SHOULD I USE A CLICKER ON ALL BEHAVIORS I TRAIN?

With dogs, I personally do not use a clicker in the training of many behaviors. I will give you a few examples of some behaviors that I would not use a clicker with. If I am teaching a dog to HEEL, I want the dog to think about my his position//. in relationship to my leg. This means that I want the dog focused on my leg. If I were to incorporate a clicker, it would take the animal's focus off my leg, and into what I had in my hands. Another reason is that there is no reason to incorporate treats or food in the HEEL behavior, so why add the clicker?

If I am training a dog to STAY, do I need a clicker? No. All the animal needs to know is that he is going to be rewarded for STAYING. So why would you need to click the clicker? All you need to do is walk to the animal and reward him where he is SITTING and STAYING.

On other hand, if I am teaching the dog to COVER HIS EYES or SIT UP, I would use a clicker. Why? Because with these more intermediate to advanced behaviors there are more steps involved in training. As I move on to the next step, there is a defined time that I want the animal to know that what he is doing is acceptable. When the animal is correct, I click the clicker. Once the animal is consistent with that step, I move onto the next one.

This was taken in 1987. With California sea lions like Dudley, we will always continue to use the clicker even after the behavior is trained.

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