Clicker Training
vs Reward Training

Clicker Training
A clicker is a conditioned (secondary) reinforcer, a learned signal that is associated with an unconditioned reinforcer (unconditioned reinforcer = food play etc).  Initially it is fairly meaningless signal to the dog, but something that it learns to associate with the arrival of a reward.

Conditioned (secondary) reinforces are paired with primary reinforcers.  After a few pairings the secondary reinforcer takes on a pleasant association.  The secondary reinforcer is a signal that the primary reinforcer is on the way.

Why use the Clicker as a
Secondary Reinforcer?
The sound is unique and stands out from all other sounds in the environment.  It is a new sound, so it doesn’t have any previous bad associations. The click is rapid and faster than verbal praise. It marks the behaviour at the spilt second it happens.  The clicker itself is small, easy to carry and inexpensive. The clicker rewards the behaviour at the spilt second it happens, praise maybe to slow and the dog may have moved on to something else by the time you have said “good boy”.

The clicker tells the dog the reward is coming, and that it has made a good attempt at that behaviour. The dog will try to make you click, and will try hard to please you.  In an experienced dog the click means the game is on. The clicker gives an ego boost, and animals are reinforced by their own success in manipulating their environment. They enjoy making you click and will work hard to train you to do so.

Reward Training
A reward is something, which happens after an act has occurred, a form of payment for a job well done.  You need to have good timing to be able to get the most out of this method.  If your timing is out you could well be rewarding something you do not want.  In some cases the subject does not always link the receiving of the reward with the act that earned it, because a delayed reward becomes an unconnected reward.

Both of the methods above are kind and fair and I have used both.  The clicker allows attention to detail to a greater degree than the reward only based method.  I found teaching tricks such as the spin relatively easy to do using just reward.  However to teach something like the bow I used a clicker, and it helped to get the precise movement I wanted more effectively.

Not all trainees have been completely at ease with the clicker, holding the lead and a clicker is just too awkward for some people and difficult to coordinate.  My aim is that trainees enjoy what they are doing so I would not insist on anyone using a clicker.

I have found that it can become noisy if everyone uses his or her clicker at once.

From my point of view I like both methods and would encourage the use of the two, but is very much up to the individual.

Getting Started with the Clicker

Clicker training is a new, science-based way of communicating with your pet. It is easier to learn than standard command based training methods. You can clicker train any animal, cats, birds, horses and even fish, so don’t feel restricted to your dog!

Start by playing the clicker and rewarding your dog for doing simple tricks such as sit, give a paw etc. Eventually you’ll be able to use it to get rid of the unwanted behaviours which your dog does. Keep notes of what your dog does and record his progress as you teach him new things with the clicker. You’ll be surprised at the progress! Reward yourself as well as your dog for choosing such a fun, sympathetic method of training. Here are some simple tips to get you started.