Clicker Training for Dogs: Master Basic Training, Common Cues, and Fun Tricks in 15 Minutes a Day
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4. Reward with a treat.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Say the verbal cue “Bow.”
2. Bow or curtsy to your dog.
3. When they Bow back, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: You can try to shape this behavior by marking and rewarding any motion that your dog makes closer to the ground. You can start by dropping a treat and marking the moment your dog’s head dips down.
EXERCISE 35
Sit Pretty
Sit Pretty is a trick that teaches your dog to lift up their front paws while keeping their rear on the ground, so they look like they’re sitting upright. It’s a great pose for photos and is a core strengthener. This trick is especially difficult for puppies because their muscles aren’t fully developed. Only practice this trick a couple of times a day until your dog has built up more strength.
DURATION 2 to 5 repetitions per day for 5 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit
How to lure Sit Pretty
1. Cue your dog to Sit (A).
2. Hold a treat between your thumb and fingertips in one hand, and your clicker in the other.
3. Bring your hand with the treat, palm down, close to your dog’s nose. Slowly lift the treat an inch or so above your dog’s nose. This will cause them to lift their upper body (B).
4. When they lift their front paws while keeping their rear on the ground, click to mark their behavior as correct (C).
5. Reward with a treat.
Fading the lure
1. Hold the clicker and a treat in one hand, and a treat in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit.
3. Bring your hand with just the treat, palm down, close to your dog’s nose. Slowly lift the treat an inch or so from your dog’s nose. They will lift their body to try to get to the treat.
4. When they lift their front paws while keeping their rear on the ground, click to mark their behavior as correct. (Slowly ask your dog to sit more upright.)
5. Reward with the treat from your other hand.
Refining the visual cue
1. Hold the clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit.
3. Hold your palm with curled fingertips close to your dog’s nose and lift it an inch above their nose.
4. When your dog’s front paws lift off the ground, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Hold the clicker and a treat in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Say the verbal cue “Sit pretty.”
3. Show your dog the visual cue of a palm with curled fingertips moving up above your dog’s head.
4. When their front paws lift off the ground and they are sitting upright, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: Do not overwork your dog when teaching this trick. It may take several months for them to be able to sit up straight.
EXERCISE 36
Head Tilt
This trick will teach your dog to tilt their head on cue. The movement in this trick is small and quick, so you’ll need to be ready with your clicker. When teaching this trick, play around with different noises. When you find a noise that makes your dog tilt their head, stick with it. Try a sound with an ascending pitch, or ask a question.
DURATION 5 repetitions per day for 4 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit
Capturing the head tilt
1. Hold the clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit.
3. Make an unusual sound, such as a squeaky kissy noise.
4. The moment your dog tilts their head to the side, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Hold the clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit.
3. Say the cue word “Tilt.”
4. Make a squeaky kissy noise.
5. The moment your dog tilts their head to the side, click to mark their behavior as correct.
6. Reward with a treat.
7. Omit the noise and only use the word.
Adding a visual cue
1. Hold the clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit.
3. Say the cue word “Tilt.”
4. Tilt your head to the side.
5. The moment your dog tilts their head to the side, click to mark their behavior as correct.
6. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: If your dog doesn’t tilt their head, try using a squeaky kissy sound or asking them a question. Give them 10 seconds or so to think through the cue.
EXERCISE 37
Pose for a Photo
Calling all dog models! Getting your dog to stay still and look at the camera can feel like a nearly impossible task, but teaching them to pose for the camera on cue will make taking their picture a breeze. Practice each step until your dog is offering the behavior consistently. Start with shorter duration repetitions, and gradually increase the amount of time that you ask them to look at the camera.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 3 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats, chair
CUES USEDSit, Stay
Luring the pose
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit and Stay.
3. Set a treat on a chair.
4. When your dog looks at the treat, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
Adding a visual cue
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit and Stay.
3. Set a treat on a chair.
4. Point to the treat with your pointer finger.
5. When your dog looks at the treat, click to mark their behavior as correct.
6. Reward with a treat.
7. Try with a camera on the chair with a treat in front of it.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit and Stay.
