Clicker Training Puppy Tips

If you want to know the most systematic way to train your puppy, have a look at clicker training. It's the most effective way to communicate what you want to your puppy. You can use it to train any kind of behavior you want. It's totally flexible.

It's based upon scientific research and the theory of operant conditioning. Basically, it means you reinforce the behavior you want with a reward of some kind, such as a treat, affection, playing a game etc. The problem is that it's not always so easy to clearly communicate what the reward is for since you can't always reward every aspect of behavior immediately it happens.

This is where the clicker comes in. The clicker sound is used to mark the behavior which is going to be rewarded. Once the connection is made between reward and the clicker sound, you can precisely mark any behavior and your puppy knows that the clicker sound is something positive for him.

Making the connection between clicker sound and reward is called "charging the clicker". This is easily done by just clicking and immediately giving a treat. The only point to be aware of is that you should do it in various situations (eg. the puppy sitting, walking, playing, lying down) so that the reward is connected to the clicker sound and not to anything else such as the fact you did it only when your puppy was lying down.

Clicker training is a whole training system in itself but easy to learn. If you want to learn more check out the best Clicker Training guide by Morten Egtvedt & Cecilie Koeste. You can find a complete review of their clicker training guide here.