Click Here to Learn the 4 Secrets of Becoming a Supertrainer with Clickertraining!
Dog clicker training is impressively effective, no matter what type of dog you have. In fact, clicker training is one of the most effective techniques available for controlling your dog’s behavior and teaching him basic commands. Dog clicker training is easy to master, and with your well-operated clicker you’ll be able to teach your dog almost anything.
Why Clicker Training is so Effective
The basic concept behind clicker training is association: you’re teaching your dog to associate the sound of the clicker with a specific command and behavior. Despite only costing a couple of dollars at your local pet store, the clicker makes a sharp, sudden noise that a dog is able to hear from more than 20 yards away. The object of clicker dog training is to mark a specific behavior that’s desirable and then reward it with the sound of the clicker.
Of course, your dog isn’t born understanding that the clicker sound is a good thing. In other words, you must teach him that the clicker is a reward for good behavior. You can accomplish this using an inexpensive clicker and a small bag of treats.
Using your clicker to do this obviously is an essential part of the clicker training process. The only time your dog should hear the clicker is when you want to tell him he did a good job and a treat is coming his way. In contrast, you might give him a verbal command in a variety of situations, so the association between following a verbal command and receiving a treat won’t be quite as strong as the association is when you use a clicker.
Click Here to Learn the 4 Secrets of Becoming a Supertrainer with Clickertraining!
Dog Clicker Training Techniques
There are three basic steps to follow when you first begin clicker training.
Choose the behavior you want your dog to perform, and then convince him to do it. You can ask him to sit, roll over or something else you’d like to teach him. Once he performs the desired behavior, immediately mark it with the clicker and give him a treat. Normally, it only takes two or three behavior-markings before your dog realizes that what he did was good, and starts doing it whenever you give him a click. Clicker training is effective because it allows you to immediately reward the desired behavior, which strengthens the association in your dog’s mind. Training with verbal commands takes longer.
Once your dog has performed the desired behavior and received his reward, repeat the process several times to reinforce the association. Treats aren’t necessary for every repetition: praise and physical affection are just as effective and can eventually replace the treats entirely.
Transition from the Clicker to Verbal Commands
You might not always have your clicker with you, so after your dog has thoroughly learned the desired behavior, transition to a verbal command you can use anywhere. You can make this transition by saying the command and clicking, followed by a treat as soon as your dog performs the behavior. He’ll quickly learn to associate the verbal command as well as the click with the desired behavior.
Learn the 4 Secrets of Becoming a Supertrainer with Clickertraining!
With effective clicker training, your dog will eventually respond to a verbal command by performing the behavior without needing a treat or any praise: he’ll perform the behavior because he knows it pleases you.
You can use dog clicker training to teach and reinforce many different behaviors. That simple, sharp click from your clicker can make training your dog much easier
