The training principle of the positive reinforcement method is one of rewarding good behavior and ignoring bad behavior. With patience, repetition and above all, consistency, this method can be very effective using some practiced techniques.
Correct Timing and Varied Rewards
Correct timing is key to making the dog understand correct and inappropriate behaviors, which is why the clicker is a benefit. The sound of the clicker registers immediately with the dog, so by timing the click at the right point of correct behavior the dog will continue to react correctly.
Pet dogs best associate the positive meaning of the clicker by having been introduced to it as they are given a reward or if it has been clicked as they complete an activity they enjoy. The use of the clicker by an experienced keeper can then become a very effective way of training a wide range of activities in the dog.
Used wisely and appropriately timed, the click can be used during an activity and the dog will continue to complete the activity because it is anticipating a reward. With practice it can be used to begin a recognized action which the dog will then follow through to completion. Making positive verbal communication cosistently at the same time as using the clicker, even if only saying "good" or "good dog", will help make the signal to the dog.
To make this happen, rewards have to be meaningful to the dog and varied, if the dog is to continue to be motivated. While food rewards can be used sparingly and to help vary the reward, it usually proves best in practice to use physical affection, which is easier to vary and less boring to the dog. For example, stroking or encouraging the dog to play or using a favourite toy only occasionally will help create the positive environment that a dog will normally thrive in and enjoy.
Communicating Inappropriate Dog Behavior
A pet dog will in almost all cases seek positive signs from its keeper, so that feigning ignorance is a surprisingly useful ploy in dog training. Showing no recognition, including avoiding eye contact and being completely non-communicative when the dog's behavior is not the required one is quickly effective in letting the dog know that its behavior is not receiving approval. Here again, if a clicker is being used effectively to positively reinforce the right behavior, then its absence can be a part of the negative signal as well.
It is not essential to use a clicker for dog training but its immediacy does prove effective with these techniques. However, It should be noted that to use the clicker most effectively requires practice and that an experienced trainer will know that the clicker can be used more sparingly as training succeeds, to the point that it will be not needed at all after a relatively short time once the dog has become used to what is, and is not, acceptable behavior.
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