Canine Clicker Training - Why Dogs Love The Click And Treat Method
Have you ever dreamed of transforming your furry friend into the perfect canine companion? An obedient angel who knows a wide variety commands and listens without hesitation? As every dog owner knows, this requires training.
One of the most popular methods today is clicker training, also known as the click-and-treat method.
This style of training is popular with owners and dogs alike.
Humans love how easy this method is to master and how quickly we see results.
But what is it about clicker training that dogs love? Clicker training uses a small mechanical device to produce a "click" sound.
This sounds lets your dog know when he is doing something you like such as sitting, laying down, or any other "good dog" behavior.
The "click" is quickly followed by a positive reward, typically a treat.
Your dog is motivated by the reward to perform the same action again and again.
Hand signals and verbal cues are then introduced.
Eventually, the click-and-treat is phased out.
Voilá, a command is learned! Training is all about communication.
As close as our relationship is, dog-human communication is hindered by an obvious language barrier.
Clicker training helps to bridge this comprehension gap.
The sound produced by a clicker is consistent, unique, precise, and quick.
The sound of the clicker is extremely easy for our dogs to interpret.
Human voices vary dramatically in tone and inflection depending on our mood.
Even the simple "sit" can sound like different commands if we are happy, frustrated, or frantic.
The sound of the clicker, however, always remains the same.
Our dogs are masters at reading our emotions.
This isn't always beneficial in training, especially if your emotions aren't positive.
The sound of the clicker is emotion-neutral.
A click can never sound angry, frustrated, or disappointed.
Our dogs want to please us.
The less negative information they receive, the more enjoyable training becomes.
Since English isn't our dogs first language, spoken words can be challenging for them to identify.
For example, what if you use the word "good" as a marker instead of a click? This can get confusing for your dog when they hear you use the same word in day-to-day talk.
The "click" is easy for our dogs to distinguish.
The sound of the clicker is unique and not easily confused with everyday speech.
The clicker makes it easy for our dogs to know exactly which actions are being rewarded.
With minimal practice, we humans can become adept at clicking the instant we see the behavior we want from our dogs.
Less confusion means less stress for both human and dog.
Recent studies have also provided fascinating insight into how the clicker sound is processed in our dog's brain.
Rather than passing first through the cortex, the thinking part of the brain, the "click" travels directly to the amygdala.
The clicker delivers information directly, without your dog having to process human speech.
The amygdala is an ancient portion of the brain with a key role in processing emotions.
It's been theorized that the positive reinforcement of clicker training elicits a joy response straight from your dog's amygdala! Clicker training helps build a training partnership between you and your dog that is respectful, enjoyable, fun, and innovative.
In clicker training, the only motivation that is offered to your dog is positive.
Rather than punishing unwanted behavior, unwanted behavior is simply ignored.
By avoiding the use of corrections, a relationship based on mutual respect, rather than fear, is established.
Your dog will enjoy training sessions! Clicker training allows your dog to become an active participant in the training process.
There will come the moment in clicker training when your dog realizes - I am the one making the click happen.
Once this occurs, training takes on an added dimension of enjoyment for your dog.
He becomes mentally engaged in the process.
He will begin offering you a variety of behaviors to see which ones will score him a reward.
Once your dog has made the connection between his behavior and a possible reward, clicker training can become extremely innovative.
The only limits are your dog's creativity and your willingness to play along.
If your dog offers you a unique or funny behavior, mark it with a click, and treat! Along with being mentally stimulating, this process also helps foster your dog's self-esteem.
It's never to late to start clicker training with your dog.
This method of training is enjoyable not only for you, but for your canine companions as well.
Happy Clicking!
One of the most popular methods today is clicker training, also known as the click-and-treat method.
This style of training is popular with owners and dogs alike.
Humans love how easy this method is to master and how quickly we see results.
But what is it about clicker training that dogs love? Clicker training uses a small mechanical device to produce a "click" sound.
This sounds lets your dog know when he is doing something you like such as sitting, laying down, or any other "good dog" behavior.
The "click" is quickly followed by a positive reward, typically a treat.
Your dog is motivated by the reward to perform the same action again and again.
Hand signals and verbal cues are then introduced.
Eventually, the click-and-treat is phased out.
Voilá, a command is learned! Training is all about communication.
As close as our relationship is, dog-human communication is hindered by an obvious language barrier.
Clicker training helps to bridge this comprehension gap.
The sound produced by a clicker is consistent, unique, precise, and quick.
The sound of the clicker is extremely easy for our dogs to interpret.
Human voices vary dramatically in tone and inflection depending on our mood.
Even the simple "sit" can sound like different commands if we are happy, frustrated, or frantic.
The sound of the clicker, however, always remains the same.
Our dogs are masters at reading our emotions.
This isn't always beneficial in training, especially if your emotions aren't positive.
The sound of the clicker is emotion-neutral.
A click can never sound angry, frustrated, or disappointed.
Our dogs want to please us.
The less negative information they receive, the more enjoyable training becomes.
Since English isn't our dogs first language, spoken words can be challenging for them to identify.
For example, what if you use the word "good" as a marker instead of a click? This can get confusing for your dog when they hear you use the same word in day-to-day talk.
The "click" is easy for our dogs to distinguish.
The sound of the clicker is unique and not easily confused with everyday speech.
The clicker makes it easy for our dogs to know exactly which actions are being rewarded.
With minimal practice, we humans can become adept at clicking the instant we see the behavior we want from our dogs.
Less confusion means less stress for both human and dog.
Recent studies have also provided fascinating insight into how the clicker sound is processed in our dog's brain.
Rather than passing first through the cortex, the thinking part of the brain, the "click" travels directly to the amygdala.
The clicker delivers information directly, without your dog having to process human speech.
The amygdala is an ancient portion of the brain with a key role in processing emotions.
It's been theorized that the positive reinforcement of clicker training elicits a joy response straight from your dog's amygdala! Clicker training helps build a training partnership between you and your dog that is respectful, enjoyable, fun, and innovative.
In clicker training, the only motivation that is offered to your dog is positive.
Rather than punishing unwanted behavior, unwanted behavior is simply ignored.
By avoiding the use of corrections, a relationship based on mutual respect, rather than fear, is established.
Your dog will enjoy training sessions! Clicker training allows your dog to become an active participant in the training process.
There will come the moment in clicker training when your dog realizes - I am the one making the click happen.
Once this occurs, training takes on an added dimension of enjoyment for your dog.
He becomes mentally engaged in the process.
He will begin offering you a variety of behaviors to see which ones will score him a reward.
Once your dog has made the connection between his behavior and a possible reward, clicker training can become extremely innovative.
The only limits are your dog's creativity and your willingness to play along.
If your dog offers you a unique or funny behavior, mark it with a click, and treat! Along with being mentally stimulating, this process also helps foster your dog's self-esteem.
It's never to late to start clicker training with your dog.
This method of training is enjoyable not only for you, but for your canine companions as well.
Happy Clicking!
