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About Clicker Training

Clicker Training is a reward-based training method which focuses on rewarding desirable behaviours as they occur, rather than focusing on correcting or punishing undesirable behaviours.

A clicker is a small plastic device containing a metal plate, which when pressed makes a ‘click’ sound. The sound of the click acts as an event marker, it signals to your dog that he/she is offering a desired behaviour, and the consequence is a reward.

A reward can be food, play, attention, petting, freedom, anything that your dog values, and experiences as being pleasant and positive, or fun.

Successful training is all about effective communication, consistency, and timing. Clicker training gives you all three of these important elements; the sound of the clicker is effective communication, the sound is consistent, and the sound is on time.

Why use a Clicker?

A clicker has a distinctive sound that your dog will not hear in everyday life, therefore the sound of a clicker is more effective for training than a spoken word. Your dog hears you speaking all day, your voice can mean many things, but the sound of the clicker gives only one message. It says “Yes that’s right and now because you have heard the click you will be rewarded.”

The sound of the clicker offers precise communication in the exact moment a desired behaviour occurs, this is why it is so effective and can be used not only for shaping simple behaviours, but also for shaping complex behaviours involving many steps.

Clicker Training in Action

Take a look at this years winners of Canis Film Festival to see what clicker training can achieve, and how much fun it can be, stress free!