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Clicker Training Q & A

What is a Clicker?

A clicker is a small plastic noisemaker. It makes a ‘click-click’ sound as the lever is depressed.

What is Clicker Training?

Clicker Training is a method that uses positive reinforcement based on the principles of two learning theories called operant and classical conditioning. A trainer that learns to use a clicker and discovers how these theories are applied in daily life will have the tools necessary to solve problems or work on new behaviours. Clicker training is also a way of thinking. It is about learning how to achieve your goals using positive reinforcement instead of intimidation or physical force.

Why can’t I just use food or praise? Isn’t that still positive training?

You could, but there are a few special things about the Clicker that makes it better than just a treat or praise all on their own:

• Your dog hears your voice all the time; the Clicker tells him something special is happening.
• The Clicker acts like a tiny camera in the dog’s mind. It takes of picture of the exact moment he did the right thing. Click Marks the Spot! Treats and praise are usually delivered after the dog has performed the behaviour making it harder to link the reinforcer with the action in his mind.
• Anyone can teach with a Clicker. Dogs trained to listen only to a dominant voice will often not listen to children in the family. With a Clicker, everyone can play a part in teaching the dog.
• Clicker Training is fun for everyone, including the dog!

My dog is scared of the Clicker. What should I do?

Some dogs are afraid of the noise of the clicker before they learn that its sound brings very good things. You can try putting you hand and Clicker in your pocket so the sound is muffled. You can also use a quieter Clicker. You could use the lid from a juice bottle, a clicking pen, or a ‘cricket clicker’. There will be a variety of clickers on hand in the classroom for you to look at.

Do I always have to provide a treat after a Click?

You have to provide a reinforcer each and every time. Click means the dog has earned something he wants and could be a treat or a toy.

What if I don’t have a treat handy?

The click has marked a behaviour for the dog. It is more than a treat marker. If you don’t have a treat handy when your dog performs something amazing or something you have been working on for days, you can still click and then run to the kitchen to get him a treat.

All of the students are clicking in class. Isn’t that confusing for my dog?

No. Your dog will learn that only clicks from you are relevant to him.

I can’t hold the leash, Clicker and treats all at the same time!

No one has an extra arm, but you can make this a little easier. Put your treats in a pouch that you can hang on your belt. Attach your Clicker to a wrist coil so it is always available. Finally, a leash is meant to be used as a safety tether. If you are training in the house, you probably won’t even need a leash, but for outdoor or classroom training try looping the leash onto your arm up near the elbow or attaching it to your belt.

I clicked the wrong thing. What should I do?

Click always means Treat so you have to pay up. Keep practicing and your timing will improve, just try to be careful with your Clicker.

My kids love the Clicker. Can I buy one for them?

The Clicker is a very important source of information for your dog. If the Clicker is played with outside of the dog’s training, and no treat follows, it will soon become background noise with no meaning to the dog. A Clicker is not a toy.

My dog won’t come when I click.

The clicker tells your dog he has done something right; it marks a behaviour. The Clicker is not a command. It does not mean, “Come.” Do not click to call your dog to you. You can, however, click your dog for coming to you. The click would be marking the behaviour of coming to you and you would reward it.

I clicked my dog for sitting but he got up when I clicked. Should I still give him a treat?

In clicker training, the click ends the behaviour. You marked the sit with a click, but once you clicked the dog is free to get up. Ideally it is good to be able to treat the dog in position, but it is not absolutely necessary. Yes, you should give him a treat.

If my dog really shows progress, should I click a few times when he gets it right?

No. One click marks one behaviour, followed by a treat. If your dog made really remarkable progress you can jackpot the dog. A jackpot is numerous treats for one click. It might consist or four or five treats given one after the other for one clickable behaviour. Use jackpots sparingly – they are only for an outstanding performance!

How will my dog know what we are working on if I don’t use a command?

If he doesn’t know the behaviour, how will he know even if you use a command? This can be a hard concept to get used to, but the steps of Clicker Training are:

1.       Catch the dog performing a behaviour (or maybe just a small piece of the final product).

2.       Mark the behaviour with a Click.

3.       Reinforce the behaviour with a reward.

4.       Name the behaviour.

5.       Practice in as many new locations and situations as possible.

6.       Fade the Clicker and just use voice and/or hand signals.

Can I work on multiple behaviours in one training session?

Yes. It is often helpful to take a short break (a minute or so) in between behaviours. You could also change rooms or move to another part of the room you are in. When the dog is no longer being clicked for the first behaviour, he will offer something new. Dogs figure this game out quite quickly.

When will I be able to tell my dog what to do?

Clicker training is different than traditional training. We don’t command the dog to do something; rather we attach a cue once the behaviour has been learned. Once the dog knows his behaviour and cue, you can tell the dog what to do!

Do I have to use a clicker forever?

No. The clicker is a training tool. It is used to teach your dog something new. Once your dog has learned the behaviour, you will fade out the use of the clicker. However, if you want to teach your dog something new, just haul out your clicker!

Do I have to use food forever?

No, however, when training a behaviour you have to use a reward of some kind. A reinforcer is anything your dog wants including treats, toys, going outside, cuddling with you, sniffing a tree, etc. Our goal is to have our dogs working for us on or off leash, in or out of the house, and whether or not you have a clicker and a treat.

There is so much to know and it is all so new. What if I make mistakes?

The good thing about Clicker Training is that it is a very gentle way of training. If we make mistakes, it may take a little longer to train a behaviour, but that doesn’t matter to our dogs. Our dogs are very forgiving creatures. Even if you make mistakes, you will not cause your dog, or your relationship with your dog, any harm with Clicker Training. The only way to learn Clicker Training is to jump right in and try it. You’ll get the hang of it!