| A Short
Guide to Clicker Training
 A
clicker is used in positive reinforcement training. A click
produced by the clicker marks a desired behaviour. It is
like saying “good dog” followed by a reward, except that
a click is more precise than saying “good dog”. After
associating a click with a treat, the dog will learn that a
click means food is coming. So even if your dog has done
something good at a distance away from you, you click to
tell him “Yes that’s right, well done, come over and
have your treat”. Do take note that you don’t use a
click to get the dog’s attention. You don’t use a click
to tell the dog to come.
Also
see Karen Pryor's What
is Clicker Training
Charging
up the Clicker – Associating a Click with a Treat
Before
you start clicker training, you have to charge up the
clicker, meaning you have to associate a click with a treat.
This is to teach the dog that when he hears a click, it
means a treat is following. A click is a promise that a
reward is coming.
Get
ready the clicker and your dog’s favourite treats (kibbles
will do too if your dog loves them, like mine). Sit down
with your dog, make a click with the clicker and immediately
give a treat to your dog. Repeat this until the dog looks at
your clicker or he shows a startled response when he hears a
click and looks forward to be rewarded.
Now
your dog is clicker-savvy and is ready to be clicker
trained.
Training
with Clicker
When
your dog gives you the desired behaviour, click immediately,
followed by a treat. The timing of the click is very
important, click when the behaviour is performed. If you
click too late, you may catch a different behaviour. The
treat does not have to arrive immediately, the timing of the
treat is not as critical as the click.
Use
the clicker to teach any behaviour you like, you can even
use it to teach sneezing on command! What people usually do
is, they have their clicker ready by their side all the
time, then when they catch the dog doing something right,
they click to tell the dog “yes that’s right”. The dog
will be positively reinforced to repeat that behaviour since
they have just been rewarded for doing it.
Have
fun with your clicker. For more information about clicker
training, check out Karen
Pryor's Fifteen tips for getting started with the Clicker.
There are many books and
websites available. Here are some some websites:
Clicker
training books are available from:
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