How we train

Click and Treat: A New Dimension in Training Positively

Just recently I have begun to introduce a new training tool in the Post Graduate and Advanced Post Graduate classes. This new device is called a clicker, and it is used in many training situations, most notably for teaching intricate tricks. Many dogs trained for movies and television are trained using a clicker. The clicker is a distinct sound which tells the dog when the end of the behavior occurs. It has been described as a snapshot of what the dog is doing right at that moment. It replaces your voice, at least for a while in the initial stages of training. This can be especially helpful since many dogs move so quickly they are usually on to another behavior by the time we get the word out.

Food is still used in the training process but it takes a back seat to the clicker. When introduced properly, the dog comes to understand that the clicker means that food is coming . The timing of the food following the click does not have to be immediate (except in the initial introduction of the clicker) which means the animal can work at a distance from it's trainer and not get distracted by the food reward. The clicker makes the training process even more fun for the dog and owner because it gives the dog the opportunity to think and make choices. The dog soon figures out that the click means food is coming and will become very creative in trying to get the owner to click. This is called shaping a behavior and is fascinating to watch. The trainer starts by giving a few clicks and treats and then simply teases the dog a little with the food and waits. The dog may sit, lie down, turn its head, lower it's head, etc. and the trainer can click any one of these behaviors and shape it into a trick.

For instance when I shaped my first behavior with Reggae, I got him to turn all the way around in a circle without using food to lure him around. I simply showed the food and clicked and treated him any time he turned his head to the right, after a few repetitions I didn't click until he turned his head and took a step, then several steps then turned and looked at me over his right shoulder, etc. until pretty soon he was spinning like a whirling dervish.

Later, I paired a voice command and hand signal to the whole thing to complete the finished product. The clicker adds a whole new dimension to motivational (positive) training. On the practical side, it can also be used to teach and polish the basics, especially heeling , which we have done quite successfully in our Post Graduate classes.