Getting Started with a Clicker
A clicker is a small, plastic box with a metal tab that makes a clicking sound when you push down with your thumb. The sound of the click is paired with a food reward by clicking the clicker and giving the dog a treat. After a few repetitions, the dog learns to associate the sound of the clicker with a food reward.
Why It Works
The click marks the desired behavior to help the dog identify which behavior earned the reward. Because the food is removed by a step — you click first and then treat — you will find that your dog will work for the sound of the click rather than just a food reward.
Pairing the clicker with a food reward creates a powerful way to tell your dogs which behaviors are rewardable. This comes in handy, especially with a very active dog, because it gives you a way to specify to the dog exactly which of the behaviors earned the reward.
Starting with food rewards is faster than using toys and games. Once the dog begins to understand clicker training and how the game works, you can use other rewards, including balls, tug toys, or playtime with other dogs.
Think of the click as a snapshot of what the dog is doing at a particular moment. The click clearly identifies for the dog which behavior is being rewarded. Not only does this make it easier for the dog to understand what she is doing right, but it also gets her excited about the learning process since it gives her the responsibility of making the click happen.
Clicker As an Event Marker
The sound of the click is unique, like nothing the dog has ever heard, which is part of the key to its success in shaping behavior. People often ask about using their voices instead of a clicker to mark the behavior they are looking for.
Once the dog has the idea that a treat follows each click, remove the treats from your person and put them on a table, chair, or step. The dog will still get the treat after being clicked for the right behavior, but the treat will no longer be in your hand or pocket. This exercise will teach your dog to pay attention to the click, not the presence of the treat.
In the initial stages of training, your voice is not a good event marker because you talk to your dog all the time, so your voice lacks the startling effect of a clicker. A clicker's uniqueness reaches the part of the brain that is also responsible for the fight-or-flight response. In short, it really captures the dog's attention.
The process of shaping is what clicker training is all about. Shaping is useful in all types of training, but it is crucial in teaching tricks. Shaping behavior helps the dog learn how to think about what she did to earn the reward. By not helping her or physically manipulating her body, you help your dog learn faster and more permanently by trial and error. Clicking, or its absence, indicates which behaviors will be rewarded and which will not.