3. Set a treat on a chair.
4. Say the verbal cue “Camera,” then point to the camera/treat.
5. When your dog looks at the treat, click to mark their behavior as correct.
6. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: If your dog is nervous about the sound of the camera, practice five repetitions daily where you make the camera sound and then reward. This will pair the sound of the camera with good things.
EXERCISE 38
Up
Up teaches your dog to stand up tall on their hind legs. This trick is a crowd pleaser. It’s important to practice this behavior sparingly so you don’t encourage your dog to jump up when you don’t want them to. Up is the foundation for more advanced tricks, such as Dance. Teach this trick on a nonslippery surface, like carpet. Check with your vet before you teach this trick to your dog.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 3 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit, Sit Pretty
How to lure Up
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and treats in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit Pretty.
3. Bring the treat up a few inches above their nose.
4. When they extend their back legs all the way so they’re standing, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
Supported version with arm
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and treats in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit Pretty.
3. When they’re sitting pretty, bring the treat up a few inches above their nose to lure them to stand up on their hind legs. Present yo
ur arm out for their paws to rest on.
4. Click when your dog is on their hind legs with their paws on your arm.
5. Reward with a treat.
Adding a visual cue
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit Pretty, then lift your hand even higher and extend your fingers above their nose.
3. When they stand up on their hind legs, click to mark their behavior as correct.
4. Reward with a treat.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit.
3. Say the verbal cue “Up,” then bring your palm with extended fingers several inches above your dog’s head.
4. When they stand up on their hind legs, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
PRO TIP: Don’t ask your dog to stand up for longer than 5 seconds, to prevent injury while they build up their muscles.
EXERCISE 39
Dance
Pawty on! Teaching your dog to dance on cue is sure to wow your guests. This trick is truly adorable. Your dog may need time to build up the strength to dance for more than a couple of seconds. Only practice 5 times a day to keep your dog feeling excited to offer the behavior. Practice on a nonslippery surface, such as carpet.
DURATION 5 repetitions a day for 4 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDUp, Sit
Luring Dance
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and treats in the other.
2. Cue your dog to stand up on their hind legs by saying “Up” and lifting a flat palm facing them above their head.
3. When your dog is up, hold a treat to their nose and slowly move it forward or backward to encourage them to hop.
4. When they hop on their hind legs, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
6. As they offer this behavior more consistently, ask them to offer several hops before clicking.
Adding a visual cue
1. Hold your clicker and a treat in one hand and treats in the other.
2. Cue your dog to stand up on their hind legs by saying “Up” and lifting a treat above their nose.
3. When your dog is up on their hind legs, take a step toward your dog to encourage them to hop. Slowly wave your arms slightly to show them a visual cue.
4. When they hop on their hind legs, click to mark their behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat from the hand not used to give the visual cue.
6. As they offer this behavior more consistently, ask them to offer several hops before clicking.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and nothing in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit. Say the verbal cue “Dance.”
3. Cue your dog to stand on their hind legs with “Up” and then lift your palm from their nose up above their head.
4. When your dog is up on their hind legs, take a step toward your dog to encourage them to dance by slowly waving your arms.
5. When they hop on their hind legs, click to mark their behavior as correct.
6. Reward with a treat.
7. As they offer this behavior more consistently, ask them to offer several hops before clicking.
PRO TIP: Mark and reward the moment your dog hops for the first few repetitions before you add more duration.
EXERCISE 40
Catch
Catch is an engaging and amusing activity for both dog and handler. You can teach your dog to catch frisbees, balls, treats, and other items. Catching is more natural for some dogs than others. Encourage your dog to keep trying if they’re having a hard time. Help your dog make the connection between opening their mouth and catching the treat from a short distance before you try from a longer distance.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 4 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats, ball or other toy
CUES USEDSit
How to teach Catch
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and treats in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit.
3. Slowly arc the treat toward your dog. When you notice their mouth opening as you bring the treat toward them, click to mark their behavior as correct, and release the treat into their mouth.
