How To Use A Clicker?

[Violet Turner]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

How to use a clicker?

I bought a clicker to help with training Olive and Doris but I have no clue on how you use it.

I know from previous threads that many of you use clickers and so you may be able to help me with training Olive and Doris.

Do I use treats as well as the clicker? When to use the clicker in training?

Thanks

 

[JudyN]

Did you read the article I linked to in another thread? The only reason that the clicker is reinforcing is because it's linked to treats. Once the dog has made the connection, the clicker is reinforcing in a similar way the bell was to Pavlov's dogs.

 

[Violet Turner]

Did you read the article I linked to in another thread? The only reason that the clicker is reinforcing is because it's linked to treats. Once the dog has made the connection, the clicker is reinforcing in a similar way the bell was to Pavlov's dogs.

I read it, but I didn’t really understand it and I would like some help from other dog owners that use clickers. I’m not sure what treats to use alongside the clicker, any or specific?

 

[JudyN]

Whatever you'd usually use as training treats - something the dog likes, but not too high value as you might get through quite a lot in a session. I used kibble.

 

[Violet Turner]

Whatever you'd usually use as training treats - something the dog likes, but not too high value as you might get through quite a lot in a session. I used kibble.

okay thank you! do you use a clicker with Jasper? how did you introduce it?

 

[JoanneF]

Start by building the association that click means a treat is coming. So, click and treat about five times in quick succession to make the dog aware what the click means.

Next link it to a behaviour. So ask for a sit. As soon as the dog's bottom hits the floor, click. And give a treat. Ask for a paw. As soon as the dog puts her paw to your hand, click. And give a treat. Repeat with other things your dog can do.

One of the main points about the clicker is that it is instantaneous. At any given time a dog is doing lots of things all at once. Sniffing, thinking, watching, listening - as well as the behaviour you are cueing. So the click being repeated at the precise moment she repeats the behaviour you are asking for will let her realise 'oh that's what they want, and great, a treat is coming'. A good way to practise your timing is to watch a tv show and everytime someone says a certain word, use your clicker.

A clicker is often not recommended for recall (from memory i think it's because of the time lag between calling the dog and the dog actually getting to the handler) although i admit i have used it for that but only as the dog lands at my feet.

 

[JudyN]

okay thank you! do you use a clicker with Jasper? how did you introduce it?

I did for a while, but my timing wasn't great, and because I tried freeshaping (where you encourage your dog to try out different behaviours to build his confidence) he ended up thinking that whenever I got the clicker out he could just bark and get a treat. I was too soft and rewarded him for the vaguest approximation of what I wanted to do!

But the basic method is:

1) Start by teaching your dog to associate the click with a treat. Get 10 or so treats, then click & give a treat (the treat should be just after the click). Repeat 10 or so times. Do this two or three times a day. Soon, when you click she should be expecting a treat.

2) Say you're using the clicker to teach 'sit'. You either wait till she sits naturally, or lure her into a sit, e.g. by moving a treat back and over her head. The moment her bum hits the ground, click and treat. If the clicker was a camera, you'd be taking a photo of the exact moment she sat. Repeat this until she is 'offering' sits, then you can introduce the verbal command 'sit'. Eventually, you can phase out the clicker and just give the treat.

 

[JudyN]

@JoanneF , we've done it again!

 

[JoanneF]

@JoanneF , we've done it again!

I like your camera analogy though - may I use that for describing clicker training to other people please?

 

[JudyN]

Of course you can - I'm sure I nicked it from someone else on this forum!

 

[arealhuman]

Of course you can - I'm sure I nicked it from someone else on this forum!

You did But I got it from our trainer and found it useful to understand what I was doing, let alone the dog!

Recall @JoanneF - the same trainer also told us to use the clicker for recall, after saying the dog's name, the moments/he looks at you, click. In practice, and in a real-world environment where both owner and dog are distracted by other things, we found exactly what you describe, it often took us too long to click, or we clicked at the wrong time (did he look, as he turning of his own accord, etc.) so we abandoned this. As also mentioned elsewhere, we're now using words as we tend to find out hands full when out and about without having to worry about using a clicker!

 

[Violet Turner]

Thank you very much @JudyN @JoanneF @arealhuman i have been practicing and i think Olive is starting to understand what I'm asking for. I'm going to have to buy more treats I like the idea of a camera and taking a picture of the moment it happens. I'm going to try dog training with Olive and Doris because it may be beneficial, Can this be an option for an older dog?

 

[JudyN]

Yes, as long as they still have their hearing! An older dog might take longer to get the idea. And of course, you should always be aware of how your dog is responding to any training - if you see signs of 'Omigod I'm not sure what's happening, what am I meant to doooooo?' you need to step back and rethink.

 

[Violet Turner]

Yes, as long as they still have their hearing! An older dog might take longer to get the idea. And of course, you should always be aware of how your dog is responding to any training - if you see signs of 'Omigod I'm not sure what's happening, what am I meant to doooooo?' you need to step back and rethink.

okay I'm looking into a dog training class. Will Doris benefit from a clicker?

 

[JoanneF]

I think it is useful to differentiate between training (and yes, in my experience all dogs benefit from training) and the tool we use to support the training - in this case the clicker. Most dogs seem to find the clicker an easy way of recognising what we are curing but as @JudyN said above, if something isn't working, move on and find an alternative. Be guided by the dog.

 

[Violet Turner]

I think it is useful to differentiate between training (and yes, in my experience all dogs benefit from training) and the tool we use to support the training - in this case the clicker. Most dogs seem to find the clicker an easy way of recognising what we are curing but as @JudyN said above, if something isn't working, move on and find an alternative. Be guided by the dog.

ok so if she gets confused then i need to take a step back.