You Either Love Clicker Training, or Hate It!
We respect owner’s choices, but here are some of our findings.
Is This Positive Training Tool Right for Your Pup?
Clicker training is a widely used method in dog training, especially in positive reinforcement and enrichment-based environments like ours. But like any method, it comes with benefits and challenges.
If you’ve ever wondered whether a clicker is right for your dog (or your training goals), here’s a clear breakdown of the pros and cons.
The Pros of Clicker Training
1. Clear Communication
The clicker marks the exact moment your dog does the right thing—faster and more precise than saying “good dog.” This helps dogs learn faster and with less confusion.
Think of it as a camera shutter: it “captures” the behavior you want to reward.
2. Speeds Up Learning
Studies show that dogs trained with a clicker often learn new behaviors faster. The click helps them understand exactly what earned the reward.
3. Builds Confidence
Because clicker training is based on rewards and choice, dogs feel safe and empowered. It encourages curiosity and participation instead of fear or avoidance.
4. Great for Shaping Complex Behaviors
Clicker training works especially well for teaching multi-step tricks or behaviors like “go to mat,” agility moves, or cooperative care tasks.
5. Creates Engagement
The game-like style of clicker training makes dogs excited to train. It strengthens the bond between human and dog by turning learning into play.
The Cons of Clicker Training
1. Timing Matters
The click must come at the exact right moment. If your timing is off, you might accidentally reinforce the wrong behavior—like clicking after your dog jumps up instead of when they sit.
2. You Need a Free Hand
Holding a leash, treats, and a clicker can feel like juggling at first—especially with a bouncy puppy. Some pet parents find it awkward until they practice.
3. It Requires Conditioning
You have to “charge” the clicker before it means anything. That means pairing it with food a few dozen times so your dog learns: click = treat.
4. Not Always Practical in Real Life
In high-distraction environments or urgent situations (like recall in a park), you may not have your clicker. This is why trainers often fade the clicker over time, so verbal praise or gestures can work too.
5. Can Overstimulate Some Dogs
Some very sensitive or easily excitable dogs may get over-aroused by clickers. In these cases, a softer verbal marker (“yes!” or “good”) may work better.
Should You Use a Clicker?
Clicker training is a fantastic tool—but it’s just that: a tool. It’s not required for great training, and it’s not one-size-fits-all.
We often use clicker-style methods in our enrichment daycare for:
Trick and manners games
Confidence-building exercises
Minds & Manners sessions
Calm socialization support
Whether you use a physical clicker or a verbal marker, the key is clarity, consistency, and kindness.
Why Our Trainers Use Clickers
At Stay N Play Doggie Daycare, we believe that learning should be clear, positive, and enriching—for every dog, every day. That’s why our enrichment trainers use clickers (or verbal markers that follow the same principles) in many of our programs.
Here’s why clickers are part of our toolkit:
Dogs learn faster with clarity. The click helps us communicate precisely what we’re asking, and dogs thrive when they know exactly what earns a reward.
It keeps things consistent across staff. Whether your dog is working with one trainer or several, the click means the same thing: “Yes! That was right.”
It supports calm minds. In our Minds & Manners enrichment sessions, we use clickers to mark calm, focused behaviors—helping dogs build emotional control and confidence.
It works for every dog, at their level. Whether we’re helping a new puppy, a reactive dog, or a senior learning a fun trick, the clicker is a kind, customized tool that meets them where they are.
We don’t just train behaviors—we build relationships. And clicker-style training helps us do that in a way that’s rewarding for everyone involved.
Want to See Clicker Training in Action?
Join us for a Minds & Manners enrichment session, where we use techniques like clicker training to help dogs build life skills, impulse control, and confidence—all in a fun, reward-based way.