Clicker Training Your Puppy

Clicker Training Your Puppy

Start Clicker Training your Puppy at an early age

               Puppy-hood is such a fun time, full of play and puppy kisses. It is also the time where puppies are very impressionable and learn very quickly. So it is very important to start training your puppy right away. There are many training methods out there but which ever method you choose, always make it fun and positive, and never a negative or punishing experience. 

What is Clicker Training?

Research has shown that a task or behavior is more likely to be learned and readily repeated if the task or behavior is followed by a reward or something of desire. Clicker training is a positive training method that uses a device that makes a "Click" sound when activated and is usually followed up with a reward. The animal will start to associate the sound of the Click with a positive action and will be eager to comply with the command. 

Young Puppy learning the "Sit" command

How does Clicker Training work? 

The trainer will click the clicker at the exact moment the desired behavior or task occurs: the puppy sits, the trainer clicks the moment the puppy's bottom touches the floor. The puppy lays down, the trainer clicks. And so fourth. The most important thing to remember is that timing a very important. You want to make sure you are clicking the exact second the animal complies to the desired behavior or command. The Click is usually followed by a type of  positive reward. Such as a treat, a pet, a toy or even play. The animal will quickly associate the sound of the click with a wonderful reward and will repeat the action that got them the reward readily.

Clicker Training can also be an effective training method for other species as well. For example: The Lion opens his mouth, the trainer "clicks". This type of training is often used in zoos, sanctuaries, and other facilities that works with a variety of animals due to the ease and consistency across species.

Training should always be positive and fun 

Why Use a Clicker? 

The main reason to use a clicker when training is that it is Consistent. We can use our voices to mark the desired behavior and say key words such as "Yes" or "Good", but our voices are not always consistent. Our voice can vary in tone, pitch, sound, and length each time we say something. You may say it high pitched one training session and deeper the next.  While the clicker sounds the exact same each and every time.  Karen Pylor, expert in clicker training even states that " The evidence from dog training schools that have tried both methods suggests that dogs and their owners learn about 50% more rapidly when the marker signal is a click instead of the word "yes."  You can read more about her, her expertise, and clicker training at her website https://www.clickertraining.com/

Positive Training sessions can strengthen the bond between you and your pet

Clicker Training can be an effective and even ideal training method not only for Puppies and adult dogs but for other animal species as well. The consistency of the clicker along with an exciting reward will shape the desired behavior and in turn will help the animal learn quicker. Clicker Training is a great training method, but as stated earlier, whatever training method you decide is best for your pet be sure it is a positive rewarding style of training and never negative. Training not only creates a well mannered dog but also will strengthen the bond you have with your pet. And of course if you have any questions at all please contact us. Dr. Coll would be happy to meet with you and your puppy and go over training methods. And if you are looking for a local trainer, we highly recommend K9 Turbo Training! You can find out more information about K9 Turbo Training at https://www.k9turbotraining.com/.