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WHAT IS CLICKER TRAINING?

Clicker training is a scientific method of training (a.k.a. Operant Conditioning) in which animals learn that behavior equals consequence. For example, if a dog sits and is rewarded for sitting with a primary reinforcer (e.g., food), he will be much more likely to sit again. The clicker is used as a conditioned reinforcer to mark desirable behavior. The clicker is given value to the dog by pairing the click (sound made by the clicker) with a primary reinforcer/reward (toy, food, etc). Once the dog understands that a click means reward, he will repeat the behavior that elicited the click.

We use shaping to create new behaviors from existing behaviors. Shaping refers to the method of reinforcing tiny pieces of a behavior, gradually increasing the criteria, until the complete behavior is demonstrated.

WHY USE A CLICKER?

The clicker is a perfect tool to mark behavior. It has a very distinguishable sound. People are usually much quicker with the clicker than with their voice. Also, scientifically speaking, the clicker is neutral. It does not provide "degrees of good" which would be present in voice inflections; it simply marks the behavior.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CLICKER TRAINING ...

Visit ClickerTrain.com, or better yet, join one of our classes!!