Educating and training a dog in good behavior and learning commands is not always an easy task, even so it is very important that we dedicate time and effort to it: being able to walk with a dog calmly, play and rapport depend on it. If we have decided to use the clicker as the main tool in training our dog, it is essential to learn how it works and how it is loaded.
The clicker is a small plastic box with a metallic foil that makes a double "click-click" sound when you squeeze it, and it is part of the dog training equipment. Before starting to train your dog in canine obedience, you have to load the clicker, that consists of making your dog associate the sound of this device (the click) with nice things. You will achieve this through classical conditioning, associating the click with food.
Once you have loaded the clicker, the click it produces becomes a conditioned reinforcer that will allow you to communicate with your dog. So once you've loaded the clicker, you'll use it to tell your dog which behaviors are correct. Please note that the clicker only needs to be charged once. You don't need to do it every dog training session, just once.
In this article on our site we will help you and try to show you how load the dog clicker in training. Keep reading and discover all the tricks!
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What is the clicker?
Before we start and want to know how to load the dog's clicker, we must know what it is: the clicker is simply a small plastic box with a button.
When pressing the button we will hear a small snap similar to a click, after which the dog will always receive a little food. It is a behavior reinforcer, a sound stimulus through which the dog understands with a click that the behavior performed is correct and for that reason receives a reward.
The clicker originated in the United States and is currently popularized in Agility competitions, advanced training and even basic training, within the same home. The results are so positive that more and more people are using the clicker system to train their pets.
We should only use the clicker when we consider positive and good attitudes of the dog's behavior, it is also important to know that after correctly carrying out an order we will click only once.
Many people join the use of the clicker as it is a simple element of communication between the person and the dog. It is less complex for the pet to understand than other types of training and from it, we can reward both the commands that we teach him as well as those that he learns independently, promoting the mental development of the dog.
The training of a dog should start when he is a puppy. Even so, the dog can learn commands as an adult, since it is a compliant animal that will enjoy learning new ways of performing obedience exercises and being rewarded for it (especially if the treats are tasty).
If you have decided to adopt a dog from a shelter, the use of the clicker is highly recommended since, in addition to uniting your emotional bond, it will predispose the animal to follow your orders with the use of the clicker. positive reinforcement.
You can get a clicker at any speci alty pet store. You'll find a wide variety of clicker formats in all sizes and shapes. Dare to use it!
The procedure for loading the clicker
"Click" means to click the clicker, or to make whatever sound you have decided to use as a conditioned reinforcer. The procedure to load the clicker is as follows:
- You are with your dog loose (off leash) in a quiet place. This place can be the room, the garden or any closed space where there are no distractions of any kind. Also, you have the fanny pack on your waist and various bits of appetizing food inside it. The food can be frankfurter, cooked beef, cooked chicken, or anything your dog likes, and should be cut into very small pieces.
- two. You take a bit of food in one hand and hold the clicker in the other. You click and immediately after you give a piece of food to your dog. You can give the food from your hand or throw it on the ground, but you must do it immediately after clicking.
- Make sure you don't get food into your dog's mouth while clicking. First the click and then offer the foodto give it to your dog. It is good that, if possible, you avoid making movements while clicking, because your dog will begin to associate those movements with the presence of food.
- 3. Take another piece of food and repeat the procedureBe sure to repeat the procedure varying the time that passes before you click, so that your dog does not associate the food with the passage of time, but with the click. For example, in the second iteration allow two seconds to pass before clicking, five seconds in the third, one second in the fourth, etc.
- 4. Repeat this procedure until you notice that your dog becomes attentive or happy every time he hears the click. You will notice that your dog has associated the clickwith food when every time you click, he perches his ears, wags his tail, or does anything else that demonstrates the enthusiasm from him
- To charge the clicker you will need several repetitions, but you can do more if you consider it necessary. The important thing is that your dog associates it correctly.
- Note that your dog should not have eaten before charging the clicker, so make sure you do this exercise before giving him one of his daily meals or at least a couple of hours after after giving him a meal.
Train without clicker
If you don't have a clicker you can do the same exercise using a different sound to load the conditioned reinforcer. Some alternatives to train your dog if you don't have a clicker are:
- Make a "click" with your tongue To do this you stick your tongue to your palate and quickly peel it off. You can also use a short distinctive word. You can use "Ok", saying the word quickly and enthusiastically. If you decide to use this word, avoid using "here" to teach your dog to come to the call because the two words can sound similar when spoken quickly. Remember that dog training orders must be different from each other. Another word you can use is "take". Say it quickly and with enthusiasm. Some people find it more useful to pronounce letters rather than words, because the sound is shorter and allows for better timing. So you can pronounce a letter instead of using a word. A simple option is to pronounce the letter "k", but in this case you must make sure that you do not use "Here" to call your dog.
