| Introduction to clicker-training your dog.. | | | | favourite toy, but it can be difficult to maintain a high |
| In “clicker-training” the dog is rewarded with | | | | rate of reinforcement. To condition the clicking sound |
| the help of a small mechanical device making a | | | | the dog is given the treat simultaneously with or |
| “clicking” sound, thus the name | | | | directly after clicking the clicker. This is often done up |
| “clicker”. Clicker-training is a type of operant | | | | to 20 times per session and many dogs can learn the |
| conditioning where the dog connects the clicking | | | | association with five to ten repetitions. |
| sound of the device with a reward (food, playtime) | | | | To test that the association has been made, you |
| and becomes a reward to the dog in itself and | | | | could try to click the clicker when the dog is not |
| therefore marking the precise behaviour that we | | | | paying attention to you. If the dog immediately |
| want to reinforce. | | | | reacts and looks towards you as if waiting for a |
| Advantages: | | | | reward, the association has been made. |
| The two most apparent advantages to using a | | | | Clicker-training |
| clicker rather than the more traditional vocal | | | | When the dog associates the mere sound of the |
| communication (for example “good dog”) are | | | | clicker with the expectancy of a reward you can use |
| speed and accuracy. While “good dog” takes | | | | the clicker to mark desired behaviours. At the precise |
| a certain amount of time to say, the clicker can | | | | moment the dog does something desirable, you click |
| reinforce the desired behaviour instantly, making sure | | | | and reward promptly. |
| that the dog hasn’t moved on to less desirable | | | | The most important thing in clicker training is timing. |
| behaviours. | | | | Since the clicker rewards whatever behaviour is |
| Another advantage is consistency. The clicker sound | | | | occurring at that exact moment, clicking a little too |
| will be the same every time and thus eliminate | | | | early or a little too late might reinforce a completely |
| misunderstanding based on the trainer’s tone, | | | | different behaviour than intended. |
| voice, pronunciation and emphasis. As dogs are very | | | | Another crucial element is creating opportunities for |
| sensitive when it comes to sounds, due to their good | | | | the dog to earn rewards frequently. Among |
| hearing, they will hear more nuances than we are | | | | professionals a reinforcement rate of one C/T (click |
| even aware of. The dog will have to separate voice | | | | treat) every three seconds is common. |
| variations (like enthusiasm and volume) from | | | | It is also important to break down the tasks into |
| command variations (good dog, bad dog), one kind as | | | | smaller sub-tasks, which is called chaining. Another |
| being important, and the other as being unimportant. | | | | technique is to start out with easy-to-meet criteria |
| Disadvantages: | | | | and gradually tighten them, |
| Commonly mentioned drawbacks to clicker training | | | | Example: How to use clicking to train a dog to flip a |
| include the need to have the clicker handy when | | | | lightswitch. |
| training the dog, though this can be partially remedied | | | | The first step here is to teach the dog to touch a |
| with a “tongue-cluck” (even though it will be | | | | target, such as a small plastic-piece, with its nose. |
| less accurate than the actual clicker). The reliance on | | | | Initially, you could try putting something edible on the |
| the clicker might also be exaggerated as it is mainly | | | | target. Another method called shaping simply requires |
| used to teach new behaviours. | | | | putting the target where the dog can reach it and |
| There is also the question of how to reward the dog | | | | rewarding the dog every time he comes close or |
| in noisier surroundings where the clicking sound is not | | | | touches the target. |
| loud enough, such as when training a hunting dog | | | | When the dog consistently touches the target, you |
| from a distance or working with a retrieving dog. | | | | will move on to a target in different positions and |
| Some dogs that are extremely sensitive might also | | | | eventually transfer the desired behaviour (which is |
| be frightened by the clicker. In these cases an | | | | pressing with their nose on it) to the lightswitch. This |
| alternative sounder can be used such as a whistle or | | | | can be done in a number of ways, but most |
| a pocket stapler. There are also a lot of different | | | | commonly by putting the plastic target on the |
| clickers available as to cater to these situations. | | | | lightswitch and therefore rewarding pressing the |
| Another concern is the dog’s ability to discern | | | | lightswitch. You can choose to have the dog do this |
| which clicker is “his” in a group setting. This | | | | task on command (such as “lights on”) or to |
| has been pretty much disproven by the very popular | | | | give him a wanted reward (such as “if you |
| group clicker classes where the dogs understand | | | | switch the light on, I will open the door”). In the |
| perfectly well which one is which though not | | | | latter case, you add the act of opening the door to |
| necessarily by sound. | | | | reward as the dog presses the lightswitch. |
| “Charging” or “loading” the clicker: | | | | Clicker-training can be used to reinforce most |
| “Charging” or “loading” refers to the | | | | behaviours in a dog and is counted as a very mild |
| process of teaching the dog that the clicker sound | | | | form of training, using the so-called positive approach |
| signals that it will get a reward. The goal is for the | | | | (reward but no punishment). Clicker-training can also |
| dog to instinctively connect the sound of the clicker | | | | be incorporated into different styles of training and is |
| with an actual reward, usually a tasty treat. Some | | | | a very versatile tool for many dog-trainers. Good |
| trainers prefer the reward of playing with their | | | | luck. |