Rent safe and private dog parks hosted by locals

  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Dog Training
  4. How to Clicker Train Your Dog

How to Clicker Train Your Dog

David Adams photo

David Adams

July 02, 2023

Dog Training

How to Clicker Train Your Dog thumbnail

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

You may have heard of clicker training — a type of “marker” positive reinforcement training first popularized by marine mammal trainers — from fellow dog parents or in your training classes. Not entirely sure what marker training is or why it’s so useful? You’ve come to the right place!

Here’s an introductory guide to training your dog to perform a range of behaviors with the help of a clicker: a small plastic device that makes a distinct sound when you press its button. We promise it’s less complicated than it sounds.

What is a dog clicker?

Even if you've heard of clicker training, you may never have seen an actual clicker before! It can be an incredibly helpful training tool.

Clicker training uses a small plastic device that makes a little clicking noise whenever you press a button. Clickers usually come with some kind of fastener that can go on a keychain or belt loop and are roughly the size of a flash drive (so they’re convenient to carry during training sessions, walks around the neighborhood, or while just hanging around at home).

You can easily find clickers on the Internet or at your local pet store. Many force-free or positive reinforcement training businesses also offer their own branded clickers to their clients for free!

What is clicker or marker training?

Clicker training is a type of marker training. Okay, so what’s marker training? It’s where you use specific signals — called reward markers — to help your dog learn more clearly.

In technical terms, a reward marker is a conditioned stimulus that predicts a primary reinforcer. Put more simply? A reward marker is a sound or signal that “marks” exactly what your dog did to earn their reinforcement. One of the top benefits of clicker training: It makes it possible for us to communicate clearly during training sessions even if we're unable to deliver a treat precisely when our dogs offer the right behavior. (More on that later.) That's why marker training was so handy for marine mammal trainers who had to wait until their animals swam to the edge of the pool to physically reinforce the behavior with food.

What exactly are reinforcers (commonly called rewards)?

When we ask our dogs to work for us, it’s only fair we pay them. Reinforcers (often called rewards in everyday conversation) are things 1) our dogs love that 2) are easy for us to give them during a training session.

Common reinforcers include:

  • Store-bought dog treats
  • Small pieces of human food (like meat or cheese, which are often favorite tasty treats)
  • Your dog’s kibble (if they’re particularly food motivated, have a sensitive stomach, or you need to be calorie conscious)
  • A favorite toy

If possible, let your dog decide what they like best. At the start of your training process, consider setting out multiple rewards from food treats to toys, seeing which one they go to first, and choosing that to teach new behaviors! (You can also vary between a few favorites to keep them interested.)

The more excited your dog is for their reinforcer, the more motivated they’ll be during your training session.

Important note: Not every reward is always reinforcing

Our dogs are the ones who decide what is and isn’t reinforcing to them. Just because we offer them something we think they should like — we feel like we’re giving them a reward — doesn’t mean it will actually increase the desired behavior moving forward! Many trainers use “reward” and “reinforcer” interchangeably, but this is a helpful distinction to keep in mind (especially if your dog is struggling with training).

Other common reward markers

Clickers aren’t the only reward markers, but they are a common one — especially useful because the sound always sounds the same no matter what environment or mood you’re in (not something most of us can say about our voices). Other popular reward marker options include:

  • Verbally saying the word “click”
  • Short, uncommon sounds like “yip”
  • A thumbs up (particularly useful for deaf dogs)
  • Other easy-to-make noises

There are pros and cons to each marker choice — no one marker is inherently better than the others. What matters is that you pick one that works for you and stick to it! Consistency is key.

Sniffspot Dog running on field

Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you

How to Clicker Train a Dog

Although you can certainly hire a trainer, clicker training a dog can easily be started at home. Here are some very simple steps to start a clicker training program with your dog.

Do some clicker training prep work.

Get your ducks in a row by making sure you have some of your dog’s favorite reinforcers on hand. 20-30 bite-sized pieces of food should be enough for your initial session!

Remember: You're going to go through lots of treats, so keeping them small or using some of your dog's existing daily food is crucial. You don't want your dog or puppy to gain unhealthy weight (and put pressure on their joints) just because they're enjoying clicker training.

“Charge” your dog’s reward marker.

Your dog or puppy has no clue what the clicker is until you teach them! To make sure they understand that your marker sound predicts a reward, you can spend a few sessions conditioning them to the stimulus. This is called “charging” your marker.

You can charge your dog’s clicker by:

  • First pressing the button to make the noise
  • Pausing for a second
  • Then giving your dog their reward — this turns your clicker sound into a predictor of good things to come
  • Repeating multiple times!

Eventually your dog will start to respond to the noise itself — they might run towards you before you even reach for their treat. This indicates that they’re forming the right association.

