Clicker training for puppies : A Step by Step Guide for Beginners
How dogs learn.
Dogs learn in two main ways:
1. By association and
2. Through consequence.
Learning by association is happening all the time. Your dog is constantly linking how they feel with what’s going on around them. If they feel happy and safe, they’ll form positive associations with the people, places, and things in their environment. But if they feel startled or scared, they’ll associate that feeling with whatever was happening at the time - what they saw, heard, smelled, or felt.
Learning through consequence is what helps shape behaviour. If your dog’s action leads to a good outcome - like sitting and getting your attention - they’ll do it again. If it leads to something unpleasant, like slipping when jumping on a counter, they may be less likely to try that behaviour again.
But there can be fallout. If that slip scared them, not only might they stop counter-surfing, but they could also become nervous about slippery floors or even the kitchen.
That’s why punishment can backfire. It risks damaging your dog’s confidence and your relationship with them. And that relationship is everything.
Instead, focus on rewarding what you like, setting your dog up for success, and gently guiding them toward better choices. If they make a mistake, show them what to do instead and create a plan to help them get it right next time.
Clicker training is a simple but powerful way to communicate with your puppy. It can speed up learning and make training more fun for both of you. Whether you’re raising your first puppy or curious about positive reinforcement, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the basics.
What is clicker training?
Clicker training is a form of positive reinforcement that uses a consistent sound -,a “click” - to tell your puppy exactly when they’ve done the right thing. Think of it as taking a photo of the behaviour you love, so you can reward it clearly.
It’s all about timing. That click tells your puppy, “Yes! That’s the good stuff, well done!”
Step 1: Charge the clicker
Before you use the clicker to teach anything, you need to help your puppy understand what it means.
Click the clicker
Immediately give a treat
Repeat 10–15 times over a few short sessions
Your pup will now start to connect the click with good things happening!
Step 2: Mark the moment
Now you can use the clicker to mark behaviours you like, such as sitting, looking at you, or coming when called.
Wait for your puppy to do the behaviour
Click the moment it happens
Follow with a tasty reward
At this stage, you are simply marking (clicking) when your puppy offers the behaviour, as opposed to asking them to do it.
That timing really matters - click as the behaviour happens, not after. If you’re clicking for a sit, click the moment their bum hits the floor.
Step 3: Practice with simple behaviours
Try it with things that the dog already knows first.
For example:
Sit
Eye contact
Hand touch
Going to a mat
Keep sessions short, positive, and full of praise!
To super boost understanding, you could also click and treat every time you see your puppy doing something that you like. Click for eye contact you haven’t asked for, for a sit every time you see them sitting.
Want to Learn More?
Want to fast-track your puppy’s progress with clicker training? I’d love to help you build great habits together.
You can book a free discovery call here: https://tidycal.com/mnje8p3/discovery-call