Why Clicker Train?

Have a question for WOOF? E-mail us!

"To the many dog owners to whom it is simply obvious that it's not okay to hurt and frighten their dogs in order to train them, You are your dogs' guardian angels."

- Jean Donaldson

Why Clicker Train?
By Lisa (Laney) Patrona, Dip. DTBC, CPDT-KA, CBC and Devene Godau, CPDT-KA

We have found clicker training to be the most humane and effective method we can use to train dogs, but we talk to people everyday who have never heard of it and are hesitant to try it. Here we'll take some time to teach you a bit about clicker training, address some common concerns and answer some frequently asked questions about it.

Q: What is clicker training?
A: The clicker is a method of positive reinforcement training that teaches the dog to repeat behaviors that make the click happen! It is a tool that helps teach behavior quickly and effectively, without the use of physical punishments, and is a lot of fun for both dog and human!

Q: How does it work and how does it help my dog learn to do what I want?
A: Clicker training works on the scientific principles of both classical (making associations) and operant learning (behavior = consequence). First, the sound of the clicker is followed immediately and repetitiously with food (click/treat, click/treat, click/treat). This process teaches the dog that the sound of the
clicker is significant. He's learned that the click = food is coming, and he loves to hear it's sound!

From there, the operant learning process can begin which happens when the dog realizes that her behavior can make the click/treat happen. The click sound (because it now predicts the delivery of food!) serves to positively reinforce behavior and therefore teaches your dog to repeat whatever behavior(s) bring the click! In a nutshell, each time you click, you are telling the dog which behaviors to repeat! When effectively reinforcing behaviors using the clicker - those behaviors that we humans like, i.e., sitting instead of
jumping, walking nicely on a leash instead of pulling, going potty outside instead of inside the house, etc., we are teaching the dog to repeat them.

Clicker training is sometimes referred to as conditioned reinforcement. Put simply, the once meaningless sound of the clicker has been consistently paired with the delivery of food, and the sound has now become "conditioned" - because of the association the dog has learned to make between the two events. When we begin to use the click as a behavior happens, it serves as the consequence for that behavior, and therefore positively reinforces it. The clicker's sound is therefore considered a "conditioned reinforcer".

Q: Why use a clicker when I can just use food?
A: Reinforcement for behavior must happen with ½ - 2 seconds of its occurrence in order for the dog to make a clear association between the two. When just using food rewards, actual delivery of the food will often times not come for several seconds after the target behavior has occurred. Sometimes, the food will not come until the dog is already disengaged from the target behavior at which time you're not at all reinforcing the behavior you wanted! The clicker provides an effective way to "bridge the gap", which enables you to effectively capture the moment in time when the behavior is happening. Because the sound means "food's coming" the actual delivery of the food can be seconds after the click.

Q: Why can't I use my voice instead of a clicker?
A: The distinct and consistent sound of the clicker provides clear and well-timed reinforcement. When using the voice as a reinforcer instead of a clicker, even subtle changes in intonation can confuse the dog. Each time a conditioned reinforcer (whether verbal or a clicker) is used without the food treat, it weakens its significance to the dog. It is for this reason that verbal conditioned reinforcers like "good" or "yes" may be especially susceptible to losing significance to the dog, due to frequent use in your daily conversations.

Q: I don't want to have to carry a clicker around the rest of my dog's life!
A: This is the biggest misconception about clicker training and we hear it a lot! The clicker is used to teach new behavior. Once a behavior is learned, the click is no longer necessary. A knowledgeable clicker-training instructor will teach you how to use your clicker correctly to teach and strengthen new behaviors and how wean away from its use.

Q: Will my dog confuse other sounds (i.e.- the clicking of a keyboard, or other environmental noises) with the clicker sound.
A: Dogs are VERY good discriminators and will differentiate between the sound of the clicker, and other sounds that seem similar to the human ear.

Q: Isn't it confusing for my dog to have multiple people in the same class using their clickers?
A: You'll be pleasantly surprised at how fast your dog will learn that only the click that comes from you is theirs! Simply because you are the one clicking and BINGO the treat comes from you too! You're dog will associate YOU with the click and his or her behavior.

Q: Is Clicker Training is hard to learn?
A: Often times, the dogs learn it more quickly than it's human does - but don't worry! A good clicker-training instructor can get you on the road to training your dog using it quickly and easily! They will
coach you throughout the training process and help you develop clicker-training skills that will be useful in teaching your dog new behaviors throughout his lifetime!