What is clicker training?
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Quick answer
Clicker training is reward-based training that uses a small hand-held clicker to mark the exact moment a pet does the right thing, followed every time by a reward. The dog first learns that the click means a treat is coming. Because the click is fast and always sounds the same, it tells the dog precisely which action earned the reward.
Also called marker training, click and treat.
Key facts
- A clicker is a small plastic hand-held device with a metal strip inside that makes a clear click when pressed. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
- The click is not a reward at first: you pair it with a treat until the dog expects a treat each time it hears the click. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
- Treat every time you click, even if you press the clicker by mistake. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
- AVSAB lists a clicker or a spoken marker as a standard tool of reward-based trainers, alongside capturing, shaping and luring. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
- The RSPCA treats clicker training as an advanced method and suggests learning it in a class. RSPCA (England and Wales)
Why use a click instead of saying "good dog"?
Because a click is instant and always identical, so it marks the exact action you want, even from across the room.
Dogs learn from what happens immediately after an action. By the time you have reached into your pocket for a treat, the dog may have stood up from the sit you wanted to reward. The click bridges that gap: it says "that, exactly that", and the treat follows a second or two later. Dogs for Good, a UK assistance dog charity, describes it as a clear, hands-off way of communicating that lets a dog offer behaviours and work out what earns the reward.
Clickers were first used with large marine animals that could not be pushed into position, and have been used for more than 40 years with many species. A spoken marker such as a short "yes" works the same way; AVSAB lists both as standard tools. The clicker's advantage is that it sounds the same whoever presses it, which helps when several family members, or a sitter, train the same dog.
How do you start clicker training?
Three stages from Dogs for Good's guide. Keep shaping sessions to 3 minutes at most, and stop while the dog is still keen.
Charge the clicker
Click, then give a treat, many times over, until the dog looks for a treat whenever it hears the click. Only then use it to train. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
Give a clear prompt
Set the dog up to succeed with a visual clue for the task, such as a target board for a paw push or a sticker for a nose touch. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
Shape in small steps
Click and treat each small move towards the goal, the "hotter or colder" game, building the behaviour a little at a time in sessions of up to 3 minutes. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
What are the common clicker mistakes?
Do
- Treat after every single click, including accidental ones, so the click never loses its meaning. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
- Use small treats the dog loves, such as small pieces of meat or cheese, and count them in the day's food. RSPCA (England and Wales)
- Train in a quiet room with few distractions, keep sessions short and end on something the dog already knows. RSPCA (England and Wales)
Don’t
- Do not skip charging the clicker: until the click predicts a treat, it means nothing to the dog. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
- Do not combine clicking with corrections or force. AVSAB says aversive methods should not be used in dog training. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
- Do not drag sessions out: Dogs for Good caps shaping sessions at 3 minutes. Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity)
Does clicker training work for cats and Indian dogs?
The method is the same for any animal that will work for a reward, and Dogs for Good notes it has been used with a wide variety of species. A cat, a pedigree dog and an indie dog all learn the click-treat link the same way: through repetition, a reward each pet actually wants, and sessions short enough to stay fun.
It also gives a busy dog something to think about. Dogs for Good says clicker work stimulates a dog mentally and strengthens the bond with the owner, which is useful on monsoon days when long walks are not possible and a bored dog starts chewing the furniture.
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Questions owners ask
Do I have to use a clicker forever?
- No. The clicker is a teaching tool. Once a behaviour is reliable, many owners attach a cue word or hand signal and reward it in other ways, such as praise, play or an occasional treat. You can keep the clicker for teaching new behaviours, where its precise timing helps most.
What does charging the clicker mean?
- It means pairing the click with a treat, over and over, until your dog looks for a treat whenever it hears the click. The click means nothing at first; charging gives it meaning, so it can then mark the exact moment your dog does the right thing.
Can I use a word instead of a clicker?
- Yes. AVSAB lists a clicker or a verbal marker as the tools reward-based trainers use to mark a behaviour. A short word such as "yes" works, but it should be said the same way each time. A clicker sounds identical whoever presses it.
Is clicker training suitable for a fearful dog?
- It can help, because the dog learns that offering behaviours earns rewards, which builds confidence. Some sound-sensitive dogs startle at the click, so use a softer clicker or a spoken marker. For real fear, ask your vet or a qualified behaviourist for a plan.
Keep reading
Related terms
More in training
- Crate trainingCrate training is teaching a dog to rest calmly in a crate, with treats and gradual steps, so the crate feels like a safe den rather than a cage. Used well it helps with house-training, keeps puppies safe and eases travel. It is never a punishment, never for long hours, and not a fix for separation anxiety.
- DesensitisationDesensitisation is a way of reducing a pet's fear by exposing it to the scary thing at a level so low it stays calm, then raising it very slowly. It is usually paired with counter-conditioning: something the pet loves, such as a treat, arrives with the sound or sight, so the fear is replaced by a pleasant expectation.
- House-trainingHouse-training teaches a dog to toilet in the right place, usually outdoors or on a chosen spot. It works by taking the puppy out often, especially after sleep, meals and play, and rewarding it straight away when it goes. Accidents are cleaned up without punishment. Puppies do not have full bladder capacity until about 12 months old.
- Loose-leash walkingLoose-leash walking means your dog walks beside you with a slack lead instead of pulling. It is taught with rewards: you stop the moment the lead goes tight, wait for slack, then reward and move on. Painful gear such as choke chains is not needed, and on busy Indian roads a calm, slack-lead dog is far safer.
- Positive reinforcementPositive reinforcement is a training method in which a pet gets something it likes, such as a treat, toy, play or praise, straight after doing a behaviour, so that behaviour becomes more likely. It is the core of reward-based training, which the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends for all dog training and behaviour problems.
- RecallRecall is a dog's trained response to come straight back to you when called, every time, whatever else is happening. It can save a dog's life near traffic. A reliable recall is built with high-value rewards, a dedicated cue word, short easy practice that gets slowly harder, and a long line for safety, never with punishment or shock collars.
- SocialisationSocialisation is the gentle, positive introduction of a young animal to the people, animals, sounds, places and handling it will meet as an adult. The main window is short: about the first three months for puppies and roughly two to seven weeks of age for kittens. Animals that miss it are more likely to be fearful later.
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Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- Dogs for Good (UK assistance dog charity): Family dog programme, advanced training: clicker training and shaping (PDF, December 2022) (opens in a new tab)
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: Position statement on humane dog training (2021) (opens in a new tab)
- RSPCA (England and Wales): How to train your dog and top training tips (opens in a new tab)