| Few professional dog trainers recommend punishment | | | | suspect he merely needs encouragement. In such |
| as a viable method for encouraging desired behaviors. | | | | cases, use the clicker to let him know he is on the |
| Positive reinforcement through giving rewards (i.e. | | | | right track. The association between the click and |
| dog treats) has largely replaced punishment. For | | | | receiving a treat has already been established in his |
| example, if you were training your pooch to sit, you | | | | mind. Hearing the clicker may influence him to |
| would avoid punishing him for failing to comply. | | | | complete the task. As a side note, use this method |
| Instead, you would reward him when he finally | | | | sparingly. Otherwise, your canine may grow |
| manages to respond correctly to your command. | | | | accustomed to receiving the click - and by |
| The challenge with using positive reinforcement is | | | | association, your approval - for completing commands |
| that rewards must be provided quickly. Otherwise, | | | | halfway. |
| your dog will fail to make the connection between his | | | | Introduce Uncertainty Into The Training |
| response and your reward. Because it is often | | | | You'll eventually want to wean your dog from the |
| difficult to provide treats immediately (for example, | | | | treats for completing commands he has mastered. |
| when your pooch is far away from you), a stand-in is | | | | The clicker can be an effective tool for accomplishing |
| required. This is the purpose of a clicker. | | | | this. Up to this point, your canine has learned to |
| Below, we'll explain how clicker training works and | | | | expect a reward immediately following a click. This |
| describe the steps involved with introducing it to your | | | | expectation was valuable in the beginning, but should |
| pet. We'll also provide a few training routines to get | | | | be allowed to erode. |
| you and your canine started. | | | | Rather than continuing to provide a treat immediately |
| Create The Connection | | | | after a click, sporadically let four or five seconds |
| Your dog will not instinctively know what clicks mean. | | | | elapse. This will teach your dog that a click means he |
| For this reason, you'll need to create the connection | | | | has done something well, though he may not receive |
| for him. Prepare a small bowl of his favorite treats; | | | | an immediate reward. The thought of future food, |
| bite-sized pieces of cheese, chicken, or pasta are | | | | however, is enough to keep him motivated. |
| always good choices. Then, find an area of your | | | | Ideas For Training Routines |
| home or yard where your canine will not be | | | | You can use the clicker in practically every type of |
| distracted. | | | | training you do with your canine. For example, if he |
| To help him associate the noise from the clicker with | | | | jumps on you, wait until he has all four feet firmly on |
| something he desires (i.e. pieces of chicken), click and | | | | the ground. Then, click and give him a treat. |
| immediately give him a treat. Do this several times to | | | | If you're teaching your dog to sit, and he's having |
| cement the association in his mind. | | | | difficulty complying, place a treat in your hand and |
| Make Him Earn The Treats | | | | close your fingers. Then, move your hand slowly |
| The next step is to begin actively using the clicker | | | | over his head toward his back. As he watches it, he |
| during training sessions. Start with commands he has | | | | will sit naturally. When he does so, click and provide a |
| successfully completed in the past. Whenever he | | | | treat. |
| responds correctly, click and provide a treat. Gradually | | | | The clicker is also an ideal training tool for teaching |
| transition from commands he knows well to those he | | | | your dog to come to you when you call him. Sit |
| has yet to master. | | | | across a room from him and say, "come." The simpler |
| Normally, you will want to withhold the click and | | | | the command, the better. When he comes the entire |
| reward until your dog has fully complied with your | | | | way, click and give him a treat. |
| command. For example, if you tell him to "come" to | | | | Clicker training offers an alternative to carrying a |
| you from across the room, only click - and provide a | | | | pocketful of dog treats. Used properly, your canine |
| reward - when he reaches you. | | | | will quickly recognize the click as a sign he's doing |
| There may be times when your canine seems | | | | what you wish. |
| especially hesitant to perform a given task, and you | | | | |