Clicker for dogs: application during training. Owner feedback

Clicker for dogs is a simple and convenient device for training and education. The device received its name because of the characteristic sound that it emits when pressed. The device can help correct the unwanted behavior of the animal and train new teams.

What it is?

Clicker for training dogs used relatively recently. In Russia, this method of training has not yet become widespread, but there is interest in it, and the device can be purchased at every major pet store. But at home, in the US, this method is considered extremely effective.

The very idea of using a certain sound during training came to the dolphin trainers. A whistle was used as a sound signal . This method was adopted by the cynologists. The pioneer of the clicker training is Karen Pryor.

The clicker is a small box with a metal tab inside. Pressing the tab causes a click (click). This is a simple device, it does not emit any rays, does not produce ultrasound and does not beat the dog with electric current. No negative impact on the animal! Nevertheless, the use of the device is extremely effective!

What for?

Clicker for dogs will simplify the training of the animal to everything necessary. The principle of the device is to encourage the desired behavior immediately at the time it is committed. Therefore it is very important to give the signal on time. Then the animal will clearly be aware of what it is praised for.

Clicker for dogs allows to improve mutual understanding between the pet and the owner. A click at the moment of the desired action allows the dog to understand exactly what the host likes.

Another plus method - the dog itself takes the initiative, the impact of the owner is reduced to a minimum. This allows the dog to better remember the action. Clicker teaches the dog to understand the owner, to think, develops the intelligence of the animal.

Click-training completely eliminates punishment, it works only on positive encouragement. If the dog does something wrong, then it's not punishment but ignoring.

What you can learn

You already know how to use clicker for dogs. And for what cases will it be needed? What you can teach a dog with the device:

1. Good manners.
2. Agility and offense.
3. Standard commands.
4. Prepare for the exhibition, competitions, hunting.

The clicker is used even for training service dogs. It will suit both a very small puppy and an adult animal. How effective is a clicker for dogs? Reviews of dog handlers say that the method works and is getting more and more widespread.

How to use the device correctly

As with any device, the clicker should be able to use correctly. To achieve good results, you need to carefully study the technique and well imagine what exactly you need to do and at what time.

1. The sound of a click (click) should be associated with a pleasant - delicacy, verbal praise, affection, a walk.
2. Training should start with the simplest - encourage the fact that the dog came up, stretched his paw, touched his hand.
3. Use only one click. If you want to praise the dog more than usual - increase the portion of the treat, but not the number of clicks.
4. Training should be regular. It is better to practice every day for 10 minutes than one hour once a week.
5. Do not punish the dog for unwanted behavior, make the main emphasis on the desired. For example, to teach us to observe silence, we do nothing during barking, but we praise for silence.
6. Clicker for dogs will help to master a variety of activities. For example, you like when the dog gets up on its hind legs - click the clicker. He will quickly understand that you like it.

What can replace the clicker for dogs?

It is better to purchase a device for industrial production. Its price is low - from 100 rubles. But if you could not find the device in stores, then you can make a clicker for dogs with your own hands. As an alternative, you can use an automatic ballpoint pen. But remember then that this pen can not be written and clicked just like that. In everyday life, the dog should not hear the sound.

As a clicker, you can use a piezoelectric element from the lighter. It also creates a characteristic click. How to make a clicker for dogs with their own hands? Just take the metal cover from the jar with baby food. When you press the center, it also produces a distinctive sound.

For dogs with poor hearing, the click-training system is also suitable. It is necessary to replace the sound with another signal, for example, with the flashlight light.

When to enter a voice command

You do not have to carry a clicker for dogs all the time. After the action is mastered, the dog will perform it without a special sound signal, on the voice command. As a reward, use a treat or caress.

Before you enter a voice command, you need to achieve the action with a click. And only after that, enter voice guidance. First, the animal must understand that it is encouraged for the fact that it performs the command "to sit." Then comes the understanding that she will receive the award only if she executes the voice command "sit."

Types of clickers

The simplest option is a clicker for dogs with a plate. Owners say that the plate should be pressed only with the thumb, which is inconvenient in the winter, when the hands in mittens or gloves. But the device makes a loud sound, which is audible on the street. There are clickers with the ability to adjust the volume, many dog owners like this feature of the device. The simplest version with a plate costs about 100 rubles.

Button clicker for dogs is easy to press with any finger, palm. According to the owners of animals, it is much more convenient. But its sound is a little quieter, which complicates the training on the street. If you prefer to train at home, then the button clicker will do the best. He will not frighten the dog with a loud sound and irritate the household. There are push-button devices with enough loud sound, but their price is higher - from 270 rubles.

There is a clicker for dogs with a special sliding pointer (target) - Clik-Stik. This adaptation gives the trainer more opportunities. You can teach the dog to touch the ball with his nose, go into the cage, go near. The clicker with the tagget is indispensable in the preparation for the exhibition, it is noted by many dog breeders-professionals. The price of this device is from 700 rubles.