Clickers and Conditioned Reinforcers

Introduction

The clicker is a great tool to teach your dog new behaviors. It has a very distinctive sound that
dogs can easily identify with and pay very special attention to. Another benefit of using the clicker is that, unlike the sound of your voice, which can vary slightly depending on a number of factors, it makes the same sound every time, which is very beneficial in dog training. Before you can use the clicker in your obedience training sessions, you need to teach your dog what the “click” means and why hearing it is such a rewarding thing for him. 

The clicker, in dog training terminology, is used as a Conditioned Reinforcer. Conditioned reinforcers are things (sounds,objects, words, behaviors) that initially have no real relevance to your dog; however, after some simple training associations, they will become very meaningful to him. They will tell the dog that he has made the correct choice and he will be rewarded for it.

Think of conditioned reinforcers as bridges. They connect behaviors you want your dog to perform (for example, sit) to the reward the dog gets by doing those behaviors (sitting). By clicking at the exact moment your dog sits down, he knows exactly when he’s done the correct thing to get his reward. This allows both of you to communicate in a commonly understood “language” and work towards common goals in your training.
 
In order for the clicker to have some real meaning in the “Sit” example above, we have to associate some positive value to it. Initially, it means nothing to the dog. It’s just an object made of plastic and metal that makes a noise.

How the clicker does become meaningful to your dog, is by pairing the sound it makes to something that your dog considers rewarding. The clicker then takes on a new meaning. It has life and can be used in all positive training sessions with your dog. Your dog will know whenever he hears that distinctive “click”, he’s done something you approve of and will receive a reward.

The rewarding items the clicker gets paired with can be anything your dog considers rewarding. They can be food objects, toys, praise and petting, etc.  Basically anything your dog really likes can be used; however, the dog must set the value on the items, not the human.

To get the most bang for your buck (or your click), food is an excellent choice to start with. Food is a necessity of life, readily available, and most dogs will work pretty diligently for it. It’s great to use in training because you can very quickly and continuously use it to reward your dog without having to take it back from him, as is the case with using toys. This keeps the training sessions short, rewarding and fun.

So, to kick-start your clicker training and give the clicker some real meaning to your dog, you are going to pair or associate the sound of the click to the rewards you have chosen. You aren’t training your dog to DO anything at this point. You are simply building power into the clicker. You’ll find that you’ll have your dog’s undivided attention after doing just a handful of reps with him. This is actually a nice side-effect of using to the clicker.

Kick-Startin’ Your Clicker

• Step One – Get approximately ten very soft and small (pea-sized) food treats your dog really likes.
• Step Two – In a non-distracting environment (living room, family room, kitchen, etc..), place the treats where you can get to them quickly, but where your dog can’t. Make sure the treats aren’t distracting the dog.
• Step Three – At random, click the clicker and immediately toss a treat to the dog. Make sure you click before you give the dog the treat. Your dog can be doing anything when you click, just as long as he isn’t doing anything you consider unacceptable, such as barking, jumping, biting, etc.. As long he is neutral or performing some type of acceptable behavior, keep clicking.
• Step Four – Try to wait, at times, for him to direct his attention to something else before you click and treat. Watch TV for a few minutes, read a book, try to ignore him a little so he forgets a little bit about the clicker. Then click again. This really builds clicker power. Also try to make the dog do something different each time you click and treat. Just wait, the dog will do something different, if not, you can make something change.

Here’s a sample routine:

• Wait two seconds – CLICK/TREAT
• Wait ten seconds – CLICK/TREAT
• Dog walks across floor – CLICK/TREAT – Wait ten seconds
• Dog looks at you – CLICK/TREAT – Wait five seconds
• Dog looks away – CLICK/TREAT – Wait fifteen seconds

Perform this about ten times. That’s one training session. Try to do this at least twice a day. If you can squeeze in 3 sessions, great!

Again, you really want to keep the dog guessing as to when the clicking sound will happen. So really try to fake him out and randomize your clicks. Move around the room. Ignore your dog. Go about your business as if the dog wasn’t even there and keep clicking. Go in different rooms and practice. Just make sure you’re dog isn’t doing anything inappropriate or you will wind-up rewarding that inappropriate behavior.

You will notice after doing a few sessions of this (probably even sooner) that your dog will catch on and begin to direct his attention towards you whenever he hears the click. Great Job!!! That means that your clicker kick-startin’ is really working.

Once you notice the dog is really catching on to the clicker, change the reward from food; to petting; to food; to a favorite toy; to going for a walk when he turns his attention towards the clicker. You want to associate all types of rewards to the clicker. Remember to keep mixing in the food though.

Also, vary the time in between the click and the reward. In the beginning of clicker kick-startin’, the reward immediately follows the click. Once the dog has the idea, try the following routine during your practice sessions:

• CLICK – wait a half second, then give reward
• CLICK – wait one full second then give reward
• CLICK – give reward immediately
• CLICK – wait two seconds then give reward

Try to keep the delay to a second or two, three seconds at most. We want the dog to make an association between the clicker and the reward. Waiting too long before the reward gives the dog a chance to perform an inappropriate activity after the click.

Keep practicing. Just always make sure that some sort of reward follows the click. Keep the clicker charged!!

Useful Clicker Food for Thought!

Try to factor in the amount of food you are using for rewards during your training sessions into your dog’s daily food rations. This will reduce the chance of you having an overweight pet.

Because of the distinct, consistent sound of the clicker, dogs will identify with it quicker and it will help build behaviors faster.

