

Rottweilers are the powerhouses of the working dog group.

RELATED: Rottweiler Training

3 Traits of the Rottweiler Breed

  • A Rottweiler’s work ethic is intense (they will work all day).
  • Rottweilers have a natural instinct to protect their families.
  • Rotties are playful, gentle and fun loving.

Dog training tip: Always provide plenty of fresh water for your dog when he works or plays (inside or outside).

Rottweiler Grooming: Rottweilers shed throughout the year. Fanna recommends an undercoat rake to remove excessively grown undercoats. She also recommends weekly nail trims, ear cleanings and baths as needed. “It’s always a good idea to brush his teeth at least three times per week,” says Fanna. She also recommends a chicken-flavored toothpaste, which dogs tend to like. Please don’t use human toothpaste, as this can cause your dog harm.

Exercising Your Dog: Rottweilers are moderately active and need a 30-minute walk each day. Rottweilers are good at troubleshooting so feeding them using interactive toys are always fun. Interactive dog toys will dispense food as your Rottweiler moves, paws and tosses the toy around. This will ensure your Rottie receives plenty of mental stimulation.

Rough Play with Rottweilers: When watching Rottweilers play with other dogs, their play style is mostly like bully breeds. Rottweilers like to run full speed and body slam, hip check (bump their hips against other dogs) and shoulder check (slam their shoulders against other dog’s shoulders). Basically, they play roughly. Not all breeds think this is fun play so it’s vital to find dogs with similar play styles as a Rottweiler. Other bully breeds, like Rotties and Labs, usually play similarly.

Intense Fear Periods: Your Rottweiler may have fear periods just like any dog. However, herding and guarding breeds either have a longer or more intense fear period than most other dog breeds. Since Rottweilers are bred to observe constantly, they may see things a bit different than other dogs. With any fear period, it’s vital the dog can learn positive associations with anything that can cause barking or growling.

Training Rottweilers to Defeat a Fear

Fanna likes to play look at the monster game, which allows her to train Sobek to look at the scary object and be comfortable with it. This helps to reinforce positive associations with objects that her dog does not like. Fanna uses a dog training clicker and the click/treat method when training Sobek.

She suggests making sure that the person training the dog is at a safe distance away from the object that the dog fears. That way the Rottweiler will look at the trainer and will be able to take treats. Fanna says, “When in doubt move further away from the object.” This teaches the dog that the “monster” is not that bad because every time your Rottweiler looks at the object he feared, you will reward him with a training treat. Never force your Rottweiler to walk over or touch anything that causes him to be fearful. This can cause him to permanently be fearful of that object.

Pictured above is Fanna’s dog named Sobek. Fanna absolutely loves Sobek (aka Smoochie). She says, “He is the most kind and gentle Rottie soul, and he’s Momma’s honey bun.” 🙂

Fanna Easter is a volunteer Adoption Coordinator for this wonderful group: Southern States Rescued Rottweilers

Learn about Rottweiler rescue at National List of Rottweiler Rescue Groups.

Tell us about your Rottie on Facebook.com/DogTrainingNation.

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Keep Your Dog From Pulling By Teaching Collar Pressure

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How to Stop Your Dog From Pulling on Leash

Stop Dog From Pulling on Leash

This dog training tip will teach you how to properly train your dog using collar pressure techniques, which will stop your dog from pulling on leash.

Can you imagine moving your dog away from the door with two fingers while holding his collar or leash every time someone is ringing the doorbell? You’re probably thinking there may be no way your dog can do it, right?

Train your dog to understand collar pressure. If your dog pulls on leash or lead, this is one of the first steps to teaching polite leash manners. No more pulling and tugging on your dog’s collar or leash. He will learn to yield to this pressure! 🙂

Teaching Collar Pressure to Your Dog

When teaching dogs collar pressure, we’re not forcing a dog to move, but rather we’re teaching him to offer something different than an opposition reflex. We train him not to push or pull back against the leash pressure. Dog training should be done in a positive and patient manner. Don’t get flustered (remember yoga breath).

This dog training video demonstrates collar pressure training. Again, you’re teaching your dog to move with pressure; not pull against it. This is the goal of loose-leash walking in a nutshell.

Step 1: Make touching your dog’s collar a good thing.

  1. Touch your dog’s collar, then click and treat.
  2. Do this 10 times in a row.

Step 2: Apply pressure.

  1. Apply pressure to your dog’s collar in the opposite way of where he’s standing. Use light pressure, such as holding a door open. You’re not pulling hard per se, but more like restraining.
  2. Immediately click and treat when your dog follows the direction of pressure. As he moves toward the pressure, you’re no longer applying pressure to your dog’s collar.
  3. Do this 10 times in a row. Remember to click and treat each time your dog performs the intended behavior.

Step 3: Reward your dog for moving toward you.

  1. Touch your dog’s collar as if you’re moving him away from something, such as an open door.
  2. Immediately click and treat when your dog follows the direction of pressure (he moves toward your hand instead of pulling opposite of you).
  3. Do this 10 times in a row. Remember to click and treat each time.

RELATED: Choosing the Right Dog Trainer

Dog training involves repetitive actions. Always reward your dog with praise, a click or a treat when he performs the desired action. When a dog learns something new, it should be just like the old cliché: “Practice makes perfect.” Dog training does require repetition (pun intended). Got it?

WATCH: Teaching Collar Pressure

The goal in this training exercise is to move your dog simply by touching his collar. Always click and treat your dog for good behavior when training him. Now, try it with a leash. Use the above dog training steps!

You can train your dog to move in the direction of pressure on his collar using the same steps above. However, use a flat hand against your dog’s body. This works really nicely when trying to move dogs around in a tight space.

Can you use this behavior in your everyday life? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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