Learn The Secrets Of Clicker Training   by Sandy Rutherforde

in Family / Pets    (submitted 2012-01-31)

One of the professional dog trainer's most vital tools is a clicker, a small device that can be held in the hand and which makes an audible "click" sound when pressed. Dogs respond to audible signals very well, and it is not only possible but actually easy to train your pet to carry out certain commands on the sound of the clicker - once you know the tricks.

Clicker training is only effective in the long term because of the hard work that both owner and dog carry out in the beginning. The only reason that a dog learns to do something on hearing the sound of the clicker is that he associates that noise with something good. When you first start clicker training, the trick is to get the timing right when giving the command so that as soon as the dog does it right you press the clicker, give him lots of praise and, of course, a treat. Forever after, the sound of the clicker will be associated with both verbal commands and good things to eat, so that eventually you can do away with the treats all the time and your pet will simply respond to the sound of the clicker itself.

If you decide to try and use clicker training for your pet, there are three stages to go through in order for the process to be effective. First, the trainer has to show the dog what they want them to do when they hear a certain command. Take "sit" as an example. While telling the dog to "sit" the owner should gently push the dog's bottom down so they are sitting, before using the clicker and giving the animal his treat.

Once this stage has been mastered and the dog is following the commands without being shown what to do, the next step is to try the command without showing them what needs to be done. As time goes on, owners can reduce the number of times they accompany the click with an actual treat, sometimes substituting praise and affection instead. The dog will still associate the clicker with something pleasant without you having to spend a fortune on dog treats.

When the time is right, the treats can be withdrawn and, eventually, the dog will quickly respond to commands accompanied by the clicker no matter where he and his owner are. Often dogs find it difficult to follow commands learned at home when they are out in the park, but the clicker solves this problem by providing some continuity.

And dogs have such excellent hearing that they will respond to your voice and the clicker from some distance away too. If you think that clicker training might be the way forward for you and your pup, the clickers themselves can be bought from pet stores or online for just a few dollars.

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