Clicker Training Step-By-Step
Getting started with clicker training is simple. You need a clicker. They are inexpensive and are sold in many pet stores, at dog show vendor booths, or you can buy one online from a dog supply web site. Many pet stores, kennel clubs and animal shelters offer training classes. You can check with them to see if they teach clicker training and if they have clickers for sale.
If you are learning on your own, there are many good books and web sites which teach clicker training.
All you really need for clicker training is the clicker and something your dog likes, such as treats (lots of small ones so he won't fill up fast).
When you click the clicker, that's called "marking" the behavior. Be careful when you click. You don't want your dog to "mark" the wrong behavior. That's why timing is so important. If your dog gives you a High Five and you click, your dog learns that you like the High Five. But if your dog gives you the High Five and you wait ten seconds and click, your dog may think that you like for him to sit and wiggle his ears. So, make sure you are marking exactly what you intend to mark.
There are two ways to use the clicker. You can get your dog to do something you like and click. Or you can wait until your dog does something you like on his own and then click. For example, you can lure your dog into a sitting position with a piece of food, then click. Or, you can wait until your dog sits on his own and click. Either way will work to teach your dog to sit using the clicker.
Don't forget the reinforcement! When your dog does what you like and you click, that's when you give him his positive reinforcement -- often in the form of a treat. So, let's say that you wait until your dog sits on his own, you CLICK!, and then you immediately give your dog a treat. That's great! Now, after he has learned the behavior of sitting, just add the command "Sit" and you have taught your dog to Sit using the clicker. Reinforcement is about adding and taking away things that your dog likes as motivation. It is often about treats, but it is also about praise, going for walks, giving toys, and other things that your dog loves.
Tell your dog to "Sit!", he sits, and you give him his treat. Gradually, as your dog learns his new behavior, the clicker is no longer needed. The clicker is a teaching tool, but it's not needed for each behavior indefinitely.
Remember that like any other kind of training, clicker training requires practice. It is often easy and fun for a dog to learn this way, but it is still learning. Don't expect him to catch on to everything right away. And a dog is often only as good as his teacher! It's up to you to be consistent and to time your clicks and mark behavior so your dog knows what you want.
Once you have learned the basics of clicker training, you can not only teach your dog basic obedience, but you can also learn all kinds of tricks and all kinds of other behaviors. Clicker training is also excellent for handling behavior problems. It's a great approach to learning in general.