New to clicker training? Wondering if it’s worth your time?
What do the experts say?
- “How effective is clicker training? There are captive hyenas that will sit still while having blood drawn from their jugular, just for the sweet, sweet high of a click.“ – GQ Magazine
- “Today I tell people that marker training is the most effective training system I have seen in my 50 plus years of training dogs… Marker training (which is sometimes called “Clicker Training”) can start with 8 week old puppies or 8 year old dominant aggressive dogs. The beauty of the system is that it’s non confrontational, which is why it works so well with dominant aggressive animals or animals with absolutely no training, or animals that need to be retrained.” – Ed Frawley, founder of the Leerburg Academy.
- “Clicker training is a fun and effective way to communicate with your pets. You can train almost any kind of pet — including cats, birds, dogs, and horses — to respond to the clicker.” – Sherry Woodard, Best Friends Animal Society behavioral consultant. (Best Friends rehabbed 22 of the Michael Vick dogs.)
Common Questions:
Do I need to use the clicker to work with you?
No, this is not a requirement. We do recommend giving it a try in most cases, but also recognize that every person and dog is an individual.
Will my dog respond if I don’t have my clicker on me?
Yes. The clicker is used as a “marker” to let the dog know she’s done something right. It is not required to get the dog to perform behaviors it already knows. We use it mostly to teach new behaviors.
Can I use it for behavioral problems, or just tricks?
The majority of our training is focused on resolving behavior issues. The clicker is very effective for this.
I tried clicker training and it didn’t work. Why will it be different this time?
There is a bit of a learning curve in the beginning, and many people who have tried it on their own or in a group class setting receive underwhelming results. It is very helpful to have an extra set of eyes to make sure your timing and technique are spot on. We have not found that unsatisfying past results means it will not work in the future (many clients are very glad they gave it a second try!), though we don’t require using the clicker for those who prefer to minimize equipment.
Is the clicker too advanced for kids to use?
Nope. Many kids take to it quick and find it very cool.
Where are you located?
Clovis, California.
Interested in learning more about what clicker training can do for your dog? Contact us today!