Reddit mentions: The best dog training clickers

The basics (food, leash, collar, dishes, crate) will probably already be taken care of. I'd focus on training and positive dog-kid interaction, because it will set the stage for their relationship. If they're working together then it's easier to commit long term and be responsible, because it's enjoyable.

I guess it depends how much money are you looking to spend.

In the upper ranges, you could pay for a puppy kindergarten class (great for socialization, great for everyone involved).

Or maybe, a manners minder, a very effective training tool.

In the less expensive categories,

What about puzzle toys? They'll keep the puppy mentally stimulated, keep him quiet(er) when left alone, and give your family some peaceful breaks from the chaos. People need to destress too, in order to interact with dogs successfully.

• kong is a classic. Smear some peanut butter on the inside and it's like a puppy pacifier. Or, stuff it with mushy dog food and freeze it for an even longer lasting activity.
  
• JW treat ball is more active and will tire a puppy out. Treat balls are good for feeding kibble at mealtimes (no need to use dishes at every meal!).
  
  Maybe a portable dog water bottle/bowl for long walks? Something like this: gulpy water. That would encourage the idea of exercise and getting out and about, and also the idea that the puppy's well being and safety need to be accounted for.
  
  Books are a good idea too. It depends what his reading level is, and how much he enjoys reading. I wouldn't want to make puppy care tedious or a chore. There's a good training booklist here http://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/books. If you think those would be a bit too heavy for him, maybe a book of dog trick ideas would be fun.
  
  The sooner kids interact positively with a puppy, the better it will go in the long run. On that note, like flibbertygiblet said, a clicker, treat bag, and a bag of tiny stinky treats would be a great idea. If you go the clicker route, I'd recommend starting with a quiet one, so the puppy doesn't get startled at first. Kids and puppies can be a bit unpredictable, so better safe than sorry. I like the iClick model.
  
  
  

I have never in my life heard of a dog losing the ability to socialize with others so rapidly. I think there's something else going on, and I bet it's your depression.

Dogs are very sensitive to stress in their humans. I think your dog knows there's something wrong. She doesn't understand what it is, but it's got her afraid, and she's doing her best to keep you and herself safe. I have heard of cases of dogs becoming aggressively protective when their owners are going through stressful periods like break-ups, job loss, evictions, etc. Unfortunately, aggression has a way of snowballing, because when you anticipate that she's going to be aggressive, she picks up on your tenseness, and it makes her feel even more protective.

I think the most important thing you can do is try to get yourself back into a happy headspace. When you're relaxed and confident, your dog can relax and be confident. Try to take it easy and be a good role model for your dog. When you go walking with her, for example, try not to tense up when other people approach, because your dog may be misreading that as fear and see these people as a threat to you.

In the meantime, buy yourself a clicker or two, come up with some inexpensive treats that are small and healthy and super delicious to your dog, and get ready to familiarize yourself with clicker training. Clicker training is a great way to work on your dog's confidence. With this method, you can gradually introduce an animal to the thing it fears and show them it's not so scary after all.

If I were you, I would start by teaching her the most important skill of all: To always have her attention on you whenever you're training her. Watch this. And when you're done, watch these.

After that, I would train her to stay focused on you whenever you're walking her on a leash. I'd start by practicing inside the home without any distractions. Then, when she's got it 100%, gradually add distractions (like the sound of the TV turned up or her favorite toys scattered around). And when she can do it indoors perfectly, try practicing outdoors when there aren't people/animals around. Then practice when there are people/animals in the distance. And then when they're a little closer.

I would also teach her some sort of command that means, basically, "Stop whatever you're doing. We're leaving now." Watch this.

Then I'd gradually work on walking her closer and closer to people/animals and rewarding her for being calm, paying more attention to me than to them, and obeying my "let's go" command.

Be patient and don't set her up for failure. If she's having trouble getting it right, take a step back and practice what she can already do reliably. Then try again. Dogs gets frustrated when they make too many mistakes, so do your best to save her from making them.

Keep your training sessions short, and always end on a good note (i.e., with her getting it right and still interested in further training). Training should never go on so long that either you or she are getting tired of it; you want to keep it as something she looks forward to.

A couple things. First, your pup is only going to repeat behaviors that are rewarded. So if you give her the treat when she paws your hands, even just once or twice, she will learn it is a viable option and may try to do it more. For this reason you should be careful what you accidentally reward.

Second, if your pup is getting frustrated and disengaging from training, you've got to take a step back and try to figure out why that is. Maybe she just ate so she's not hungry. Maybe the environment is too distracting. More likely, you are not making things easy enough for her to grasp, so she is not being rewarded frequently enough to make it worth her time. How often your pup is rewarded in a given timeframe is called your rate of reinforcement. If this rate drops too low, a dog will check out. Keep it high, and they will stay engaged. Especially with a super young pup, your ROR has to be super high. We're talking 10-15 treats a minute at least. Once your ROR is high then you need to look at how you are training the behavior. Are you rewarding incremental steps in the right direction (called shaping)? Or are you trying to get her to do the entire behavior all at once. The first approach is going to work best. Finally, when I teach a new behavior I like to frequently switch between the new behavior and a known one to keep my pup interested and the ROR high. For you this will be your "look at me" behavior.

