Using a clicker for training is a great way to mark a behavior we want the dog to perform. Clickers are available from most pet stores and pet training outlets. But how do you get the dog to know what it means? You “Load The Clicker”.
To load the clicker be sure you have some very high-value rewards for your dog. This needs to be a reward of more high value than his regular food. Then you just click the clicker and give him a treat. We’re not looking for any behavior. Just click and treat the dog. In no time he will hear the click and expect a treat. This is a very informal training time.
Lola hanging out with her daddy learning the click is a good thing
As you can see in the photo I was just sitting in my chair with my puppy, I would click the clicker and giver her a treat. In no time she was concentrating on where the click came from and from where the reward came from. Notice her rapt attention to where she was hearing the click. Once I began moving the clicker around she learned a good treat was coming. It really is as easy as it sounds. We want them excited when they hear that click, so the reward needs to be quick, so be sure the reward is ready to be given. You don’t want to be fumbling trying to dig the treat out after you click. Once the clicker is loaded for your dog, you never have to do this training again. It will be reinforced every time they perform a behavior you want and they get rewarded.
If you are training a young dog or even an older dog, please resist the urge to use the click as a “recall” device. If you try and use it as a recall device it will de-value the marker. Think of what your marking, the dog is playing keep away from you and you want him to come to you, so you click your clicker. You have now marked his not doing what he was told, so he comes for his reward. When he gets to near, you grab him so he can’t run away again, after all, you wanted him to come for some reason. You have now marked the bad behavior and also startled him with trying to grab him when he came to you. That can be viewed by your dog as being punished, so now he has two reasons not to come to you next time. The click is always for good behavior you want to be repeated.
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