Clicker Training for Dogs: Master Basic Training, Common Cues, and Fun Tricks in 15 Minutes a Day
Page 4
1Sit
2Down
3Stand
4Name/Attention/Eye Contact
5Leave It
6Stay
7Gentle
8Off
9Hand Target/Touch
10Drop
Reminders
Take your time working through each step of every exercise. Rushing through them will create confusion and build unwanted habits. Try to practice in a variety of environments so your dog can learn to generalize the behavior outside of training sessions.
Clicker Techniques
As you’re training with the clicker, remember to
1. keep your hands and body still as you cue your dog and wait for their response.
2. click to mark their behavior as correct.
3. reward. Try using a treat pouch if you find that you have too many things in your hands.
Several ways to teach your dog new behaviors are outlined in these exercises:
Capturing: reinforcing behavior that occurs naturally
Luring: reinforcing your dog’s behavior by using something desirable to guide their body
Shaping: reinforcing successive approximations toward a goal behavior
Luring
Luring is an easy method to learn and practice for both dog and trainer. You’ll only use the lure when first teaching a new behavior. Once your dog is offering a behavior consistently using the lure, you’ll add a visual and verbal cue to prompt them instead. The key to luring is to fade the lure as quickly as possible. If you use the lure for too long, the treat will become a part of the cue, and your dog will only respond if the treat is present.
To use luring to teach your dog a behavior, you will
1. lure your dog into the desired position,
2. mark their behavior as correct by clicking, then
3. reward.
EXERCISE 1
Sit
In this body position, your dog’s rear is on the ground, with their front legs extended so they’re sitting upright. Dogs are often taught to sit before any other behavior because it’s a calm position that promotes their safety. Your dog is in one spot; when they’re sitting, they can’t be jumping. Use a treat that excites your dog when they see or smell it. Move the treat slowly and allow your dog to nibble or lick at the treat as you move it.
DURATION 10 repetitions per day for 2 weeks
MATERIALS clicker, treats
How to lure Sit
1. Hold a treat in one hand and the clicker in the other.
2. Pinch the treat between your thumb and fingertips and hold it close to your dog’s nose (A).
3. Slowly guide your dog into the sit position by lifting the treat up and back over your dog’s head. This motion will cause their nose to tilt up and their rear to go down (B).
4. The moment your dog’s bottom is on the floor in the sit position, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
Fading the lure
1. Hold a treat in one hand and a second treat and the clicker in your other hand.
2. Use one hand to lure your dog to sit and put your hand with the clicker and treat behind your back.
3. Click to mark your dog’s behavior as correct the moment they sit.
4. Reward with a treat from the hand behind your back.
Adding a visual cue
1. Hold the clicker and treat in one hand behind your back.
2. Bring your empty hand, palm up, near your dog’s nose; lift it up and over their head, just as you did with the treat (C).
3. Click to mark your dog’s behavior as correct the moment they sit.
4. Reward with a treat from the hand not used to give the visual cue.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Hold the clicker and treat in one hand behind your back.
2. Say “Sit” once, and immediately after, show your dog the visual cue of a palm facing up, moving up.
3. When your dog sits, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: If your dog jumps up for the treat, hold it right to their nose so they don’t have a reason to jump. If they still jump, pull the treat away and start over.
EXERCISE 2
Down
In this body position, your dog is relaxed, belly and legs all on the ground. It’s a naturally calming position that allows a dog to travel by car or plane, run errands with their owners, sit outside at restaurants, and generally respond calmly to different stimuli. People expect your dog to settle when you’re out in public. Every dog learns this behavior a little differently. For some, pushing slightly toward them as you lure them down will cause their weight to shift, helping them to lie down. For others, slowly pull the treat a little in front of them as you guide them into the Down.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 3 weeks for verbal and visual cue
MATERIALSclicker, treats
How to lure Down
1. Hold a treat in one hand and the clicker in the other.
2. Pinch the treat between your thumb and fingertips, with your palm facing down (A).
3. Hold the treat close to your dog’s nose, using it to slowly guide their body lower to the ground (B).
4. The moment your dog’s belly and elbows are on the ground in a down position, click to mark their behavior as correct (C).
