The principals behind clicker training are very simple. A dog learns that when he hears the sound of the click he has done a good thing. The more often he does this action the more often he will be rewarded. Clicker training encourages the dog to actively learn and understand what it is that he is doing that is earning him rewards.
This method of training has been used for more than fifty years. It has been used to train all kinds of animals (birds, whales, dolphins etc.) including dogs. The advantage of this technique is that the trainer is using positive reinforcement rather than negative to teach the dog. There is no punishment, pain or correction involved. The experience for the dog is pleasant, fun and rewarding.
The clicker is simply a maker. It marks the exact moment when a correct action has been done. The clicker by itself will mean nothing to a dog. It is necessary to pair the clicker with a primary reinforcer. The primary reinforcer is usually food but it does not have to be. Some trainers use other rewards, toys or simple praise. What is important is that the two things, the sound of the clicker is always paired with a reward. Without the reward the sound will mean nothing.
‘Charging a clicker’ is the first step in dog clicker training. You have to teach your dog what the sound of the clicker means. You want your pet to learn that the ‘click’ sound means that a reward is on the way. You do this by randomly clicking and rewarding your pet. You want to make sure that your dog is doing different things each time you click. You do not want your dog to associate the click with a particular action. You want him to learn that the sound is what is important.
Once your clicker is charged you can teach your pet virtually anything. Clicker training is very precise, you can use it to curb and modify behaviour until you as the owner have the exact result that you want to achieve. And, the best part about clicker training is that lost dogs are very eager to participate in clicker training. Why? Because it is a positive challenging learning experience. You will find that using this method of training is not only fast but is actually fun for both you and your pet.
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