4. Gradually add a bit of distance by releasing the treat farther away from their mouth.
Adding a verbal cue
1. Hold your clicker in one hand and treats or a toy in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit.
3. Say the verbal cue “Catch.”
4. Slowly arc the treat or toy toward your dog. When you notice their mouth opening as you bring the treat close to their mouth, click to mark their behavior as correct, and release the treat into their mouth.
5. Gradually add a bit of distance by releasing the treat farther away from their mouth.
PRO TIP: Mark the moment your dog opens their mouth to catch. Once your dog understands the behavior, you’ll only click correct responses.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Games
PLAY IS ONE of life’s greatest joys. Finding creative ways to play with your dog will deepen your bond in a meaningful, joyous way. Games are a suitable activity for dogs of all ages, sizes, breeds, and training levels. Many games tap into your dog’s natural instincts to chase, find, tug, and explore. Games are safe and entertaining, making them a great way for kids to interact with their dogs. Playing with your dog will also build confidence and communication skills. Dogs are talented problem-solvers and enjoy interactive activities.
41Hide-and-Seek
42Find It
43Cup Game
44Obstacle Course
45Pac-Man
46Nose Target
47Paw Target
48Get It/Fetch
49Get a Toy
50Silly to Settle
EXERCISE 41
Hide-and-Seek
Dogs are wonderful playmates for hide-and-seek. They have natural instincts to search and find, making them great at this game. Hide-and-seek is perfect for kids and dogs to play together. When you’re first playing, you can give your dog a few hints by making a noise or calling them by name. Your dog can follow your smell to a certain extent, so you can give them some time to search for you before you give them a clue.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 3 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit, Stay, Touch
How to teach Hide-and-Seek
1. Hold a treat in one hand and your clicker in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit and Stay (A).
3. Walk a few steps away from them and say, “Okay, seek, touch” and then present your hand for your dog to target.
4. When their nose touches your hand, click to mark your dog’s behavior as correct.
5. Reward with a treat.
If your dog gets up from the Stay at any point, reset. After 10 repetitions, fade out the word “touch” and only use the word “seek.”
How to add distance to Hide-and-Seek
1. Cue your dog to Sit and Stay.
2. Walk out of your dog’s line of sight and hide (B).
3. When you’re ready to release your dog, say, “Okay, seek.”
4. When your dog finds you and touches your hand with their nose, click to mark their behavior as correct (C).
5. Reward with a treat.
If your dog needs help, say their name to give them an auditory clue.
PRO TIP: Hide where your dog will be able to find you, such as behind a couch, a door, or a chair.
EXERCISE 42
Find It
Scent games tap into your pup’s incredible ability to smell. Your dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times better than yours. Sniffing is naturally stimulating and relaxing. Watching your dog search for the treats is an enjoyable process to observe. Finding tre
ats can keep your dog busy while burning some mental and physical energy.
DURATION10 repetitions per day for 3 weeks
MATERIALSclicker, treats
CUES USEDSit, Stay, Leave It
How to teach Find It
1. Hold a treat in one hand and your clicker in the other.
2. Cue your dog to Sit and Stay.
3. Set a treat on the floor and cue your dog to Leave It.
4. When you’re ready to release them, say, “Okay, find it,” and point toward the treat.
5. When your dog eats the treat, click to mark their behavior as correct. The reward is the treat that your dog finds.
Hiding the treat
1. Cue your dog to Sit and Stay.
2. Walk away and hide the treat (start easy).
3. When you’re ready, release your dog by saying, “Okay, find it.”
4. If your dog needs help, you can give them a hint or point toward the treat.
5. When they find the treat, click to mark their behavior as correct.
6. The reward is the treat that your dog finds.
PRO TIP: You can also try this game with a food toy so the object they are looking for is bigger.
EXERCISE 43
Cup Game
This is an engaging and clever game to play with your dog. You hide a treat under an overturned cup, mix it around with other cups, and then send your dog to guess which cup has a treat under it. At first, you’ll need to spend time teaching your dog to knock over the cup with their nose or paw to get to the treat. Be sure to teach this skill before adding more cups.