SABDTC logo

affiliated with:

Clicker training

Clicker training is one of the most significant advances in dog training in recent history. Derived from dolphin training, the idea behind this technique is that dogs are better able to understand exactly what we are asking of them if we are able to precisely tell them the exact moment they are doing it.

In training, the clicker sound is used to mark the behaviour that you want. The sound makes it very clear to the dog which behaviour is the one that you want.

Dogs love this form of training because it is completely positive and reward based. Clicker training gets fast results because it makes it clear to the dog what action brings the reward.

As with all training, several short sessions get better results than a longer session. Each session can be just a few minutes. Leave the dog wanting more.

Getting started

You will need to get a clicker, some really tasty treats and have the dog on a lead or in an enclosed space like your kitchen or backyard.

Sometimes people just want to use their voice instead of a clicker, and you can do this - but it does not have the same powerful effect as the clicker. Dogs and their owners learn about 50% more rapidly when the marker signal is a click instead of a word.

Timing is important - make sure you click the exact moment that the dog performs or begins to perform the desired behaviour. Some people find it useful to practice clicking without the dog at first.

Conditioning or 'charging' the clicker

The first step is to 'charge' the clicker, which means to get the dog to associate the sound of the clicker with a treat. Thereafter, whenever he hears the clicker he will know the treat is coming next.

It takes two or three sessions to condition the dog to the clicker. The next two things you teach are ‘touch’ and ‘pay attention’.

Session one

Hold the clicker in your left hand with the treats on your right. Have the treats in a pouch or on a table nearby. Don't say anything.

Press the clicker to produce one click, immediately give a treat with your right hand. Repeat 20-25 times.

Session two

Repeat session one.

Session three - pay attention

The dog should now understand that a treat follows a click. Now we want to get the dog to look up at your eyes.

Hold a treat up to your face. Don't say anything, we want the dog to work out what he is supposed to do.

When the dog looks up at your face, immediately click and treat. If the dog is distracted, hold the treat in front of his nose before bringing it up to your face. Repeat this 20-25 times.

Always quickly follow a click with a treat - no exceptions!

Session four

Repeat session three

Session five

This time, hold the treats behind your back. Again, don't say anything. Wait for the dog to look up at your face and then immediately click and treat.

The dog will probably stare at the level of your hands or bark - but eventually he will look up at your face. Click that moment.

You will find that he will quickly learn to look at your face because that is the behaviour that gets him a reward.

Session six - learning touch

The object of this lesson is to get the dog to reach out with his nose and touch the palm of your hand.

Have a slightly moist treat, such as a hot dog or cheese. Rub it on the palm of one hand. Hold your hand out facing your dog. Be ready to click as soon as he reaches out towards your hand to smell it.

Repeat 10-20 times. After he understands that he needs to touch your palm to get the treat, start moving your hand to different positions - down near the ground, above his head, etc.

You can expand the touch exercise to getting him to touch your hand with his paw and this can easily lead to learning to shake hands or high five.

Next steps

Over time, you will actually see the dog experimenting, then listening for the click, experimenting again until they hear it. This is referred to as 'offering behaviours'.

Once the dog will offer behaviours, you can begin to 'shape' the dog into doing more complex tasks.

Dogs enjoy this training technique as it is very stimulating for them and, because this method encourages co-operation without stress..

So, that’s the basis of clicker training. You now have an extremely effective tool to communicate with your dog clearly what you want him to do.

There is no limit to what you can now teach your dog!