Start using your clicker in training sessions!

Once your dog is conditioned to your clicker, you can start using it in training sessions to teach new skills.

There are two main methods of clicker training

There are two primary ways to clicker train. Either click your dog offering a specific behavior on their own (capturing) or gradually build a captured behavior into a new behavior (shaping). Unlike many other training approaches, clicker trainers usually remain silent until we are confident the dog knows the behavior we are waiting for. Trainers typically add the cue once the dog offers the desired behavior 10-15 times per minute. 

Mark the behavior as soon as you see it

It’s important to mark the right behavior the instant your dog performs it. Accurate timing makes for more effective teaching! And remember to always follow your marker with a reinforcer. You have a few seconds to deliver reinforcement, give or take, to keep up your dog’s conditioned association. The clicker is also known as a “bridge” because it buys dog trainers time between when the right behavior is marked (immediately when they do it) and delivery of the treat (which comes a little afterward).

You can mark complex behaviors during advanced training sessions or just simple things throughout the day, like your dog offering you eye contact on a walk. Be sure to only work with one behavior per individual training session to avoid confusion, though.

Don’t be afraid to mark small moves toward the desired behavior.

Keep in mind that your dog doesn’t need to exhibit absolute perfect behavior for a reward. You can shape up small steps in the right direction! For example, if you want to get your dog rolling over, you might mark when they first start to roll onto their side even if they aren’t fully completing the trick yet.

When you give your reward, be sure to offer plenty of praise as well. Dogs, like humans, really respond to excited praise so the more you offer, the faster your dog will learn! 

Start varying your reinforcement over time.

The idea of clicker training is not to have your dog respond only to the presence of the clicker or treats. It’s to get them to respond in a range of environments! You start building towards this when you become unpredictable with your rewards.

Here's how to phase out the consistent clicker reinforcement we start with early on in training: When your dog responds to your vocal cue, provide praise, then click, then treat for a period of time. Eventually, the positive feedback of praise can replace the clicker and you can offer praise as reinforcement (provided your dog finds your verbal encouragement to be motivating) with or without physical rewards to keep things interesting.

The reason we use praise for this? It’s important you never click without giving your dog a treat. You want your reward marker to always mean a reward is on the way so it keeps up its “charge” to be used in sessions!

clicker training

Tips for Clicker Training Your Dog

Those are the basics behind clicker training and as you can see, the actual process is pretty straightforward. That said, there are some tricks and tips that make the process easier. There are also quite a few books on clicker training out there but here are a few of the tips we recommend:

Keep your clicker training sessions short

Dog training can be a lot of work for both your companion and for you! It’s a good idea to keep any specific, skill-focused sessions short to avoid pushing either of you to the point of exhaustion. Consider planning for just five to ten minutes of active training a day — and never go longer than five minutes without some form of break.

Some common times to fit this into your dog owner schedule are:

  • During one of your dog’s mealtimes
  • Before, after, or even during your dog’s evening walk
  • On your lunch break if you’re able to work remotely or visit home midday

Try to always end on a good repetition (if your dog is struggling with a new behavior, take a step back and ask them to perform something they know really well) so that you both leave each session on a happy note. This will keep you motivated to dive in next time!

Practice in a calm environment 

Remember that our dogs have very sensitive noses and ears. The busy park is not the place to start teaching a brand-new behavior. Your quiet living room, on the other hand, or a Sniffspot rental they’re already very familiar with? Perfect. Keep distractions at a minimum until your dog shows you they understand what you’re asking. At that point you can slowly increase the difficulty and work up to more challenging environments.

Watch your timing 

If your clicker training doesn't seem to be working, you might be clicking for the correct behavior too late. It's crucial you respond to your dog's behavior without hesitation, preferably while not after they're exhibiting the behavior. The closer you get to the exact moment they respond, the faster they'll learn.

Pay attention to your body movements

Another reason your dog might be struggling with clicker training? If you’re distracting them with your movements. For example, if you keep your fingers inside the treat pouch throughout the session or reach for a reward before you’ve actually clicked, your dog might focus more on your hand than on the clicker sound.

Our pets are fabulous at pattern mapping our subtle physical cues. It might help to practice some of these techniques (click, tiny pause, then reaching for a treat) outside of sessions with your pup to build the best muscle memory.

Can you use clicker training to correct bad behavior?

The best way to do use marker training to work on undesirable behavior (we say “undesirable” because “good” and “bad” tend to be human constructs that often go against what comes naturally to our dogs) is to click and reward your dog with delicious treats when they do the right thing instead of the wrong thing. Don't be afraid to give them guidance ahead of time to maximize their chances of success performing desirable behaviors!

