Clicker training puppies is an effective training method for training dogs to learn desired actions like going potty outside or learning a new obedience command. Clicker training is based on positive reinforcement in which you reward your dog for performing desired behavior instead of punishing them for doing something bad or wrong.

When a desired behavior is performed by the dog, a click sound is produced when using clicker training which positively reinforces the desired behavior. As this occurs you give the puppy a treat as an award. A clicker, a small box you can buy at a pet store, produces the click or you can also just use your vocal cords.

If you give your dog a treat and make the click sound every time he sits in training, he will begin to associate the two things together. The advantage of using a click is it gives your dog a very clear signal that he can associate with the behavior or action he just performed.  With verbal commands like “sit” you will not get the same consistency of sound as you will with a click which sounds the same every time it is made.

Click Here to Discover The Ultimate Puppy Training Book.

Clicker Training Puppies Basics

Clicker training puppies is a flexible training method that can be used to teach your dog many desired behaviors. Potty training combined with clicker training can illustrate how the training process works. Pick a spot that is the permanent place that you want your puppy to use for going potty during potty training. Every time you take your puppy out to go potty, always go out the same door and to the same spot in order to train him.

Watch for you puppy to start going potty. Right as he is finishing up, make the clicking sound.  Make sure you don’t click until after he is completely done or he might not finish. Give the puppy a treat after you click. Timing the click is crucial in getting your puppy to associate the click with going potty and being positively reinforced with the treat.

The advantage to using a distinct sound like a click is that it will make an impression on the puppy and he will start to associate it with going potty outside and getting rewarded with a treat.  If he goes potty while indoors he does not hear the click and does not receive a treat.

Clicker Training Puppies Benefits

Clicker training puppies is advantageous in that it builds up desired behaviors by using clear signals and positive reinforcement.  This helps to take a lot of the ambiguity out of the communication which happens frequently between humans and animals.  To properly train your puppy to perform desired behaviors, it isn’t necessary to punish him. You and the puppy can both find that training is rewarding and fun.

Puppies have very short attention spans, so clicker training puppies should only done for short amounts at a time. Don’t go more than about five minutes at a time with a clicker training session. You can also use clicks for teaching obedience commands like stay, come, sit and down in addition to potty training. Teaching obedience commands and potty training use the same steps.

The sit command can be taught, but you need to wait and watch for him to sit.  Just as he is about to finish sitting, make a click and reward him by giving him a treat.  As soon as it is clear that he has learned to associate sitting down with the click and getting a reward, begin introducing the verbal command of “sit” and then you can eventually stop using the click and he will sit with just the verbal command.

Click here to read dog training book reviews