Training a dog is one of the most crucial responsibilities of a pet parent. It can also one of the most complicated to learn. There are many different training ideologies, theories and techniques but, which is best? While the a consensus answer to that question is still evolving, one of the most effective methods to have in your repertoire is known as Clicker training. For more information on other theories behind modern dog training click here.
Clicker training is something that we utilize at Wise Woofs. It is a positive reinforcement training technique that was based on the findings of psychologist B.F. Skinner in the late 1940s and was expanded upon by others in the field. This training method was first popularized by marine mammal trainers in the 1960s and reintroduced to dog training by Marine Biologist Karen Pryor after making a connection between clicker training and the theory of classical conditioning. Pavlov’s theory of classical conditioning stated that when consistently associated with a reward a previously neutral stimulus can become associated with a reward and trigger a similar response. In the example of Pavlov’s dogs, this meant ringing a bell before giving the dogs their food. Over time, the dogs began to associate the bell with food and would begin to salivate upon hearing the bell even before food was present. We’ve recently gone beyond that understanding thanks to the findings of Neuroscience to identify dopamine as the driving motivator behind positive reinforcement. Based on these understandings we can explain why clicker training works helping us help dogs learn. In a humane way that creates positive associations to the outside world.
Clicker training involves directing the dog to perform a behavior. During initial stages of introducing a new behavior a click is made immediately as the dog completes the behavior and its handler then rewards the dog with a treat as fast as possible. The time between the click and the reward should be minimal since decreasing the wait time between the action, click, and treat helps our pups to make the associations faster. This allows them to learn that a certain cue is instructive to perform a specific behavioral action. In turn, this teaches the dog to recognize the sound of the clicker as an associated stimulus used for desired behavior in order to get a treat.
One example of an alternative training method built off of the same concept is saying “good boy/girl” to let your dog know they performed correctly. However, the benefit of a clicker over a verbal command is that a common phrase used in casual conversation outside of training contexts. This can lead to confusion for the dog, potentially interrupting training gains which have already been made. This is why it’s important to incorporate uncommon words and phrases into your training and the unique sound of the clicker is so effective. Strategies like this add up over time to help develop the 2-way communication between human and dog that we all desire.
A clicker can also aid in the learning process in the form of a secondary reinforcer once a dog associates the sound of the clicker with a food reward. As seen in Pavlov’s dogs experiment, once the dogs begin to associate the clicker with food the clicker will begin to elicit a similar response that a treat would. A core tenet to making the most out of this method is to immediately provide a treat following a click, allowing the dogs to make the association and learn the skill faster.
It is important to keep in mind that all dogs and people are different, and this is reflected in how they respond to different training methods. While clicker training is commonly seen as an effective training method, it is possible that other training procedures may work better for you and your dog. Or that clicker training is best for a large part of training, but not all. Main benefits of clicker training over others is that it relies heavily on positive reinforcement with little to no negative reinforcement and helps reinforce clear communication. In a dog’s body, positive reinforcement has been found to increase the concentration of dopamine, also known as the “happiness hormone.” Further increasing motivation to learn and perform behaviors we approve of. Contradictory to this, negative reinforcement and punishment have been found to increase the amount of cortisol, a stress hormone. To read more about how hormones can affect training outcomes click here.
Clicker training can help dogs develop an interest in training by making it fun and rewarding for both you and your dog. When performed properly, this form of training can become more like play for both parties. This playful aspect of the training makes it especially helpful in improving the bond between puppies and pet parents in addition to improving the effectiveness of early training. It is a widely used and effective training method that helps to improve the effectiveness of positive reinforcement by helping to remove potentially confusing verbal cues with a more easily discernible audible click.
Using this method will help build a healthy bond with your dog which is the basis for all training and the relationship you will share over a lifetime!