For example: Click and reward your dog when they stay silent if the doorbell rings instead of barking or wait for you to put their food bowl on the ground instead of jumping up and trying to steal it out of your hand. This is where timing is most important, since you want to mark the exact moment they do the “right” thing before they fall into previous undesirable habits (if you wait too long, you might miss the second they’re silent before barking, for example).

Your dog will get the message soon enough that the clicks and rewards only come when they behave well. 

Don’t use clicker training to admonish your dog

Remember that clicker training is all about positive reinforcement. If you use it to admonish bad behavior, the dog is going to get confused. 

Remember, too, that a dog that doesn’t respond to your cue isn’t pushing your buttons. They just don’t understand what you’re asking for, aren’t sufficiently motivated, or may even be in pain from a health condition. If you notice any sudden behavioral changes in your dog — like if they used to respond readily to certain cues and now hesitate — consider taking them in for a full vet check to be sure.

Get your dog the safe enrichment they need by renting a Sniffspot

Sniffspot Dog swimming in pool

Trainers that reviewed this article

There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers. The trainers that review our content are reviewed by other trainers to ensure that we have the best quality filters on our content. 

These are the trainers that reviewed this article:

Cheryl Gfrerer, KPA-CTP, MA
Owner, Giffy dog, Twin Cities, MN, www.giffydog.com
Certified Training Partner Karen Pryor Academy, Level 2 TAGteach certified

Brittany L. Fulton, CTC
Founder and Trainer, Dances with Dogs, Silver Spring, MD, www.dancesdogs.com - Certified in Training and Counseling (CTC), The Academy for Dog Trainers

David Adams photo

David Adams

July 02, 2023

Dog Training

About Sniffspot

Sniffspot is a community marketplace that enables anyone to rent land by-the-hour as a safe and private dog park.

Follow us

Find Sniffspot on your favorite social media

TiktokInstagramFacebookYoutube
Related articles
The Ultimate Guide To Flying With Large Dogs: Airline Policies and Tricks thumbnailThe Ultimate Guide To Flying With Large Dogs: Airline Policies and Tricks
Comprehensive Guide to Skijoring With Dogs thumbnailComprehensive Guide to Skijoring With Dogs
How To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life thumbnailHow To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life
All categories

Most recent articles

The Ultimate Guide To Flying With Large Dogs: Airline Policies and Tricks thumbnailThe Ultimate Guide To Flying With Large Dogs: Airline Policies and Tricks
The Ultimate Guide To Flying With Large Dogs: Airline Policies and Tricks thumbnail

The Ultimate Guide To Flying With Large Dogs: Airline Policies and Tricks

Comprehensive Guide to Skijoring With Dogs thumbnailComprehensive Guide to Skijoring With Dogs
Comprehensive Guide to Skijoring With Dogs thumbnail

Comprehensive Guide to Skijoring With Dogs

How To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life thumbnailHow To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life
How To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life thumbnail

How To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life

The Ultimate Guide to Airline Dog Policies in 2024: Everything You Need to Know thumbnailThe Ultimate Guide to Airline Dog Policies in 2024: Everything You Need to Know
The Ultimate Guide to Airline Dog Policies in 2024: Everything You Need to Know thumbnail

The Ultimate Guide to Airline Dog Policies in 2024: Everything You Need to Know

Get to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners thumbnailGet to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners
Get to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners thumbnail

Get to Know the Vizsla: Real-World Tips from Owners

Explore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners thumbnailExplore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners
Explore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners thumbnail

Explore the Rottweiler: Genuine Tips from Real Dog Owners

Top dog guides per area

Dog training guides

  • How to Deal With Food Aggression in Dogs (Facts + Infographic) thumbnail

    How to Deal With Food Aggression in Dogs (Facts + Infographic)

    Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.

  • Comprehensive Guide to Scent Training for Dogs (Facts + Infographic) thumbnail

    Comprehensive Guide to Scent Training for Dogs (Facts + Infographic)

    As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.

  • How Much Does it Cost to Train a Service Dog? thumbnail

    How Much Does it Cost to Train a Service Dog?

    More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.

  • What is and How to Handle Potty Training Regression thumbnail

    What is and How to Handle Potty Training Regression

    You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?

  • Coprophagia: Why Does Your Dog Eat Poop? thumbnail

    Coprophagia: Why Does Your Dog Eat Poop?

    Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!

Dog enrichment guides

  • The Best Dog Water Parks in the United States thumbnail

    The Best Dog Water Parks in the United States

    Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.

  • Best Toys for Herding Dogs thumbnail

    Best Toys for Herding Dogs

    * All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

  • The Best Dog Toys for Aggressive Chewers (Facts + Infographic) thumbnail

    The Best Dog Toys for Aggressive Chewers (Facts + Infographic)

    Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?

