A Lesson in Clicker Training
By Terri Wilkes, Volunteer
MABCR and Caroline Co. Humane Society, Inc.
Clicker training-what in the world is that? Actually, it is a simple, easy method to teach pet's good manners and cute tricks-even if you have never trained an animal before! Clicker training is fun and achieves amazingly fast results, and in my busy schedule that is what I like the best. Today the focus is on more positive training methods, so throw away the choke chains and grab a clicker!
I just began clicker training a month ago and I am hooked. I have already taught my own dogs to sit and be quiet, and have even taught one of my cats's to come when I click to receive a treat. Hopefully we will advance to bigger and brighter skills down the road. What I am most excited about is my experience using clicker training in the local Animal Shelter where I volunteer. I have seen remarkable results with dogs that have never had any basic manners or obedience skills prior to entering the shelter environment.
First things first, clicker training defined: is the science of using operant conditioning (like training dolphins) to communicate with an animal in a positive manner. In regular terms it means using a little plastic 'clicker' (like a toy) to make a sound and reward the animal for a good behavior. It is achieved in small sessions, that simple.
Clicker training is used to train everything from small mammals to horses to fish! Marine trainers have popularized the technique and it is easily adapted to companion pets. Clicker training can be used to improve socialization and responsiveness, replace fearfulness with confidence, provide mental stimulation and enrichment, reduce barking and stress related behaviors, and provide a positive daily experience to share with your pet or animals that you may be rehabilitating.
You use the clicker to 'mark' the behavior you like. You reward the good behavior with a treat. The animal learns quickly to associate the marker with the behavior necessary to earn a treat. Eventually, treats can be exchanged for rewards such as praise or play. Using the treats in the beginning helps to get the animals attention. Examples of good behaviors that could be rewarded by clicking are; sitting, being quiet, lying down, coming when called, walking with a loose leash.
I will share with you my recent experiences using clicker training to teach good manners to dogs at my local shelter. The day I began, our kennel was nearly full with approximately 20 dogs. I had a variety of adults, adolescents, and elderly dog, and six puppies less than 12 weeks. Only one of the dogs knew how to sit on verbal command. The majority was very unruly to say the least. They had no leash walking skills, let alone basic manners. When you entered the kennel or approached the cages, you were met with an onslaught of barking, screaming, ping-pong type behavior that did not make them seem very adoptable to the average visitor. I determined my first goal was to establish a "No Bark Zone" in the kennel, so that visitors could enter and talk and not feel overwhelmed by the energies and madness on display.
I obtained a clicker from a local pet supply store (see the reference section at the end of this article). You also need treats (something really delicious and broken into very tiny bites; you don't want to fill up the animal). I use a fanny pack pouch that I clip around my waist and can place my little treat morsels close at hand. I carry my clicker in one hand and reward with the other hand.
When I entered the kennel I began by slowly walking by each dog. As I approached, if I witnessed any lunatic behaviors, I would simply ignore the dog and continue past to the next. If I was met with a dog keeping four paws on the floor, sitting, or being quiet, I would 'click', toss a treat and continue. During my first round I had dogs all around me that were barking and screaming to get my attention. I rewarded the dogs displaying the most well-mannered behaviors and by my second time around in the kennel, the noise lowered. By my third round, I was actually met with dogs already sitting or standing quietly waiting to be rewarded. I had just spent an average of 20 minutes in this kennel and had things under control-I was thrilled!
My third day into training, I had dogs sitting at my verbal command (remember I just walk by, I didn't even enter the kennel to handle a dog). I had several Beagles that because of their small stature would stand up and place their paws on the kennel doors to gain my attention. I began to hold the treat out and slowly bend down and lower it towards the ground. The dogs began to drop down to follow the treat and were 'clicked' and rewarded when they had four paws on the floor. I found this to work very well to redirect the behavior I wanted. My ultimate reward was the day I arrived to train and saw visitors in the kennel. I was delighted to see the dogs being well behaved and acting calmly. I was ecstatic when the visitor received a cell phone call and was actually able to talk in the kennel! Before, it would have been unheard of because of the noise.
The reason I am using the shelter training as proponent of Clicker Training is because it proves how quick and simple results can be. The shelter has a daily change in its population; dogs were coming in and out. During the first 3 weeks I had a majority of the same dogs, but new ones were added and they quickly picked up on what their neighbors were doing to receive such treats and praise-good behavior caught on quickly! I was not working with a dog that had already been in my home, was socialized and had basic manners. Imagine what great things you can do using clickers individually with your own great pets!
A basic clicker lesson with your dog would be 2-to-five minutes per day. You can wear your clicker on a lanyard around your neck, on your belt or around your wrist. 'Click' when your dog is doing something you like. Follow with a small treat. The clicker tells the dog exactly what it is doing to earn the treat.
- Click for sitting instead of jumping up on people
- Click when you call your pets name and it comes towards you
- Click when the leash is loose to reduce pulling or dragging
In my own home of three dogs I have found a behavior problem that I am using the clicker to resolve. Whenever someone knocks at our door-all heck breaks loose! Dogs bark, scream, howl, jump all over the sofaÉI would be afraid to enter my home! So I have begun training by having a family member approach the door and knock. I do not go to the door and try to fend off the wolves so I can greet the person. I now step back and tell the dogs "Enough" and click and reward for quiet behavior. I have quickly found they are more interested in being rewarded then to bother themselves with the visitor at the door.
Clicker training can be used in so many ways and can be used by anyone. It is a great way forge a positive bond with your dog and have fun learning new skills together. Once your dog catches on you will not have to rely on using the clicker to mark the specific behaviors and you can simply ask your dog to sit, or down, or give a high five and reward with praise! Go ahead, give it a try and have fun 'clicking'!
References:
Websites:
- http://www.clickersolutions.com/ A wealth of info & articles on clicker training. Also has statewide listing of clicker trainers.
- http://www.clickertraining.com/ Great information and you can purchase clickers.
Books:
- Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs by Karen Pryor
- Clicking with Your Dog: Step by Step in Pictures by Peggy Tillman
Video:
- Gary Wilkes is the guru of Clicker Training for dogs and offers a wide selection of videos that includes clickers with your order.