5. Reward with a treat.
Fading the lure
1. Hold a treat in one hand and a second treat and the clicker in your other hand.
2. Use one hand to lure your dog into a Down and put the other hand with the clicker and treat behind your back.
3. Click to mark your dog’s behavior as correct the moment they lie down.
4. Reward with a treat from the hand behind your back.
Adding a visual cue
1. Hold the clicker and treat in one hand behind your back.
2. Bring your empty hand, palm facing down, near your dog’s nose; slowly lower your hand toward the ground, just as you did with the treat (D).
3. Click to mark your dog’s behavior as correct the moment they lie down.
4. Reward with a treat from the hand not used to give the visual cue.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Without holding any treats, say “Down” once; immediately after, show your dog the visual cue of a palm facing down, moving down.
2. When your dog lies down, click to mark their behavior as correct.
3. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: Move the treat very slowly as you guide your dog into the Down.
EXERCISE 3
Stand
In this body position, your dog stands upright, with all four paws on the ground. Teaching your dog to stand up on all four legs on cue is a helpful skill for vet visits, grooming, heeling, and loose leash walking. When your dog learns Sit and Down well, they will start to guess what comes next. Adding a stand teaches them that more options exist. It’s also a safety tool: A Stand-Stay can prevent your dog from moving forward, which could save their life.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 4 weeks for visual and verbal cue
MATERIALSclicker, treats
How to lure Stand
1. Hold a treat in one hand and the clicker in the other.
2. Pinch the treat between your thumb and fingertips and hold the treat close to your dog’s nose.
3. Slowly guide your dog into the Stand by moving the treat away from their nose and toward you. This motion is similar to opening a drawer.
4. The moment your dog is standing on all four paws, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
Fading the lure
1. Hold a treat in one hand and a second treat and the clicker in your other hand.
2. Use one hand to lure your dog to Stand and put the hand with the clicker and treat behind your back.
3. Click to mark your dog’s behavior as correct when they stand.
4.
Reward with a treat from the hand behind your back.
Adding a visual cue
1. Hold the clicker and treat in one hand behind your back. Bring your other hand, palm facing up, near your dog’s nose.
2. Slowly pull your hand away from your dog’s nose toward yourself.
3. Click to mark your dog’s behavior as correct the moment they stand.
4. Reward with a treat from the hand not used to give the visual cue.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Without holding treats, say “Stand” once, then immediately show your dog the visual cue of a palm facing up, moving in toward you.
2. When your dog stands, click to mark their behavior as correct.
3. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: Hold the treat to your dog’s nose. Only move it away if they move their head forward as you move the treat. Keep your hand in line with your dog’s spine. If the treat goes too high, they will sit. If the treat goes too low, they will lie down.
EXERCISE 4
Name/Attention/Eye Contact
Getting and keeping your dog’s focus is key to successful training, and teaching your dog to make and maintain eye contact with you will lead to success. If your dog is looking at you, even in a high-distraction environment, they are more likely to respond to you. Eye contact tunes you in to each other and is key to leash walking. Take time to create a positive association with eye contact. It can be a way for your dog to politely say please for the things they want.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 4 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit
How to lure Eye Contact
1. Cue your dog to Sit.
2. Hold a treat to your dog’s nose and lift it up near your collarbone.
3. When your dog makes eye contact with you, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Reward with a treat.
5. Repeat at least 10 times before moving on.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Cue your dog to Sit.
2. Hold a treat to your dog’s nose and lift it up near your collarbone.
3. When your dog looks at you, say their name once.
4. Click to mark their behavior as correct and reward.
5. If they don’t look, use another sound, such as a kissy noise, to get their attention.
Fading the lure
1. Hold your hand with the treat away from your face.
2. Say your dog’s name one time.
3. When they make eye contact with you, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: Practice this cue in low-distraction environments before you bring it into high-distraction environments.
EXERCISE 5
Leave It
This is an impulse control behavior that asks the dog to leave something alone. Preventing your dog from going for something can keep them from picking up dangerous items on the ground. It’s also useful for teaching your dog how to work through hyperactivity and even aggression, and it can prevent frustration in both you and your dog. Keep your dog feeling confident by working at a level that they can handle. Mix in more difficult repetitions as they warm up. Eventually, you can use Leave It for other people, dogs, and items in addition to food.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 6 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit, Down
How to capture Leave It
1. Hold a treat in your fist. Let your dog investigate your fist (A).
2. Wait for your dog to move or look away from the treat (B).
3. The moment they stop going for the treat, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Reward with a treat.
5. When they become successful at this game, make it more challenging by opening up your hand to show them the treat. Reward when they don’t go for the treat (C).