  • Dog Exercise Calculator: How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need? thumbnail

    Dog Exercise Calculator: How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

    You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.

  • Complete Guide To Herding With Dogs thumbnail

    Complete Guide To Herding With Dogs

    * All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Dog reactivity guides

Sniffspot community guides

  • The State of Public Dog Parks Across the United States thumbnail

    The State of Public Dog Parks Across the United States

    From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.

  • How This Family is Affording Their Dream Property Through Renting it Hourly to Dogs thumbnail

    How This Family is Affording Their Dream Property Through Renting it Hourly to Dogs

    Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.” 

  • Host Tips: Ellen K. What Makes Sniffspot Successful for Me thumbnail

    Host Tips: Ellen K. What Makes Sniffspot Successful for Me

    Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.

  • How this Oregon Farmer is Making a Business From Renting Her Land to Dogs thumbnail

    How this Oregon Farmer is Making a Business From Renting Her Land to Dogs

    Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.  

  • Host Tips: Fran T. Providing Great Guest Service at our Spot thumbnail

    Host Tips: Fran T. Providing Great Guest Service at our Spot

    Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.

Top dog trainers in the US

City dog parks guides

  • The Best Indoor Dog Parks in the United States thumbnail

    The Best Indoor Dog Parks in the United States

    Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.

  • The Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in the United States thumbnail

    The Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in the United States

    Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.

  • The Best Las Vegas, Nevada Dog Parks thumbnail

    The Best Las Vegas, Nevada Dog Parks

    Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.

  • The Best United States Dog Parks thumbnail

    The Best United States Dog Parks

    Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!

  • The Best Portland, Oregon Dog Parks thumbnail

    The Best Portland, Oregon Dog Parks

    Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.

Dogs breeds

  • Explore the German Shepherd Dog: Genuine Tips from Owners thumbnail

    Explore the German Shepherd Dog: Genuine Tips from Owners

    Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection, and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.

  • Explore the Labrador Retriever: Real Tips from Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Labrador Retriever: Real Tips from Owners

    Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs. As one of the most popular types of retrievers, Labs are ideal companions for various lifestyles and are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as an excellent breed for families.

  • Explore the Golden Retriever: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Golden Retriever: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the Golden Retriever, a popular breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game beginning in the 1860s. Today, they're recognized by the Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club (AKC) as one of the most beloved companion dog breeds.

  • Explore the American Staffordshire Terrier: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the American Staffordshire Terrier: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a distinct breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Often confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a separate breed of British origin, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff) is considered a medium-sized dog. While both breeds share some similarities, the AmStaff is generally larger and has been developed as a distinct breed in the United States.

  • Explore the Australian Shepherd: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners thumbnail

    Explore the Australian Shepherd: Genuine Tips from 9,000+ Owners

    Discover the Australian Shepherd, an AKC breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd is actually a native breed to the United States, originally developed to breed on farms and ranches. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were bred for herding beginning in the 1950s. As one of the high-energy breeds, Aussies are known for their boundless energy and need for regular exercise, including aerobic exercise.

Top dog names in the US

  • Top 1,000 Most Popular Dog Names thumbnail

    Top 1,000 Most Popular Dog Names

    Looking for the perfect dog name for your new pup? We have created filterable lists of dog names from our database of hundreds of thousands of Sniffspot users. You can filter by gender, breed and state to find the most cute, unique and creative dog names.
  • Most Popular Male Dog Names thumbnail

    Most Popular Male Dog Names

    Looking for the perfect dog name for your new male pup? We have created filterable lists of male dog names from our database of hundreds of thousands of Sniffspot users. You can filter by gender, breed and state to find the most cute, unique and creative male dog names.
  • Most Popular Female Dog Names thumbnail

    Most Popular Female Dog Names

    Looking for the perfect dog name for your new female pup? We have created filterable lists of female dog names from our database of hundreds of thousands of Sniffspot users. You can filter by gender, breed and state to find the most cute, unique and creative female dog names.
  • Most Popular Golden Retriever Names thumbnail

    Most Popular Golden Retriever Names

    Welcome to our comprehensive list of Golden Retriever dog names, curated from our vast database of Sniffspot users. Filter through hundreds of thousands of options by gender, breed, and state to discover the most adorable, original, and imaginative names for your beloved Golden Retriever.
  • Most Popular Labrador Retriever Names thumbnail

    Most Popular Labrador Retriever Names

    Welcome to our Labrador Retriever dog names page! Here you can browse through filterable lists of names for your beloved furry friend, ranging from cute and classic to unique and creative options. Our database of hundreds of thousands of Sniffspot users ensures you'll find the perfect name for your Labrador Retriever, whether you're seeking a name for a male or female, based on breed or state.

Top dog rescues in the US