Clicker Training
The clicker is widely regarded as the greatest breakthrough in animal training. Clickers can be successfully used to indicate to the dog the behavior he just exhibited was pleasing to you. Once a dog is conditioned to the sound, that click says to your dog "You did good and a treat is on it's way!" You'll also notice your dog will begin to offer behaviors. You just need to give him a name for those behaviors that can cause you to click again and again -- you both are learning -- and having FUN! This simple piece of metal and plastic clarifies in the dog’s mind what is expected without stress or confusion. Your dog thinks in pictures and the clicker gives him an accurate snapshot of the exact behavior you are looking for and conveys that information to him instantly! The sound of the click is consistent (one of the three essentials in dog training!) unlike our voices which can sometimes be happy, tired, excited, or frustrated. The neutral sound of the clicker provides a reliable signal to your dog and its use has been proven to speed up the learning process by 50%!
To behaviorists the clicker is known as a secondary reinforcer or a bridge between the behavior and reward. Once the dog understands what behavior we are eliciting with a particular command, use of the clicker and treats can be phased out and you will be able to rely primarily on praise to reinforce the behavior.
The Lake Pack
Ellie, Apex, Rocket, Molly and Beau
