Clicker Training Basics: How to Introduce the Clicker for Dogs 

A clicker is a tool used to train your dog a new behavior. Itself sound is distinct, and takes on meaning only after the sound has been paired with food. The process is to click, then reach for the treat out of your pouch, and then reward, then repeat. Do this many times in a row so the dog understands that the click is always a precursor to a treat. The food shouldn’t be in your hand during the process because its distracting. One rule: if you click you must give a treat (even if you messed up your timing) or else the clicker will lose it’s effectiveness. The clicker does not replace the need for a primary reinforcer. That being said, you can use any reinforcer that the dog loves with the clicker - even toys and play! Once this is understood, you can use it for training. Example: I teach all basic commands via “capturing” the behavior. Your dog or puppy will sit, lie down, walk beside you, come to you, stand, etc a zillion times a day. Pick a behavior you want to teach, such as down. Watch your dog with the clicker and treats ready. As soon as your dogs elbows and chest hit the floor - click and the treat. Now wait for the dog to decide to do it again. It’s essential that you observe but say nothing. If the dog gets it wrong, there’s no click, so he’ll try again to make the click happen. If there is a click, he’ll try to perform the same behavior to cause the “good” consequence to reoccur. Keep sessions short (2 minutes at a time). Once your dog sees you’re ready to treat and starts offering the behavior reliably, it’s time to attach a name to the behavior. Watch your dog, when you know he’s about to slide into the down position, say the name of the cue, then click when his elbows and chest hit the floor. Repeat this. Eventually, you can test him to see if he understands: Say “down” and if he does the correct behavior, praise and reward. You can now stop using the clicker because he has effectively learned what the action is and the word associated with it. I don’t phase out food until much later, after the dog has generalized the cue in various situations (add distance, duration, and distractions).

One of the better "charge the clicker" videos as it explains why we do it. Not just how to do it.

As much as I wish I had sent my dog to Brandon for training before bringing him home ru-vid.comUgkx1_veP7CApJK_GWy_TczaMciuG64PqJeU I am so grateful for this down-to-earth, practical guide. His training techniques and tips really work. Thank you as well for dedicating your life's work to rescue dogs, and to rescuing those of us who want the very best for our 4-legged family members.

I appreciate you showing how to use a clicker with older dogs. I’m taking a new approach with my 5 year old Aussie, I’m hoping he’ll catch on fast.

My dog is 1year and 6months and it took him 2 days to learn the click is a treat

This was really helpful. I initially didn’t know how to apply the clicker but know I have a better idea. Thx 😊

A good short, and easy to understand video. I also liket the lack of pushing products and that helpet me stay on track and not get distracted. Great video!

I LOVE THE CLICKER SOUND

Thank you! This video is great!

thank you for the demonstration... i have a 1-1/2 year old dog... he already know the basic but trying to teach him more motivated word with the clicker

This deserves more likes!

Oh I'm glad I found this! I lost my 10yr old Great Pyrenees to cancer a few months ago. He was super easy to train. I am getting a new puppy in a couple days. This time I'm getting a German Shepherd! I have bought tons of things for the newbie and there was a clicker in a toy bag! So I'm gonna give it a try. I know how smart German Shepherds are so I plan on doing extra training with him. I had no idea what a clicker was! Your video is a great start! I'm checking out what you have on your channel the ks!

Great, now my wife is clicker training me with beer and tacos for taking out the trash and vacuuming the floor. Can’t wait to get home to do the dishes so she will kick down with the tacos n beer.😂 Thank you for a great video! I gotta go, she is clicking me about something….. but I get tacos😊

Great video really helped us use the clicker with my new puppie😊

Yay thank you! I love your videos your awsome!

Thank you! Will subscribe.

My wife and I use the clicker for No, when she was going through her throat and thyroid cancer treatment. And continue on with it because she has lost her voice, great tool!

My puppies got super excited the first time they heared the clicker hahahaha it’s like they were thinking what was that amazing sound hahahaha

Hey there, Just got myself a Black Labrador Puppy (UK) and Ordered a clicker, discovered your channel, thanks for the help! cant wait to try this tomorrow.

Thank you!

plot twist: the dog is deaf.

Oh my goodness! I was just training my dog ODIN! With a clicker ( browsing videos to find good advice) and he’s a black huntaway x Labrador 😂 thought was going crazy hearing his name ! 😂😂

Love this concept

Legend has it lady still waiting fir a treat.

Thank you 😊

Wow, its so nice to have this trsining tool..

Who’s reading this have a lovely day/night

This video is really helpful, thanks! I've been making friends with my neighbour's 9-year-old border collie and she said it was ok for me to try training him. He comes to my doorstep to hang out, and I just got a clicker and started charging it with him. Today I used some small bone-shaped treats broken in half, for a total of six pieces, each paired with a click. He seems interested and not afraid of the noise. I'm not sure if it would be healthy to give him more treats than that in one day, and I don't have any normal kibble right now. I was encouraged to hear that the clicker can be charged within a few days, and I know border collies are a very smart breed, but when you say within a few days, how long should the training sessions be? If he only gets six clicks a day, will it take longer for him to learn? 🐶

I got a yellow lab a year ago and named him Odin aswell :)

Loved it

For the breathe and my family has I believe that what we were told was that he is a Jack Russell and lab mix is there a certain amount of treat I should be stopping when training meaning if I trained him for about 20-30 minutes or so or maybe 15 minutes on any given day and then I reward I just had recently got the clicker

Hello, I went on your website, but I couldn’t find the online course.

Is it just for puppies or older dogs too?

