Using the Clicker

            I am one of those people who marveled at watching an amazing dog walking directly along side its handler at a calm, slow pace. I would see these types of dogs from time to time on my daily walks with Hardy, wondering if I really needed that much obedience from him, and thinking this sort of training should be reserved for assistance or working animals. I did want to make our walking time more comfortable; however, this was because I was getting tired of feeling like my arm was going to be tugged or jerked out of my shoulder socket.

            Then one day, during one of my many visits to the book section of a pet store, I discovered a book that promoted training dogs to walk with their handlers by using an off leash method. Clicker training was also quite popular at this time, so I picked up a book about that, as well as several clickers, in what was to become the next major training phase for my dog and me. As I perused through the books, I became keenly interested in these more humane methods for training my dog.

            I studied my new books at length when I got home, and I began applying their methods that same day. I used the clicker first and foremost. Hardy willingly became my enthusiastic canine participant, likely because clicker training begins by what is called, “loading” the clicker. This means that whenever I gave the device a click, I would then follow up with giving Hardy a treat. I repeated this process about twenty times in progression. During this initial process, Hardy didn’t have to do anything but participate, I would click and he would get a treat.

            After about twenty clicks and twenty small but extremely tasty treats, I began the next phase. I had to discern if the click sound would bring about a specific, but simple, desired behavior. I decided that I would call his name, and if he looked at me, I would click and treat. If he didn't look at me, he would get nothing.            
          Hardy passed this first stage with fervent interest. If he were a person, I would have classified him as gifted and talented. It seemed like I had to click and treat very few times to bring about my desired response. It was as if he had already done this before.