Introduction
We all want well-behaved pets and wonderful relationships with them. Clicker
training is an effective, safe and humane way to reach these goals. When
your pet learns to offer behaviours you like in exchange for a reward, and
you clearly communicate why they are receiving the reward, it is a win-win
situation. Training will become a fun activity you both enjoy! Behaviour that gets
rewarded gets repeated.
With clicker training, a sound is used to mark the exact behaviour we like, and
then followed immediately with a reward. The reward is often a tasty food treat
but may be anything your pet wants or needs. Soon, the sound predicts the
reward – your pet begins to understand when he hears that sound, it will be
followed with a reward.
While this training guide focuses on clicker training with dogs, clicker training
can be an effective way to train desired behaviours with many different species
of pets.
Why Use a Click Sound Instead
of Your Voice?
Using a consistent sound has several benefits over a spoken word when
teaching your dog a new behaviour.
The sound is unique. It is only made when your dog does something you like,
unlike your voice which may be used to communicate a variety of things. The
sound is consistent. It sounds the same every time and has the same meaning -
you've made the right choice and are about to be rewarded - every time. Our
voice can say the same word in very different ways and often does due to our
emotions and meaning.
The sound is clear. We often string many words together like, "Oh, what a good
doggie!" making it difficult or impossible for an animal to know exactly what
behaviour you liked.
The sound is precise. The accuracy of the click improves our timing and marks
the exact moment your dog does something you like. It can mark the smallest
and most subtle behaviours like a glance or turn of the head.
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