Clicker training is one of the best ways to train your dog and teach good dog behavior. Animal training is all about effective communication. The more precise, consistent and accurate that communication is, the quicker the animal learns.This is where dog clicker training shows excellent results.

Communicating with your dog with a clicker, teaches it that when it does the right thing, at that exact moment it hears a click. Your dog will associate the click with a reward for doing the right thing.

Clickers come in many shapes and sizes. A clicker is an inexpensive toy and very easy to use. Most clickers are small matchbox-sized plastic boxes.

How Does Clicker Training Work

The Canis Clickertraining Academy explains how it works really well in their program. Initially, a clicker has no value to a dog, so you have to make it mean something. The reward to associate with the clicker can be a valued piece of food, such as chicken liver treats, or cheese and when you make the clicking sound your dog will soon learn it is going to get a treat for good behavior.

There are a couple of ‘primary reinforcements’ and food is the one dogs respond to readily. Physical affection, playtime and water are other primary reinforcements. If you click and give your dog a piece of food and repeat this ten to twenty times, the clicker now becomes associated with the food.

The clicker has now become a ’secondary reinforcement’ and this process is called classical conditioning. The click sound and food, have actually become the ‘primary reinforcement’ in your dog’s mind.

Training can begin with the clicker being used, once your dog is responding immediately to the click sound. This method of training is called operant conditioning.

Whenever you want to say ‘good dog’ after your dog has done something good, use the clicker instead of talking. An example is to click the moment your dog sits and your dog will learn that when he sits he gets the click and a reward.

When your dog repeats this behavior, say the word ’sit’ and click when it does, reinforcing to your dog it gets a treat when it does what you want. The click, good behavior and a reward, becomes your dog’s understanding of your needs.

The clicker is quicker and more precise than saying ‘good dog’ because people have a tendency to remember to click with more consistency and precision, than when using verbal praise. People say ‘good dog’ so often throughout the day, this phrase often has less value than the special clicking sound..

Clicker training has proved successful for many people, and you will find a clicker training review will most certainly give it a good rating. When your dog is responding to the clicker, you can use more praise than the treat used as the reward.