Originally used in training animals such as dolphins and pigeons and popularized by animal trainers such as Karen Pryor, clicker training has become an effective means of training horses, cats, birds, and of course dogs.
Clicker training is the process of training an animal using a small plastic box, containing a metal plate, which, when pressed makes a 'click' sound, indicating to the dog the precise behavior that was correct. Another term you'll hear often when it comes to this type of training is operant conditioning but the more popular name remains "clicker training".
Some perceived disadvantages of clicker training
There are a few commonly apparent downsides to clicker training. Probably the most obvious is the reliance on a clicker at all times but in practice the clicker is usually only used when starting out in training the dog in new behaviors or for perhaps "refreshing" ones already learnt. Generally its use is not needed or desired after this. One other mistaken shortcoming with clicker training is that it cannot be used while you are in a group of other dogs but this has been proved incorrect in many clicker training classes where there a many dogs, owners and clickers in one place.
The benefits of clicker training
The most important aspect to clicker training and the reason it has become such a popular and effective training method is because the click "marks" the exact behavior you want to correctly instill. As an example, consider trying to teach your dog a new behavior, whether it be to sit, stay, fetch or lie down. Traditionally voice commands are used and involve, often loud, instructions and quizzical looks from your pet. Once the desired behavior is achieved, the dog is rewarded with a "good dog" praise from you, a treat or a pat. The problem with this is that by the time the reward is given, the dog has likely started to do something else so it is not clear to it what the reward is actually for.
Clicker training overcomes this by being used at exactly the time your dog performs the behavior you want it to.
Lock and load - How clicker training works
The first step in clicker training is to condition your dog to the sound of the click. Also know as "charging" or "loading" the dog is given a reward, typically a small special tasty treat, at the same time or immediately after the clicker is clicked. This is repeated several times, in dogs usually anything between 5 and 10 times until the clicker can be used when the dog's attention is elsewhere and just the sound of the click grabs its immediate attention.
The second part to the training then is to use the click and reward when your dog performs the exact behavior you want it to. Of course the most important part to clicker training is getting the click perfectly timed with the action you desire from your dog.
The benefits of clicker training have been proven time and time again and perhaps the most important one is how totally humane and rewarding the entire training experience is for both you and your best friend.