- Use some common thing that can generate a click when you press it. To replace the clicker, you can use a pen (the kind that have a button and, therefore, make a "click") or a metal cap from a juice or other drink, such as the metal caps from Gatorade jars. In any of these cases, you must use the sound (the click made with the tongue, the pen or the Gatorade cap) or the chosen word, as a conditioned reinforcer throughout the training of your dog. Don't use one sound one day and another the next. If you don't use a clicker to train your dog, "clicking" will mean you make the sound chosen to replace the click, whether it's a click made with your tongue or a word. The following video shows you how to charge the clicker, using a tongue click. The video is filmed on the street but you must practice indoors and without distractions. Your dog is not yet ready to be loose on the street, so do not let him loose in places where he is at risk.
Problems loading the clicker
There are some problems that occur with some frequency when loading the clicker. Here are the five most common problems so you know how to fix them:
My dog is startled by the sound of the clicker
If your dog is startled by the sound of the clicker, you can wrap several layers of electrical tape around the clicker to make it sound less intense. As your dog's training progresses, you can remove the layers of duct tape, one per week, until all are removed. If you notice your dog becoming startled by the sound again, re-wrap the clicker and reduce the layers of duct tape with more patience.
Another option is to click with the clicker inside your pocket, well against your leg and with the metal plate facing your thigh. This will make a less intense sound. Little by little you will be able to take it out and handle it attached to your leg or wrapped in a handkerchief. Then behind your back and finally handle it normally.
Another alternative for dogs that are scared of the clicker is to look for a less loud clicker. There are some clickers that are made entirely of plastic and have a button instead of a metal plate. These have a quieter sound and are more comfortable for many people.
Finally, if you don't like any of the above options, don't use a clicker. Replace the clicker with a click made with your tongue or a short distinctive word.
I loaded the clicker but it no longer works on my dog
Some people click in any circumstance and don't offer the bits of food to their dogs. This causes the association between the click and food to die out.
To avoid this problem, do not use the clicker (or make the chosen sound) in circumstances other than training sessions. And, during training sessions, remember that each click is followed by a primary reinforcer (a bit of food).
Also don't leave the clicker within the reach of small children because, for some reason, they love to make it click. If you already have this problem and your dog stopped paying attention when you click, he reloads the clicker and prevents the problem from happening again
My dog bites hard when I give him the bits of food
Dogs that are not used to receiving food from the hand can get out of control when bits of food are handed to them, and bite very hard.
If your dog thinks he has to tear off your fingers to get the food, you have two alternatives: give him the food from the palm of your hand or throw it on the ground.
By giving him food from the palm of your hand, your dog won't have much of a chance to bite you, since the food will be on a more or less flat surface and he will have to handle it more carefully. If you've ever fed a horse a sugar cube, or seen how it's made, you'll know that this way is much safer for hand-feeding an animal.
On the other hand, after clicking you can throw the piece of food on the ground. In this case your dog will not have a chance to bite your hand because the food will be on the ground.
Note that many dogs learn to violently snatch food from the hand if the person becomes startled and withdraws their hand just before the dog can reach the food. Never do this. If you are afraid that your dog will bite you, simply offer him the food from the palm of your hand or throw it on the ground. Don't remove your hand with the food.
My dog doesn't notice where the food bits are
Some dogs desperately search for bits of food but can't find them because they are too excited or because their senses aren't at their best. This is especially the case with puppies and older dogs.
If your dog doesn't realize where the food is, you have to bring it to his mouth immediately after each click. He just brings the food right in front of his nose and he will take it.
If you throw the food on the ground, make a very obvious movement with your whole arm before releasing the food and drop it close to where your hand is. Bring your hand down to the ground when you do this so your dog can see where the food falls.
My dog is not paying attention
If your dog isn't concentrating, it's because something is distracting him or the food you're using isn't motivating him. Make sure you are in a place with no distractions. Also make sure that the food you use to train your dog is of interest to him.
It could also be that you are taking a long time between repetitions or that you are taking a long time to give the food after each click. Don't let too much time go by between repetitions. As soon as your dog has finished swallowing the piece of food you gave him, make another click and give him another piece of food.
Also don't let too much time pass between the time you click and the time you feed your dog. You must give the food immediately after the click.
Precautions when using the clicker and feeding your dog
During this exercise and the following ones, take into account the following precautions for using the clicker and giving the bits of food to your dog:
- Never click the clicker near your dog's ear, or your ear. The sound can be very loud when listening closely.
- Don't drop a piece of food in your dog's mouth if he has his head up. Your dog could choke. In any case, lower the food until it is at the normal level of your dog's mouth, or a little lower. Let him take it, don't make it fall into his mouth
- At the start of each new exercise, practice indoors so your dog can be loose and you don't need to put him on a leash. It's hard to handle the clicker and bits of food if you also have to keep an eye on the leash. When your dog responds perfectly to the obedience exercises, you will start practicing outside with your dog on a leash. At this point you will be able to use a release command instead of the clicker, or you will have acquired enough dexterity to handle the clicker, food and leash.
- Don't click if your dog is doing something inappropriate, like jumping on you, because you'll be reinforcing that behavior.
