Clicker training a dog is a great way to help your dog understand what it is you want from them so learn how to clicker train your dog from expert dog trainer, Lara Shannon.

Dogs can only make connection between a behaviour (their action) and a consequence (good or bad) if the consequence/reward is given at the time they are displaying that action.

By using a clicker or a verbal reinforcer such as ‘yes’ or ‘good dog’, it allows you to mark the desired behaviour and lets them know a reward is coming.

It’s all in the timing and first you have to condition your dog to the marker, being the clicker in this example. To do this you can use a treat, toy, game of tug, or praise – whatever motivates them the most – as a reward.

In the very early stages of clicker training, where you need to condition them to the reinforcer (being the clicker) they don’t need to do anything for their reward.

For more dog training tips and pet care advice visit Lara's website at https://www.larashannon.com/