First Published by e-Fido.net on 05/01/01 (Vol. 1, Issue 1)

Clicker Training
by Bonnie Fortier

Gone are the choke and prong collars and their accompanying jerks and pulls. What you see are plain nylon or leather collars, a Gentle Leader head collar or two, tasty treats, toys, and good dog pats. What you hear are clicks and praise. You've just entered a clicker dog training class.

One of the best things that happened for our canine companions in the past few years was the introduction of clicker training by dog training instructors. Clicker training is based on operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is reinforcing a desired response by a stimulus. In this case the clicker is the stimulus.

Most clicker training instructors use a small rectangular shaped clicker in their classes. It is made of plastic and has a metal insert that is pushed down with the thumb to make a clicking sound. There are fun ones out there, too, shaped like frogs, etc. The rectangular ones are best in most training situations as they're louder and more durable.

The clicker is considered a conditioned reinforcer, something dogs learn to like. Treats, toys and good dog pats are unconditioned reinforcers, things that dogs already like. When introducing a dog to clicker training small, soft tidbits of food the dog loves are usually used as the unconditioned reinforcer.

Some may ask, "Why use a clicker, why not a word or a treat?"

The clicker's unique sound is always the same. Voice tone may vary depending on the person's mood. The click is an immediate reward. The instant the dog does what we want him to do, we click. It's much faster than we can deliver a treat. It takes only a few clicks and treats for dogs to learn that the click means something good is forthcoming. Once learned a dog never forgets it.

The reason clicker trainers begin training their dog using small tidbits of food as the unconditioned reinforcer instead of toys, praise or petting is that a majority of dogs love and respond to food. It's the ultimate reward for most of them. Small, soft tidbits are quickly eaten and the trainer can continue training with only the slightest interruption.

This type of training is fun, fast and humane. Dogs from tiny Chihuahuas to giant Irish wolfhounds respond with enthusiasm to the clicker. Puppies as young as five weeks old and dogs of any age learn this gentle-positive way. It is not only being used to train dogs. Many other animals including llamas, cats, elephants and horses are being trained this gentle positive way. The numerous little pigs that were used to film the movie "Babe" were clicker trained.

Whatever is possible for a dog to learn can be taught using the clicker. Possibilities include good manners, obedience, agility, tracking, confirmation, playing games and doing tricks.

Handi-Dogs, Inc., a service dog organization located in Tucson, Arizona, depends exclusively on the clicker in their training classes. Disabled clients are taught to train their own dogs to assist them. Some of the numerous things the dogs learn are to pick up dropped items, open and close doors, help their owners get dressed and undressed, push handicap buttons and turn lights off and on.

Hearing impaired clients in the Handi-Dog program lean to train their dogs to alert them to smoke alarms, doorbells, the telephone, fire engines, their baby crying and someone saying their name.

Behavior problems can be solved by use of the clicker. When a dog is doing "right"behavior he gets a click/treat. When he is doing "wrong" behavior he is ignored (unless of course there is a chance of injury to himself or someone else.) Soon his caretaker sees a lot more right behavior and a lot less of the wrong.

Most training in the past was, "If you don't do it right you get a jerk on your leash that tells you you're wrong." With clicker training the dog gets a click that marks the correct behavior. The click says, "You did it right, good for you." The treat that follows the click serves to reinforce this appropriate behavior.

You actually see a dog think, trying to determine what it is the owner wants him to do. Instead of that fearful, sad look that accompanied the jerk for wrong behavior there is joy in the dog's eyes at the click that says he just gave the response the owner was looking for.

One question that many beginning clicker trainers ask is, "Am I always going to have to carry the clicker and food around with me?" The answer is, "No." The clicker and treats are learning tools. They are gradually phased out once a dog is consistently doing what is asked of him. But they should never phased out completely. The click/treat should be used occasionally to reinforce what he has learned. We always want him to be anticipating that next click/treat.

Praise and "good dog pats" may and should be used along with the click. After clicking and treating dogs may be told verbally how great and wonderful they are. But a click with just praise or petting should never be used. The click is a promise to your dog that a food reward will always follow. As the click/treat is being phased out praise and/or petting can be used as rewards.

Dogs should always be rewarded in some way for doing what we ask them to do. Remember they're dogs not humans. Most of the behaviors we expect from them aren't functions they would normally perform. Isn't it great that they love us so much that they're willing to live by our rules once they figure them out?

Go watch a clicker training class you'll enjoy it. Better yet, you and your dog join a class so you both can have fun.

Questions and/or comments on "Clicker Training" are encouraged. Please e-mail me at SWChianti@aol.com.

Copyright(c) Revised 2001 Dog Training by Bonnie