Clicker Training for Dogs

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.

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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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