Trixie | Dog Training | Basic Clicker

Trixie Dog Activity Clicker: Precision Training for Smarter, Happier Pets!

Unlock a new level of communication and accelerate your training results with the Trixie Dog Activity Clicker! Featuring an adjustable clicker tone and an easy-press button, this versatile tool is perfect not only for dogs but also for training cats, rabbits, and even birds.

Its ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, while the short nylon cord keeps it conveniently at hand during all your training sessions. The Trixie Dog Activity Clicker allows for a higher understanding from your pet of exactly what you're asking, as their actions won't be influenced by your tone of voice. This precision means rewards can be given in a more timely manner, streamlining communication.

Clicker training is an incredibly effective method for both refining known behaviours and teaching new desired behaviours. By clicking at the exact instant your pet offers the desired action, you create a clear, unambiguous signal that promises a treat is on its way.

To help you get started, a free step-by-step guide is included, offering easy instructions on how to use the clicker to achieve faster training results in a positive manner. Learn how to teach your dog essential commands like "lie down," "recall," "fetch," and perform basic heel work with greater clarity and success!

Available Colours: The Trixie Dog Activity Clicker is available in Green, Blue, Yellow, White and Red. If you would like to choose a colour, please specify your preference in the "Special Instructions" box during the Checkout process. We will do our best to honour colour requests. If no colour preference is specified, a random colour will be supplied.

The Benefits of Clicker Training: Why It Works So Well

Clicker training is a highly effective, positive reinforcement method that has revolutionized animal training. Here's why it's so beneficial:

• Precision Timing: The clicker produces a short, distinct sound that can be delivered at the exact instant your pet performs the desired behaviour. This precision is difficult to achieve with verbal praise alone and helps your pet clearly understand what they are being rewarded for.
• Clear Communication: The click sound is neutral and consistent, unlike a human voice which can vary in tone, volume, and emotion. This eliminates ambiguity, making it easier for your pet to understand your expectations.
• Faster Learning: Because of its precision and clarity, clicker training accelerates the learning process. Pets quickly make the connection between their action, the click, and the reward.
• Builds Confidence: It's a positive, reward-based method where the pet is never punished for mistakes. This builds confidence, encouraging them to offer behaviours more readily and to be more creative in their problem-solving.
• Engaging and Fun: Clicker training is an active, engaging process for both pet and owner. It makes learning a fun "game" rather than a chore, strengthening your bond.
• Versatility: It can be used to teach a vast array of behaviours, from basic obedience (sit, stay, come) to complex tricks, agility sequences, and even to modify problem behaviours by marking desired alternatives.
• Refining Behaviours: Once a behaviour is known, the clicker can be used to "shape" and refine it, making it smoother, faster, or more precise.
• Suitable for Many Species: Its universal application makes it effective for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and many other animals.

How to Start Clicker Training: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting started with clicker training is simple and highly rewarding!

Phase 1: "Loading the Clicker" (Creating the Association)

1. Find a Quiet Space: Start in a distraction-free environment.
2. Gather High-Value Treats: Use small, soft, and irresistible treats that your pet can eat quickly.
3. Click, Then Treat: Click the clicker once, then immediately (within 1-2 seconds) give your pet a treat. Do not wait for your pet to do anything. You are teaching them: "Click = Treat."
4. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: Do 10-15 repetitions in a short session (e.g., 1-2 minutes). Repeat these short sessions a few times a day for a day or two. Your pet might start looking for the treat after the click, showing they've made the connection.

Phase 2: "Capturing" Behaviours (Clicking for What They Offer)

1. Observe Your Pet: Watch for behaviours your pet offers naturally that you like. For example, if your dog sits on their own, or your cat looks at you.
2. Click the Instant They Do It: The very second your pet's bottom touches the ground (for a sit) or they make eye contact, click! Then immediately follow with a treat.
3. No Command Yet: Do not say a verbal cue (like "sit") during this capturing phase. You want the click to mark the action itself.
4. Repeat: Do this a few times until your pet starts offering the behaviour more frequently. They're trying to figure out what gets the click!

Phase 3: "Shaping" New Behaviours & Adding Cues

1. Break Down Complex Behaviours: For new or more complex behaviours (like "lie down"), break them into tiny steps.
2. For "lie down": Click and treat for a head tilt, then for a nose dip, then for one elbow touching, then both, then fully down.
3. Click for Approximations: Reward any movement towards the desired behaviour. Don't wait for perfection.
4. Add the Verbal Cue (Once Behaviour is Solid): Once your pet is reliably performing the behaviour (e.g., sitting instantly when you wait for it), then and only then, say the verbal cue (e.g., "Sit") just before they perform the action. Click and treat after the action.
5. Practice in Different Environments: Once a behaviour is known, practice it in different locations with varying levels of distraction to "proof" the behaviour.

Important Clicker Training Tips:

• One Click, One Treat: Every click must be followed by a treat, especially when loading the clicker and teaching new behaviours.
• Click the Action, Not the Treat: The click marks the behaviour, not the act of receiving the treat.
• Keep Sessions Short & Positive: End on a high note, even if it's after just a few successful clicks.
• No Punishment: Clicker training is purely positive. Never use the clicker to interrupt or punish.
• Fade the Clicker (Eventually): Once your pet reliably performs a behaviour to a verbal cue, you can gradually use the clicker less often, relying on the verbal cue and occasional treats or life rewards.

With the Trixie Dog Activity Clicker and a positive approach, you'll be amazed at how quickly and enthusiastically your pet learns!