This entry was posted on 2014-07-21 by Schalk.

What is clicker training?

Clicker training is a science-based, fun and easy way to train your pets. It’s been around since the 1960s and can be used to train any animal of any age. Here are 10 tips to get you started.

1.  Getting to grips with positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a training method that focuses on giving your pet rewards for good behavior instead of punishing them for conducting bad behavior. This is the premise of Clicker Training.

2.  How does clicker training work

You use a “clicker,” which is a small object with a metal tab that makes a distinct “click” sound when pressed. The purpose of the clicker is to tell your pet when they have done something correctly. Once you have taught your pet to identify the click sound with a reward, your pet will quickly learn that once he has performed a task and you click, he will be given a prize. This is what makes clicker training so beneficial; your pet is now an active participant in your training sessions instead of being forcefully made to perform a task.

•    You must remember that the clicker isn’t the reward, the treat is. The clicker marks, which behavior is correct and the tasty treat is given after the clicker is clicked.
•    Other training methods use words such as “good” which can be a bit misleading to your pet, as it’s a word that is regularly used in general conversation. The advantage to clicker training is the distinct clicking sound that your pet will easily recognise. The clicker also allows you to be more precise in your timing.

3.  Loading the clicker

“Loading the clicker”, teaches your pet to associate the clicking sound with a reward. Place a piece of prestik on the clicker button to slightly mute the sound. The sound is quite loud for your pet at first and this will help him/her to adjust to it. You can remove it after a while of use. To load the clicker, click it and give your pet a treat. Repeat this 10 times and your pet will soon begin to associate the click with a reward.

•    Make sure that the treats you give your pet are of great importance to them. Use small treats so that your dog can eat them quickly. Some biltong or small pieces of sausage will do the trick.

•    Experts recommend that you take note of how much you are feeding your pet as to not overfeed them. Ensure that you do your training sessions before your pet eats. Your pooch won't be interested in your treats on a full stomach!

4.  Practicing timing

Timing is crucial to clicker training; the click marks the correct action. An example of this is teaching your dog to sit. There isn’t any use in clicking once your dog has already gotten up from the seated position, as this will teach him to stand when commanded. Make sure to click during the behavior, not after. If your dog stops the desired behavior once you have clicked don’t be dismayed, the clicking sound is also a signal to tell the dog that they have completed the task and that you are saying 'well done'!

•    Before you begin clicker training you should practice your timing. A good way to do this is to ask a friend to bounce a tennis ball in front of you and when ever it hits the ground click the clicker. Make sure to do this in an area that doesn't encompass your pet, as you don't want them to hear the clicker just yet.

5. Catching the behaviors you want

Instead of forcefully trying to make your pet do what you want, wait until it’s in the desired position then click and reward. For example: If you want your pet to sit, wait until he’s sitting and then click and reward.

•    For more complicated tasks your pet may need a bit of encouragement. Gently move your pet into the desired position. You can lure or coax your pet into the movement but don’t push, hold, or pull on him. You need to give your pet space to find out how to do the behavior on his own. Do not harm your pet in anyway to get the right behavior, this will only result in confusion and fear and won't help you bond with him or her.

6. Shaping

'Shaping' is a behavioral method that entails breaking up a complicated action into smaller, simpler actions for your pet to understand what you are asking of them. Use your clicker for rewarding each simple step in order for your pet to complete the entire task.

7. Adding a cue to a behavior

Now that you know how to shape a behavior we can look at adding a cue to that behavior. This can be achieved by simply saying the cue after you have clicked. After doing this several times with your pet, test it out. Just say the word and see what your pet does, if he doesn’t perform the desired action then help him, by using hand gestures, for example: tapping the ground to lie down.

•    Be consistent with your cues, for example: Use different cues for different things; don’t use the same cues, as it’s confusing for your pet. If you would like to teach your pet to jump on the couch and sit. Then try using the cues “up” and “sit”.
•    You can also use visual cues (hand signals) like putting your palm facing out wards meaning, “stop”.  These methods both work well but you must remember to always remain consistent with either.

8. Start clicker training

Now that you have learnt the basics of clicker training its time to start training your pet. For example: If you were to start training your dog, a good place to start is to train him to look at you. This is something that is necessary to keep your dogs attention during training sessions.

•    To do this, hold a treat in your right hand and the clicker in the left while sitting in front of your dog. Spread out your arms; just ignore your dog when he looks at your right hand. After a bit of patience your dog will look at you, immediately click the clicker and give him a treat.
•    Keep doing this exercise several times. Add a cue like “look” when your dog looks at you. Continue doing this until you have managed to train him to just respond to the cue “look”.
•    Try and see how well your pet does in distracting situations for example: around other people, in a place near other dogs, and eventually in areas that consist of other dogs.

9.  Bad behaviors can be fixed by clicking good ones

For example: In the case that your dog barks a lot, instead of shouting at him when he is barking, click the clicker when he is quiet. Clicker training can therefore, slowly but surely, desensitize your dog to the sounds of people visiting, the doorbell ringing, strangers knocking etc. Another example is teaching your dog to heel, instead of pulling on the leash, when your dog wants to go ahead simply click the clicker when the leash is slack. Clicker training is meant to be a bonding and fun exercise for you and your pet so remember to never punish him.

10.  Shorten your practice session

The last tip we have is to ensure that you keep your practice sessions short. Animals, especially puppies have a short attention span. Expert’s advice that you do training sessions that consist of five minutes three times daily. You can make training sessions more fun for your pet by doing things it really enjoys like for example, a game of fetch. Your pet may get frustrated or may struggle to make progress with new behaviors so to keep him intrigued and the treats flowing, do things he already knows. If you don’t give your pet rewards he will get disinterested and bored. So remember to keep your goals realistic and make sure to use the shaping technique.

•    Ensure that you always stay positive and calm when you are training your pet. You need to be your pet’s coach, you are there for support. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated, rather stop for a while and play a game with your pet.

•    If you can’t seem to get your pet to perform a certain behavior, you are most probably clicking the clicker too late. Always remember that timing is essential to clicker training. Get someone else to watch you and see where you have gone wrong and possibly even click for you.

Click here to view a video explaining Clicker Training.