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Clicker training is a training method used to develop and improve the behavior of dogs. With patience and consistency, it can be very successful in improving your dog's obedience. Clickers are available at most pet stores. There are three basic steps to clicker training.
Step #1: To introduce the clicker, wait for your dog to do something that you like, such as sitting or lifting his paw. Click the clicker the instant that he does this and then give him a treat. Repeat this every time that your dog does the behavior.
Step #2: Guide your dog using a treat held in front of his nose. Don't let him lick or eat the treat. Slowly move the treat from his nose backwards toward the top of his head to guide him into a sitting position. Click the clicker the instant that he sits and then give him the treat.
Step #3: This is taking step #1 one a bit further. For a behavior that you want your dog to end up doing, click and treat at the smallest hints of that behavior and then work in small steps toward that goal. For example, if you want to train your dog to turn in a circle, begin by clicking and treating every time that he turns his head to the right. Once he has that down, continue by only clicking and treating when he's turned his head a bit farther, then only when he's turned it all the way and taken a step to the right, then when he's turned his head and taken several steps and so on. Ultimately, you will get him to turn in a complete circle and you will only be clicking and treating once.
Once your dog has accomplished all three steps, start adding cue words. If you know that he's about to lift his paw, say ‘shake', or if he's about to bark, say ‘speak'. You can test the cue words and be sure to reward him with a click and treats if he does well.
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