by Wynn Eisman

Created on: January 11, 2009

Of course your dog loves you, and their incredible loyalty means they will try to do anything to please you. But there seems little doubt that treat-based training, combined with the instant reward of a loaded clicker, brings much faster and, more accurate results than simply telling your dog that he's great.. And it's no surprise; what would you prefer if you were a dog?

Which begs the following questions: what is a clicker? How is it loaded? And, is it considered safe to point one at a dog?

I'll start with the clicker itself. This is simply a small, mechanical noisemaker of the type often seen, and definitely heard, at children's parties. They are available from all good (and bad) junk shops. A much sturdier version is available at all good pet supply stores. I would recommend that you purchase two good quality clickers as a clicker breakdown at the wrong time can really spoil your day.

"So, how is it loaded?" I hear you ask. And the short answer is: "With food." But the long answer is much more fun. For reward training to be effective, the desired behaviour must be rewarded within 2 seconds. Load the clicker by clicking and feeding your dog simultaneously. Use unaccustomed treats, but keep them quite small, 1cm cubes of cheese, for example, so that they can be consumed almost instantly. Do this, click...feed, click...feed, for about 20 repetitions. Later that day, when your dog is engrossed with chewing its favourite toy, click the clicker. If your dog turns to you, conditioning is complete. Remember, though, in these early stages particularly, to have a treat ready each time you click. Remember, too, to make a huge fuss of your dog after each training session and whenever it has worked particularly well for you. Training sessions can become intense and treats are not intended to take the place of love and respect between you and your pet.

A note on the treats you use. There is no need to buy expensive doggies lollies. These hurt your dog as much as your pocket. Instead, use food your dog needs anyway, like small (1cm) pieces cooked, lean chicken, red meat or steamed pumpkin. Try other healthy food such as sultanas. If you do use rich, shop-bought treats such as dried liver sticks, make the pieces even smaller and save these for those extra difficult sessions. Don't worry; your dog will work just as hard for a tiny bit of a favourite food as it would for a chunk and it'll be only moments before your dog wants to earn more.

Okay, you have a clicker, it's loaded,

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