Nais

Thank you for this information, it's very useful. I just adopted a 7 year old lab mix and I've tried the clicker method, but he doesn't seem very interested in the treats, he only seems to care about being petted. I've tried different kinds of treats, sometimes he loves them but sometimes he completely ignores them. How do you get his attention if he isn't interested in treats?

how can we use clickers to stop dog pulling ?

What breed of dog is that ? Looks awfully similar to mine and he's An American bulldog for the most part, lil pit down the line somewhere but I'd say 75% American Bull. Anyways just curious because they look so much alike, beautiful dog you have there !

Good video, thanks. I have a 4 yr old Goldendoodle and a 4-mth old golden lab mix. We invested in some very expensive e-collar training for the Goldendoodle because of some really bad habits we neglected to correct when she was young. She is super smart and picked up quickly. For the puppy, who seems VERY trainable, I'd like to try the clicker method. First question: I thought the clicker might work well for teaching new commands to the doodle. There's no problem using both methods is there? It won't confuse her, will it? Second question: I need to put one dog away to focus the others attention. Right? They will need their own personal time with me for the training? Third question: How long and how often should the training sessions be? I'm confused on that part. Thanks so much Amy

Hello, I have two puppies. Could I train them at the same time or I have to do it devided? Tnx

i had no idea this was a thing

Before or after the click do you give food?

1:42 Demo of the training

*Call my child* with a Clicker, LIKE A DOG

What do you mean by charging the clicker do I have to charge it up before I use it?

is it the same with whistling ? my old dog came to any whistle and i was hoping to have my new puppy do it as well.

How old was Odin in this video ? Mine is 2 months and he is driving me up the wall 😩 I plan to start using this very soon

I have a 3 year old Italian greyhound. His recall is excellent off the lead, but once my dog sees people sitting on the grass he runs to them automatically, thinking they have food all the time. Is the clicker a good technique to get rid of this behaviour?

I’m struggling to get my pup to walk on a lead , the clicker works great at home but soon as we go walking she freezes up and ignores the clicker completely

Where can you get a clicker

When you say it can take 2-3 days to introduce the clicker, how much time per session? Thanks!

How long should a training session has to be for a puppy?

I adopted a stray coonhound so I’m hoping I can use the clicker to teach him the basic commands.

Can you do this with the dog that you just got three days ago

Is there a difference with just saying “Yes” instead of a clicker sound?

Maybe this is a stupid question- but isn't this sort of a double reinforcement? The clicker and the treat? Couldn't you give the command and then the treat? I've tried the clicker before with my dog but it always seemed like an extra step. I think I'm missing the point :/

Can you train older dogs that is over 1 year

Goed o

Ok

I’m ashamed to admit that I bought a clicker as a deterrent for unwanted behavior, it never occurred to me that the noise could be part of a rewards system

What breed is Oden?

Instructions not clear, it's been 3 weeks and my wife still won't come when I click it.

I will be using this with my 8th grade students... Hope it works... 😂

Where is the best place to buy a clicker?

My dog frick out and run away with the tail down. After I watched your video I hope it helps.

Is it better to use the clicker as a "No" signal instead of using it for rewarding behaviors?

Overall good video, but didn’t like the part of putting the treats on the ground. That could teach them to eat scraps on the ground out in public. I will give from the pouch and hand.

I like it but is like jurassic world training blue from raptor

I the baby puppy and it's a pomeranian Ship Soo

Whats the difference between sounding a clicker before giving treats and just saying “Yes” or “Good” before giving a treat?

Dont wait more than 0.5 seconds to give the treat advice

Skip to 1:42 Thank me later 😁

Maïs

Does it work on humans? Asking for a friend.

My dog is 8 months old. Is he too old for clicker training?

Can this be used to help curb a behavior? Have 6 month old dog and overall well behaved. Comes when called 70% of time, sits 100%, stays 90%, paw 100%, lie down 100% and would love to further reinforce those. BUT... The behavior that really needs correction is that he constantly tries get food off our counters and tables. It's like having a toddler ha ha. He's getting tall enough to get paws on oven and turn it on 🔥 . Just looking for suggestions! Thanks

helpful but I don't agree using Kibble as training treats for all old dogs, my dog leaves her food all day in a bowl, if I want to get her attention it has to be a special tasty treat, Im sure they same with trying to her to react to a clicker.

Why do you place the treat on the floor and not let him take from your hand?

FUN TIP: This works the same with a finger snap 😉

If using a clicker works for you then great, I’ve always found verbal commands to be far more effective than clickers.

my dog is scared to death of it, used your training and she just hates it.

Great video but it would help if you clicked closer to the mic.

Oh click the bell huh?? U tryin to bell train me to watch ur videos?? I see ur game!!!

What if my dog is scared of the clicker the first time I tried to use it. She runs away and doesn't even want the treats...

I'm using russian command .

I prefer verbal commands. Then at distance whistle ans ecollar beep. I never found a clicker very useful. My lab will sit at 200 feet.

What if puppy wont take treats

This works with dogs that can't control their impulses?? :( My puppy is 9 months old and she cannot control barking and gettin' on people, she's not aggressive, in fact she just wants attention and love and that's why she barks... help :(

Wait they take battery’s

dwie

Not my dog rolling over my phone

After your Pit Bull has learned it: @_48o

Mmmm

I am the supplier of this clicker

What do I do when my dog looses interest, the second I don't reward for wrong behaviour? Like, she doesn't even try, she just walks away..☹️

Breed*

The pleasure center

I am your Tamil Nadu subscribe bro

In teaching a dog the clicker is loaded, I feed from my hand. I avoid putting food on the ground or floor as I want my dog to associate treats as coming from my hand. I want my dog looking to me as treat dispenser, not something they find on the floor.

2 minutes into the video before you even started

my gf uses this on me