The clicker should be used in such a manner that the dog responds to your commands assuming that a reward or treat will be following when a task is performed. It acts as a signal that the dog has done the task correctly and should be awarded for it.

 

To start a normal training so that your dog gets accustomed to the clicker, you must press the clicker so that the click sound comes, and immediately follow the sound by giving the dog a treat. You can do this process a couple of times until your dog understands the use of the clicker. 

 

The clicker can be used to teach the dog basic commands like “sit” “stay” “down” “come” “heel” etc. E.g. Hold the clicker in one hand and the treat in the other hand close to the dog’s nose. Then say “sit”, press the clicker and wait for the dog to sit. When it sits, give it the treat. In case your dog does not understand the “sit” command immediately, you can move the treat away from the dog’s nose backwards so that it has to look upwards at the treat. While doing this, the dog automatically sits, and you should immediately say “sit”, press the clicker and treat the dog. Try this a couple of times till your dog understands the command.

 

Another way to clicker train your dog is to just observe your dog’s behavior and movements over a period of time. You may find it making many movements which are exactly the type f commands you want to train it to perform. So, the next time you see your dog just about to sit, click the clicker and say sit. He will be distracted for a moment but you can follow it up with a treat. When you keep doing this, he will automatically learn to obey the command “sit”. 

 

If you have a dog that is curious but yet shy, a clicker comes in handy. If it wants to smell a hydrant the next time, but is shy you should click the clicker. The next time, when it touches the hydrant, again you should click the clicker and reward your dog with a treat. This way, he will know that he can come out of his shyness and be treated for it. 

 

While dogs usually learn to obey commands quickly, it is best not to push them to train on clicker training as there is a high chance of the dog getting confused or tiring out. The worst case would be if they become oblivious to the use fo the clicker and they do not associate with it anymore. Hence, clicker training requires patience and lots of bonding with your dog.