Clicker Training

OVERVIEW

The clicker is a fantastic tool for speeding up training and bringing clarity to the process. It works by pinpointing exactly why your dog earned a treat. For example, if you're teaching your dog to sit, you can click at the precise moment their hind end touches the ground. This level of precision helps your dog understand what you're asking, making the learning process faster and clearer.

But let’s be real—your dog won’t just get what the clicker means right off the bat. You’ll need to teach them through a simple process called “loading the clicker.”

To “load the clicker,” all you need to do is click and then immediately hand your dog a treat. But here’s the catch: don’t hand over the treat while you’re clicking. Click first, then deliver the goods right after. Give your dog a moment to finish munching and process what just happened. If you rush through it, things can get messy and confusing.

During this, don’t ask your dog to do tricks or sit pretty—this is just about connecting the click to the treat.

You’ll know your dog is starting to get the hang of it when they hear the click and instantly look at you, waiting for the treat. It might take a few sessions, but once they’re on board, you can start using the clicker to teach all sorts of new behaviors. Just remember, every time you click, you’ve gotta cough up a treat.

If you lose your clicker, no big deal—you can still train without it. Your dog won’t suddenly forget everything, but the clicker does help speed things up, so training might take a bit longer.

Once your dog has nailed the behavior and you’re ready to retire the clicker, you can switch to using the word “yes” in the same way. Sure, “yes” might not grab their attention like a click, but it still does the job. Just use the same technique: say “yes,” then immediately give them a treat.