Pet Training: Assembling Your Toolbox

Think it's impossible for your dog to ever learn how to do something like this? (click here)

How did those dogs learn how to do that?! Well, those who know me know I talk about it, use it and am happy to be an advocate for it.  But what exactly is 'clicker training'?

Well, I think it's safe to say the clicker is not some magical device that will suddenly make your pet do extraordinary things.  Nor will it spontaneously fix your pet's behavioral problems.  The clicker is not a remote control and obviously your pet is not a robot.  OK...so what the heck is this clicker thing and what is it  good for?!

Well, to make a long story short, the clicker is a small device that produces the sound of a "click." It is simply a tool in one's training tool box so to speak (right there next to some treats, toys, a leash and your giant vat of patience).  This tool, when used correctly, can help create incredible results–much like a hammer helps us build a beautiful home.  The hammer alone is just an object, but when used to facilitate the action of building a wall, can be quite impressive.  The clicker, like the hammer, does not build the house alone, but it plays a vital role in the success of creating the bigger picture.  The hammer...OK OK, enough with the hammer reference, you get the idea.  The clicker is simply a tool which helps to facilitate effective and precise communication between you and your pet.  The beauty of this tool is that no pet is too old, too young, too small or too big to benefit from this method.  

Throughout the dog training world, this method is known as positive reinforcement training. Simply put, it is the rewarding of desired behaviors thus making those behaviors more likely to be repeated. Positive reinforcement training uses zero punishment and does not advocate physical corrections of any kind.  So how does the clicker fit into this?  Well, instead of  simply rewarding with treats and hoping your pet understands exactly why they are receiving those treats, the clicker helps to isolate the desired behavior, giving the reward greater value.

The clicker indicates to your pet, "Yes! That right there, what you just did, is what will get you your desired reward!" The reward can be whatever your pet finds motivating.  This can be treats, a toss of a ball, a throw of a Frisbee or a good tug on a toy–whatever it may be that keeps your dog wanting more.  In the end, you get a pet that is not forced to do things, but rather a pet that wants to display the desired behaviors–huge difference.   And trust me, the beauty of positive reinforcement training is that you will end up with a pet that is happy to stay and work with you because the experience is so fun and rewarding! 

A common misconception about positive reinforcement clicker training is that if your pet is taught with treats and a device such as a clicker, your dog will always need these things to "perform" the desired behaviors.  This is not the case.  Once your pet is reliably displaying the desired behavior you can easily fade out the clicker and the reward.  Again, the clicker and rewards are just tools which help you obtain your desired result.

Think the clicker is annoying?  You can just as easily use a marker word (or a marker sound of your choice–ever wonder why dolphin trainers use those whistles?). My dog Teri knows "yes" and "yep" as a predictor for reward just as well as she knows the click. 

The big picture here is that positive reinforcement clicker training methods can yield amazing results and give you a precise and easy way to communicate with your pet.  This communication can be used to train tricks (why is trick training beneficial to your pet? Click here and I'll tell you), teach basic obedience and even modify existing unwanted behaviors. Essentially, the possibilities are endless! 

Positive reinforcement methods, clicker training in particular, are the leading methods amongst zoos, aquariums and professional trainers and for good reason.  As a subset of operant conditioning,  positive reinforcement methods have been scientifically proven to yield fantastic results.  When deciding to train your dog using any method (hopefully positive reinforcement methods, because who really wants to use punishment based methods on a beloved member of the family?) it is important for you to do your own independent research and make the best decision for you and your pet.  Meaning, don't let someone talk you into using a method you and your pet don't enjoy and that you really can't back 100 percent. 

While most people only think of dogs when talking about training, that is not the case with clicker training.  Unlike some old-school methods, clicker training works with an array of species (have you ever seen a choke chain on a dolphin or cat?  Didn't think so.).  Click on the links below to view videos of some impressive examples of positive reinforcement clicker training methods!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, comments etc. at melsmenagerie@gmail.com.  More clicker training info and "how to's" on the way, so check back soon!

Related videos:
Clicker Trained Rabbits
Clicker Trained Cat
Clicker Trained Donkey

My Dog Teri!