What is Clicker Training?

It is a teaching process utilizing a plastic clicker as a communication tool. The popularity of clicker training dogs has increased dramatically over the past decade. This is due, no doubt, to the rapid learning and gentler methods associated with its use. At the same time, we are seeing a decline in punishment-based training methods. Also interesting, is that we are beginning to see the impact that clicker training has in helping children learn as well at www.Tagteach.com. The scientific name for this learning process is referred to as operant conditioning.

Operant conditioning refers to the way any animal or human, interacts with, and learns from its environment. Specifically when working with dogs, we see that dogs tend to repeat a behavior that has had a positive consequence and tend not to repeat one that has had a negative consequence. Dog trainers can take advantage of this natural tendency by providing positive reinforcement following a behavior that they would like to have their dog repeat. This can be by following a desirable behavior with food, attention or even an activity that the dog loves to do (like chasing a ball). Most clicker trainers use food as the reward because most dogs will do anything for food and it's the easiest to manage when you need a quick reinforcer of behavior.

Realize that for the dog to connect the positive reinforcement to the behavior that he is doing, the reinforcement must immediately follow the specific behavior. This can be tricky if we have to spend time reaching for food or deciding what the reward will be. That is why clickers are used. We can click him quickly, indicating to the dog that his particular behavior has won him a reward; but we will get it to him in a moment. The fun starts when the dog understands that he has to "make us click" in order to get the reward. The click is referred to as a "marker" or identifier of behavior. Instead of clicking a dog, we can use a verbal marker like saying "good boy" following a behavior. The problem with that is that we often say "good boy" and don't reward after saying it, so the dog doesn't repeat the behavior since it doesn't lead to anything that he wants to have or do.

Verbal markers are handy, but you must always say the exact same thing at the exact same time and without any emotion attached to it. That is very difficult to do. Science has shown that clickers are quicker in helping the dogs learn because it has NO emotion and it always sounds the same, unlike our human language. Clicker sounds have a dramatic impact on the brain and the learning is rapid!

When working on very detailed behaviors or behaviors at a distance, the clicker becomes an invaluable tool in the teaching and learning process. The dog will soon begin to try to "make you click" in order to get his reward. Rewards are broken down into those that the animal already finds appealing like food or water, but later learns to love the reward like going into the car, or having the door open.

The Clicker is a small plastic box with a metal strip that makes a sharp clicking sound when pushed and released when pressed with your thumb. Some clickers have raised buttons that are handy because you can use other fingers or by stepping on them with your foot. There is even one that makes a few different sounds so that you can choose to click different dogs with different sounds! Clickers can easily be carried on a wristband or necklace. It is much faster than saying "good boy" and allows the trainer to mark with great precision, the behavior for which the dog is being reinforced. Behaviors like quiet, paying attention to you and not other dogs in a class, not jumping on people and walking on a loose lead are easy to teach with a clicker!