A clicker can be a helpful tool in dog training, but is neither necessary, nor a guaranty that the dog is always treated mindfully.

A clicker is a small, noise-making device to bridge the behavior with the reward. In essence, it is used to get the timing right, to mark the exact moment the dog does what we are after, so that she understands clearly what exactly she did that gets her a reward. The gadget is a communication tool that leads to faster and better training results, especially when shaping commands and tricks. In addition, the sound increases anticipatory happiness, because the dog associates it with a reward. A dog who feels good about training is what we want.

Many positive trainers are, often exclusively, clicker trainers. And although the concept in itself is incompatible with punitive training methods, some still click and correct in combination. The savvy dog owner should still engage in normal investigation even if a trainer advertises that he/she uses the little noise gadget.

More often than not though, the fact that a dog-pro understands clicker training indicates that he/she is up-to-date on science based and mindful methods.


Clicking, generally, starts the relationship on the right foot/paw, and establishes learning trust in a puppy or rescue dog that might have been corrected and punished in the past. But, I am not convinced that it is the cure-all, or the best approach to deal with problem behaviors, emotional conflicts, or even reinforcing desired behaviors. I believe that a clicker, at times, is more hindrance than help and this is why:

If a proverbial three-year-old wants to watch her favorite TV show, and I tell her to do A, B or C first, and she does, and then I mark that with a sound, followed by a handful of candies, and only after that turn on the TV, would that frustrate her; increase impatience? Would she perceive the clicker, or even the sweets, as rewarding or an annoying delay?

After a challenging and busy day, I want a Corona when I get home. Not pleasantries or a foot massage. Anything but a beer, now, will make me crankier.

Likewise, if my dog voluntarily offers prolonged attention while a squirrel is 100 feet away, does she want me to mark and food reward her? Or does she want me to drop the leash? Wow! How impressive would I be if I’d let her go, provided it is safe for squirrel and dog. How likely would it be that she is on me the next time one of these little rodents shows up. How can anything top that super reward; top something she really wanted without delay. If I can set situations like that up, expose many motivators and reward her with what she really wants, intermittently, and after she offers behaviors I really want, I will get solid and unprompted attention and good behavior real quick – without a clicker.


I also question the usefulness of sound marking calmness in reactive behavior modification training. If calming signals, as opposed to a full-blown offensive reaction to a trigger, is the desired behavior, I reinforce it as I would any other desired behavior; with what the dog wants, which is usually social distance; space to whatever he’s fearfully barking and lunging at. Any delay increases stress.

The examples are endless. Do we really have to secondary reward mark and give the dog a cookie when she walks nicely on a leash? Can’t we just reward with what we already have and what the dog wants - to continue the walk, maybe speed up the pace, or let him sniff? Do we have to signal with a noise a calm, sitting dog before we unclip the leash at the dog park; or do we permit him to have fun right away?

My concern is that by conditioning dog owners to the gadget and treats, we fail to teach them to be aware of, and respond to their dog’s real motivator. In other words, fail to guide the owner to be really tuned in to his dog. And that’s a shame.


Here is one more thing. Clickers are fantastic tools if one shapes quick actions and behavior sequences, or works on incremental progress and generalization. They are less helpful in guiding a dog into true and prolonged connection. That bond is signaled by something more personal, like eye contact and physical closeness. Davie and Will, when we are out and about together, stay connected and check back with me frequently. They know when I am happy with their behavior when I nod my head and my eyes are soft, or when I softly talk to, or stroke them. Their tails wag, and when I become animated, smile or reach my hand into the fanny pack, they become anticipatory happy and feel good, because chances are their balls will surface. A noise to mark their offered attentivness is not only unnecessary, but would crudely interrupt those special moments.


Some, not all, trainers are so exclusive to reward marking and food treats, that the dog’s responses become automated. The owner only learns to shove treats into the dog’s mouth; never learns to understand his dog’s behavior and is unable to deal with problems when the dog does not respond as expected. Although unjustified, these trainers lose credibility, and open the door for traditional trainers to critizise a concept that, if applied as part of a holistic, mindful approach, is very valuable. While googling, I found one site by a trainer who states that clicker training only works with people pleasing breeds, not stubborn ones like terriers. Although a tell-tale sign that this trainer neither comprehends the concept, nor understands dogs, many average dog owners, evident in dog discussion groups, believe that the choice is either traditional or clicker and are not aware that positive reinforcement, negative punishment and extinction training doesn’t require a gadget. Educating the dog owner about positive reinforcement, that includes but is not exclusive to click n’ treat, gives less ammunition to traditional trainers and nay-sayers who argue that we are just a bunch of treat throwers manipulated by our dogs, and not successful with brawny breeds or difficult cases.


I believe that we have a great opportunity to shift many dog owners away from correction and punishment training, if we incorporate clicker training as one of the wonderful communication tools available to us, rather than promoting it as the only option.