Introduction to clicker-training your dog..
In “clicker-training” the dog is rewarded with the help of a small mechanical device making a “clicking” sound, thus the name “clicker”. Clicker-training is a type of operant conditioning where the dog connects the clicking sound of the device with a reward (food, playtime) and becomes a reward to the dog in itself and therefore marking the precise behaviour that we want to reinforce.
Advantages:
The two most apparent advantages to using a clicker rather than the more traditional vocal communication (for example “good dog”) are speed and accuracy. While “good dog” takes a certain amount of time to say, the clicker can reinforce the desired behaviour instantly, making sure that the dog hasn’t moved on to less desirable behaviours.
Another advantage is consistency. The clicker sound will be the same every time and thus eliminate misunderstanding based on the trainer’s tone, voice, pronunciation and emphasis. As dogs are very sensitive when it comes to sounds, due to their good hearing, they will hear more nuances than we are even aware of. The dog will have to separate voice variations (like enthusiasm and volume) from command variations (good dog, bad dog), one kind as being important, and the other as being unimportant.
Disadvantages:
Commonly mentioned drawbacks to clicker training include the need to have the clicker handy when training the dog, though this can be partially remedied with a “tongue-cluck” (even though it will be less accurate than the actual clicker). The reliance on the clicker might also be exaggerated as it is mainly used to teach new behaviours.
There is also the question of how to reward the dog in noisier surroundings where the clicking sound is not loud enough, such as when training a hunting dog from a distance or working with a retrieving dog. Some dogs that are extremely sensitive might also be frightened by the clicker. In these cases an alternative sounder can be used such as a whistle or a pocket stapler. There are also a lot of different clickers available as to cater to these situations.
Another concern is the dog’s ability to discern which clicker is “his” in a group setting. This has been pretty much disproven by the very popular group clicker classes where the dogs understand perfectly well which one is which though not necessarily by sound.
“Charging” or “loading” the clicker:
“Charging” or “loading” refers to the process of teaching the dog that the clicker sound signals that it will get a reward. The goal is for the dog to instinctively connect the sound of the clicker with an actual reward, usually a tasty treat. Some trainers prefer the reward of playing with their favourite toy, but it can be difficult to maintain a high rate of reinforcement. To condition the clicking sound the dog is given the treat simultaneously with or directly after clicking the clicker. This is often done up to 20 times per session and many dogs can learn the association with five to ten repetitions.
To test that the association has been made, you could try to click the clicker when the dog is not paying attention to you. If the dog immediately reacts and looks towards you as if waiting for a reward, the association has been made.
Clicker-training
When the dog associates the mere sound of the clicker with the expectancy of a reward you can use the clicker to mark desired behaviours. At the precise moment the dog does something desirable, you click and reward promptly.
The most important thing in clicker training is timing. Since the clicker rewards whatever behaviour is occurring at that exact moment, clicking a little too early or a little too late might reinforce a completely different behaviour than intended.
Another crucial element is creating opportunities for the dog to earn rewards frequently. Among professionals a reinforcement rate of one C/T (click/treat) every three seconds is common.
It is also important to break down the tasks into smaller sub-tasks, which is called chaining. Another technique is to start out with easy-to-meet criteria and gradually tighten them,
Example: How to use clicking to train a dog to flip a lightswitch.
The first step here is to teach the dog to touch a target, such as a small plastic-piece, with its nose. Initially, you could try putting something edible on the target. Another method called shaping simply requires putting the target where the dog can reach it and rewarding the dog every time he comes close or touches the target.
When the dog consistently touches the target, you will move on to a target in different positions and eventually transfer the desired behaviour (which is pressing with their nose on it) to the lightswitch. This can be done in a number of ways, but most commonly by putting the plastic target on the lightswitch and therefore rewarding pressing the lightswitch. You can choose to have the dog do this task on command (such as “lights on”) or to give him a wanted reward (such as “if you switch the light on, I will open the door”). In the latter case, you add the act of opening the door to reward as the dog presses the lightswitch.
Clicker-training can be used to reinforce most behaviours in a dog and is counted as a very mild form of training, using the so-called positive approach (reward but no punishment). Clicker-training can also be incorporated into different styles of training and is a very versatile tool for many dog-trainers. Good luck.
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