When looking to train your
dog, one type of training you might use you might use is the “clicker training”
method which lately has become quite popular with dog trainers nationally. The
idea behind this method is simple but powerful; the trainer has a “clicker”,
which is a small box with a button on it that makes a unique click sound when
it is pressed. This method is akin to the positive training method, which
relies upon the same principles.
Firstly, the trainer has to decide which behaviour or action they would like the dog to learn. There are certain actions that come instinctively to a dog such as barking, eating, sitting and standing. These need to be reinforced so that your dog understands when to do which action and at what times. A range of other actions like playing dead, shaking paws, and rolling over don’t come naturally and the dog must be trained in their meaning as well as when to do them. A trainer can use the “clicker” method to do both of these.
The method works by associating the sound of the clicker with one of the dog’s favourite pieces of food and is related to the basic principles of operant conditioning. The clicker is used to command the dog to do something and then the dog, who relates the sound of the clicker to the food, will straight away perform the action and the training is complete.
Here is an example to illustrate the “clicker” method. Let’s say that you want to train your dog to sit. You start by putting a piece of food on his nose and slowly moving it upwards thereby making the dog follow the movement with his nose. The result is that the dog’s hind quarters will naturally come to rest on the floor and his body ending up in a sitting position. The next step is to time your clicking just as the dog ends up in the sitting position, then give him the treat and reward him with praise or a pat on the head. After repeating this set of steps for a while, the dog will begin to associate the clicking with the reward and perform the command that you have instructed him to do without you having to give him a treat. You must make sure that your dog can successfully perform the action that you command before you introduce the clicking prompt; otherwise, the action and click will not be connected in the dogs head leaving him confused and bewildered as to why you are clicking in the first place.
The “clicker” method is seen as being one of the better methods because it involves no negative reinforcement techniques. These can sometimes be seen as counterproductive due to the unwanted behaviours that can develop as a result of using this technique. The dog can end up aggressive and rebellious if the method is used incorrectly.
Firstly, the trainer has to decide which behaviour or action they would like the dog to learn. There are certain actions that come instinctively to a dog such as barking, eating, sitting and standing. These need to be reinforced so that your dog understands when to do which action and at what times. A range of other actions like playing dead, shaking paws, and rolling over don’t come naturally and the dog must be trained in their meaning as well as when to do them. A trainer can use the “clicker” method to do both of these.
The method works by associating the sound of the clicker with one of the dog’s favourite pieces of food and is related to the basic principles of operant conditioning. The clicker is used to command the dog to do something and then the dog, who relates the sound of the clicker to the food, will straight away perform the action and the training is complete.
Here is an example to illustrate the “clicker” method. Let’s say that you want to train your dog to sit. You start by putting a piece of food on his nose and slowly moving it upwards thereby making the dog follow the movement with his nose. The result is that the dog’s hind quarters will naturally come to rest on the floor and his body ending up in a sitting position. The next step is to time your clicking just as the dog ends up in the sitting position, then give him the treat and reward him with praise or a pat on the head. After repeating this set of steps for a while, the dog will begin to associate the clicking with the reward and perform the command that you have instructed him to do without you having to give him a treat. You must make sure that your dog can successfully perform the action that you command before you introduce the clicking prompt; otherwise, the action and click will not be connected in the dogs head leaving him confused and bewildered as to why you are clicking in the first place.
The “clicker” method is seen as being one of the better methods because it involves no negative reinforcement techniques. These can sometimes be seen as counterproductive due to the unwanted behaviours that can develop as a result of using this technique. The dog can end up aggressive and rebellious if the method is used incorrectly.
As with any
dog training, the key is repeated persistence and requires time and patience if
the desired result is going to be obtained. Although the “clicker“ method is
quite popular, it might not be right for your dog, so it is advised to test it
and see how things progress, otherwise move to another more suitable technique
for training.