Fading the lure
Work on getting the treat to your knee, to the floor, and to other surfaces without your dog going for it.
1. Cue your dog into a Sit or Down to help set them up for success.
2. Set an item on the ground.
3. Cue your dog to Leave It.
4. If they leave the item alone, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
Pro Tip: If your dog goes for the item, be quick to pick it up so they don’t get it.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Hold a treat in your fist or palm.
2. When your dog notices the treat, say “Leave it.”
3. Wait for your dog to move or look away from the treat.
4. The moment they look away, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
6. When your dog becomes successful at this game, make it more challenging by opening your hand to show them the treat.
7. Ask for your dog to look at you before you release them to the treat.
PRO TIP: Make Leave It a fun game for your dog. Instinctively, your dog will want to go for things, so you need to spend time building up this skill.
EXERCISE 6
Stay
This is a behavior that cues your dog to hold a position and not move until released. Stay is an important management and safety skill for you and your dog. If you can get your dog to stay in one spot, you can keep them from danger. Stay is useful for social situations and for daily home life, such as when you need to open the front door and don’t want your dog to run out.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 6 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit, Stand, or Down
Shaping Stay
1. Cue your dog into a Sit, Stand, or Down position.
2. Take a few steps away from your dog.
3. Come back to your dog.
4. If they remained in the same spot, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
If they get up, reset and start again. Try making it a bit easier for your dog during the next repetition.
Ways to make Stay more difficult
• Take a few steps in place.
• Take a few steps backward.
• Turn your back to your dog, then turn back around.
• Turn around again and walk away from your dog.
• Walk a circle around your dog.
• Make noise as you walk away.
• Roll a ball past your dog while they are in a Stay.
• Have a person walk by while your dog is in a Stay.
• Have a dog walk by while your dog is in a Stay.
Adding a visual cue
1. Show your dog the visual cue of your index finger pointing upward.
2. Put your hand down and walk away from your dog.
3. Come all the way back to them. If they stay, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Release by saying “Okay” and tossing a treat.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Say “Stay” and show your dog the visual cue of your index finger pointing upward.
2. Put your hand down and walk away from your dog.
3. Come all the way back. If your dog stays, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Release by saying “Okay” and toss a treat.
PRO TIP: Keep your dog feeling successful. Work on repetitions that are at a comfortable level. Every once in a while, sprinkle in a repetition with added criteria. Working in this way will prevent frustration. Find a level where your dog can offer correct responses.
EXERCISE 7
Gentle
This exercise teaches your dog how to take treats politely from your hand. This skill is absolutely necessary so your dog doesn’t hurt you or anyone else. Your dog shouldn’t be given a treat if they’re chomping at your hand like a shark. They need to gently lick or nibble at the treat without hurting your skin. This is an especially important skill if your dog will spend time around childr
en.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 1 week
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit
Shaping Gentle
1. Cue your dog into a Sit.
2. Hold a treat between your thumb and index finger, and slowly bring the treat toward your dog’s mouth.
3. If they open their mouth wide to get the treat, pull your hand away.
4. When they offer a smaller opening and a gentler approach to taking the treat, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with the treat.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Say “Gentle” and deliver a treat to your dog.
2. If they snap at the treat, pull it away and try again.
3. If they go to take the treat politely, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Reward with the treat.
PRO TIP: Try to move your hand in a way that does not tempt your dog to bite it. For most dogs, moving slowly is less appealing. Try to be calm when working on this exercise to encourage the behavior you want to see in your dog.
EXERCISE 8
Off
Off gives you a force-free way to cue your dog to take their paws off something, such as a table or counter, or to hop down. If you were in your dog’s shoes, wouldn’t you try to snatch delicious food off the counter? Help your dog understand what they should do: behaviors that you like. At first, use the treat to lure your dog to put their paws onto the object you’re working with, but it’s important to stop encouraging them onto counters, etc., as soon as possible. Wait for a moment when your dog jumps up naturally to practice this skill.