If your dog is afraid of the clicker, try muffling it a little in your pocket or try wrapping a paper towel around it. Little by little you can get your dog used to the sound it makes. Some clickers even have different clicking sound levels.

If your dog isn’t interested in the rewards you’re giving him, try other rewards. Experiment to find something he really likes.

Practice your clicker timing: Drop a tennis ball or one of the dog’s toys on the ground and try to time your click exactly as it hits the ground. Timing is key for training. Try tossing the ball to a friend and time your click as soon as it hits his or her hands.

Practice makes perfect!!!

Why Training Your Dog is So Important

We love our dogs. There’s no doubt about it. Each year, responsible and caring dog owners, spend millions and millions of dollars to feed, entertain, pamper and provide excellent health-care for their beloved dogs. For many people, almost nothing is too extravagant, or expensive for their dogs.

Another area where these responsible and caring pet owners are spending their hard-earned dollars and precious time on is proper training, especially with puppies. These folks understand that providing quality training for their dog or puppy is one of the most important things they can possibly do for their dog in his or lifetime. Proper training, preferably as early on in the relationship as possible, can produce a wealth of benefits that will carry through the dog’s life and make it easier for him to become a beloved member of his family unit.

Why Train?

Training activities can help improve your dog’s attention skills and impulse control abilities, and can reduce anxiety and frustration. Dogs appear to be more focused on their owners and comfortable in their surroundings. The net result is a sense of security and trust where they are able to let their guard down, because they know that they are safe from harm.

Through the lessons they learn in their training exercises, dogs learn to cope more effectively with conflict or emotionally stressful situations. They learn to have more confidence and are able approach difficult challenges with the feeling that they can be successful, which can reduce anxiety, frustration and fear. Through training, they also learn what is truly expected of them, which allows them to behave and live according to the guidelines that we’ve set forth.

Also, trained dogs require fewer restrictions, and are integrated more in the family. They receive more attention and interaction from family members, friends and strangers both inside the home and out. Let’s face it, we all know how frustrating it can be to go to a friend or family member’s home and have their out-of-control, untrained dog jump all over us, bite at our shoes or clothes, or even just bark, seemingly forever.

The Untrained Dog

If it’s frustrating for us on the receiving end, think of how embarrassing it probably is for the owner of the dog. If he or she is like most people with dogs fitting that description, they’re usually very uncomfortable with the thought of having company over, and will certainly put the dog away to another area of the house where they don’t have to worry about him or her.

The dog, in reality, just never really learned the proper way to meet and greet people, and only does what’s natural to him. He jumps out of excitement and looks to greet each new guest in his traditional canine manner of greeting. The more he jumps, the more he’s banished from guests. The more he’s banished, the more the excitement grows each time he sees a guest, which again results in further banishment. Life becomes a vicious circle of excitement and frustration. Such is the life of an untrained, impulsive dog.

Untrained dogs generally lack proper attention skills, are insecure, and, as stated above, act more on impulse than dogs who feel relaxed and secure because of their training. Dogs who behave poorly and are destructive, usually wind-up ruining more than just physical items. They destroy the bond they have with their families, and increase the chances that they will be removed from those families. These dogs are often sent off to secluded areas of the home or yard, or even shelters.

Roughly, each year in the United States alone, over 9 million animals are euthanized. The sad fact is that, in many of these cases, a large number of these dogs die unnecessarily in shelters as the direct result of unresolved behavior problems.

Additionally, large numbers of seemingly healthy companion dogs are also euthanized by veterinarians because of their intolerable behavior problems. Untrained puppies become untrained adult dogs. The seemingly harmless and “cute” behavior “quirks” that we usually tend to tolerate or overlook during the puppy stage can be become truly impossible or even dangerous to deal with when the dog is an adult. This can, in turn, cause a very anxious and stress-filled environment for the dog and his entire family.

It’s very easy to see, from the discussion points thus far, why it’s so critical for all dogs to receive the proper amount of quality training from their owners. However, as responsible and caring dog owners, aside from the obvious benefits of having a well-trained companion by your side, you get some very well-deserved and valuable fringe-benefits as well.

Take an Active Role in Your Dog’s Training

Owners, who play an active part in their dog’s training, gain a lot of useful experiences and valuable canine life lessons in the process. They become more observant and more in-tune to their dog’s behavior. They learn to identify, not-so-apparent, details about their dog’s behavior, so they are more equipped to handle issues or problems that may arise in the future. Owners will learn how to appreciate a dog’s biological and emotional requirements, so they are able to provide him with the necessary things in life to make him a healthy and happy member of the household. This, in turn, has positive ramifications for everybody whom comes into contact with the dog.

Instead of always using punishments or corrections to train the dog to behave properly, owners learn more effective and productive forms of communication and training to get their dog behave properly. Owners also develop a more informed estimation of their dog’s learning abilities and limitations. This provides the owner with a better understanding of the concepts and skills the dog can associate with more quickly, as well as those he may some difficulty with and take a little longer to comprehend.

All of these benefits lead to a better relationship and serve to strengthen the bond between owner and dog. They build understanding, communication, and mutual respect for one another. Training also builds leadership. Effective training will help your dog defer and comply with you to become a successful companion.

To summarize, training provides all of the following amazing benefits:

• A foundation of communication between owner and dog
• Enhances the human-dog relationship
• Promotes affection and mutual appreciation
• Provides the owner with effective management and control skills
• Builds confidence and trust
• Promotes relaxation and sense of well-being
• Enhances social adjustment, cooperation and competence
• Improves the dog’s attention and impulse-control abilities

In short, obedience training benefits everyone!