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Clicker Training

Wonder Puppy teaches clicker training!  The clicker is positive reinforcement training tool that has a button that makes a “click!” sound when you push it.  When the click is consistently followed by food, it becomes meaningful—your dog learns, “When I hear a click, a treat is on the way!"  This allows you to instantly mark good behavior, and the brain will quickly recognize the muscles that are acting each time the click happens. In turn, he/she will begin to enthusiastically repeat the behavior in hopes of more clicks and treats. These repetitions will turn into your dog's good habits! Then, you are ready to label the behavior with a word or hand signal so that you can ask for the behavior when you want it. Once your dog is easily responding to a signal, the clicker is no longer necessary in that situation and you can begin to lessen your treats, randomly rewarding only the best responses!


Clicker training is fun, reliable, and great way to improve your relationship with your puppy!  By working together as a team and providing healthy mental stimulation, you can create a trusting bond and decrease your dog's likelihood of developing temperament problems in the future. Originally used to train dolphins, clicker training has been successful at positively accelerating the learning process in many different species. In fact, it is now even being used to teach humans in sports, in the classroom, and more! Follow the instructions below and have fun trying it out with your puppy!

Step 1) Click & Reward the Behavior

At the exact moment a "good behavior" happens, "click!" and then give your dog a treat.
Helpful Tip: For the best clicker timing, think of your clicker as being a camera.  You are taking lots of snap shots ("click pics") of your dogs good behaviors, and then paying for the nice performance!

Example: to encourage "sit behavior"
Observe your dog for sitting behavior. When his/her rear end is landing on the floor, “Click!” and then toss a reward (C/R). Repeat this process until your dog is sitting quickly and repeatedly, so that you can predict when it is going to happen.

Step 2) Label the Behavior with a Signal (Cue)

Once your dog is enthusiastically repeating a behavior, you are ready to label the behavior with a verbal signal such as a word, or a physical signal such as a hand signal. These signals are called cues (a.k.a. commands) and will allow you to ask for the behavior when you want it. To label a behavior, present the signal just as your dog starts to do the behavior. This “pairs” the cue and the behavior together. It will take about 30-50 repetitions for the cue to become meaningful to your dog in a practiced situation. Then, you can begin to mix in another activity (such as playing tug) between repetitions of giving the cue. This will help your dog to distinguish the cue from other activities and cues.

Example: to label "sit behavior" with the word "SIT" 
Say the word “SIT” just as your dog begins to sit. Then, click and reward, like in Step 1. Do this for 30-50 repetitions. Then, start alternating about 30 seconds of playing tug or ball with your dog with about 30 seconds of saying and rewarding “SIT.” This will help your dog distinguish the word “SIT” from other activities and words that he/she knows. 

                                            *To learn more about clicker training, visit www.clickertraining.com*