Why Clicker Training

Schutzhund is a demanding sport on both handler and dog. The sport is about the evaluation of drives and working traits while the dog maintains control. For greater precision during training and trials, we use advanced methods to  channel the high-working drives of our dogs. Positive Reinforcement methods help us teach them exactly how to learn. We now have the  ability to communicate clearly with our dogs. They become willing participants in the sport, because they understand what we want. By using newer training methods, we no longer rely on outdated compulsion and force training that got our dogs to begrudgingly obey. The clicker training method helps us keep harmony within our k-9 / handler working team by allowing us a more humane way to meet the high expectations put upon our dogs.   

Clicker Basics

The key to "clicker training" is that the dog immediately learns which behaviors are correct through the use of a signal that we call a "cue". When the handler indicates the correct behavior through a clicker device or verbal sound we call this  "marking the behavior with a cue". The handler offers a food or toy reward after sounding the cue. Over a few basic clicker training sessions, the dog learns that the handler is rewarding the behavior that happened immediately before the cue. The dog learns exactly how to get what he wants and in turn the handler gains a better feel for timing when training through the use of a cue.

Keep in mind that the "click" or "mark" can be a verbal cue, e.g., "Yes" or "OK" or even a sound made with your mouth. It does not have to be the standard clicker device operated by hand, although this is also a good choice. It just takes a little more coordination to operate it while training the dog.

Please visit our Training Library and see our videos for more information on clicker training.

(photo - Gjeter a Black German Shepherd Puppy learning through clicker training)

Clicker Myth

There is nothing further from the truth than the misconception that positive reinforcement (clicker training) is only used and works on weak, nervous dogs. To the contrary, clicker dog training for sport works best when the dog shows a high level of confidence. If a nervous issue truly does exist in the dog, he will have a difficult time working through his prey drive outside his home or familiar environment.

Using positive reinforcement through the use of a toy and/or food will be difficult in a nervous dog. He will be overly concerned with the world around him and lack the ability and desire to work through prey drive. If we look at animals surviving in the wild, we learn that if they feel threatened, the last thing on their mind will be to catch a meal...they will not use their instinctual prey drive. Since the Schutzhund sport is about the workability of the breed, we choose to work and train our dogs by tapping into their instincts by training through their natural drives. We choose to work with and breed dogs that exhibit a high level of confidence combined with strong prey and food drive.

Gjeter came to us at 10 weeks old. Her importer  informed us that they had been experimenting with the clicker dog training method Aka positive reinforcement. What a sight to see, a bright eyed pup, so willing  and focused. I decided to look further into the clicker method since she was the first dog I (Michele) had ever trained. I quickly learned that it was quite the trend. I gravitated towards books, websites and magazines that advocated clicker training.  The method worked well for us since it did not require much physical effort on my part.

I quickly found out that dogs learn best if reinforced positively for correct behavior. The concept was clear, "Why build a foundation on what a dog is doing wrong, when you can build a solid foundation on what the dog does right!" After six months of working with Gjeter on my own, we started working with Denise Fenzi. She  is a well known obedience coach and competitor for AKC and Schutzhund. She put our clicker training into high gear by emphasizing improved handling through continuous movement.

Denise helped put a solid obedience foundation on my girl, primarily through the use of the "clicker method". She advocated the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship between handler and dog by showing fair leadership through clear communication.  We have since used clicker training to some extent in each phase of Schutzhund. We have had some nice successes and hope to see more through Gjeter's work and future litters.