If you are struggling with basic training concepts it's never a bad time to go work on your own skills before you work with your dog! Watching a dozen different ways to teach "sit" is not going to help if you don't understand why you're teaching it a certain way or how to use the basic principles of operant conditioning. Karen Pryor is an expert animal trainer with tons of resources on positive reinforcement training using a clicker. You can buy a bundle on amazon with helpful materials (including a DVD) that can help you learn how to be a better trainer so you are more successful with your pup. For me, getting the info straight from a professional has always been better than depending on the gazillions of videos on YT. Good luck!

Some of these are probably things you've already thought about, but here is my list.

Please visit /r/puppy101 !

• Kennel appropriate for his size, should be able to lay down and turn around in it. Too big and the puppy will be more prone to accidents in their kennel. (Midwest Homes makes great crates for all sizes, most come with a divider).
  
• Bedding for kennel and soft blanket. (Example)
  
• Baby blankets, just a personal thing for me - I set up a blanket and put her toys on it, it's her "play area". (Example)
  
• Stuffed toys, squeaky toys, tuggy toys, chew toys (puppy appropriate), snuggle toys - TOYS, TOYS, TOYS. Pets Smart has a buy 2 get 1 free sale, or least they did a week ago. Kong is one of the brands on sale, I highly recommend them.
  
• Teething toys for when he eventually starts teething. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000084E6V/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1 ,
  
• A Kong toy, look up how to use one and which one to buy - my puppy loves it. (http://www.kongcompany.com/)
  
• Toy bin.
  
• Treats that can be cut up into small pieces for training. I use deli Turkey and Chicken, as well as Apples & peanut butter. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H0ZJHW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 , http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HBBQKY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 , http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002H3R2E/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1)
  
• A clicker, if you've decided to do clicker training. (Example)
  
• Harness.
  
• Collar and tags.
  
• Water bowl, food bowl, and mat.
  
• Food storage container, and a scoop.
  
• Treat bag. (Example)
  
• Dental care kit. (Example)
  
• Brush, or Furminator if they're going to be long-haired. (Example, Example)
  
• Shampoo and/or conditioner (Example)
  
• Leash for leash training, and a long leash for other training.
  
• Towels. Large one for drying him or his feet, and small ones for cleaning up messes.
  
• Nature's Miracle, for mess clean up. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JJPSXN8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Poop bags or pooper scooper, as well as a poop bag dispenser or trash can for poop. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017SZNOW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 , http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M4QLXAE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
• Doggy "diaper bag". I bought a tote online so I can bring stuff with me for travel (to dog park, vet, friends house, etc.) (Example)
  
• Baby gates. So many baby gates - I have two with cat doors and a large door for humans to easily walk through. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00229V2KE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  
  
  
• Look into CareCredit or Pet Insurance.
  
• Look up Vets in your area and the costs of all their vaccines/boosters/exams/spray or neuter/rabies shots/etc.
  
• Look up your states laws on dog registration (usually occurs right after they get their rabies shot).
  
  Edit: Forgot Nail Clipps and/or a dremel.

Honest answer? Clicker training.

Here are the steps:

1. Find a treat your cat loves more than anything else, and something small enough that your cat can eat it in a second. My cats love cooked ground beef, but cheese, salmon, lunch meat and certain treats are all good choices.
   
2. Get a training clicker like this (or learn to make the noise)
   
3. For a week or two, click then give your cat a treat over and over again. You're teaching your cat to bridge the noise with a treat coming.
   
4. Then start clicking your cat when he does something you like. It's a message saying "I'm about to give you a treat for what you're currently doing".
   
5. Find ways to get your cat to do things. Waving a treat above their head to get them to stand, waving a toy on a target to hit it on cue, etc. As they start getting things in broad strokes, you can hone in on what you want them to do by choosing what you click.
   
   If you want more info, read Don't Shoot The Dog. It's the same idea. The biggest difference is that your cats attention span is probably much shorter than a dog's, so you got maybe 15-20 minutes when training them before they get bored. You just need to keep doing it every day.

Any noise can be used as the "click," but something handheld will usually be more precise than anything verbal. Some other things you can use are saying, "yes!", the click of a pen, snap your fingers (only try this one if you've never snapped your fingers in an angry way to get his attention or something), a bottle cap (like a Snapple cap), and there might even be some sort of smartphone app you can download.

Are you using a box clicker? These can be pretty loud and jarring. You can try wrapping a towel over your clicker hand, or clicking in your pocket. They make some quieter clickers, like this one, but it's hard to say if it will still scare him.

Give the meds some time to get into his system, and don't be afraid to talk to your vet if you see no change. Just like with people, sometimes the first med doesn't work right.

That's interesting about the Kong. It sounds like he's lacking a ton of confidence. The clicker training should eventually help him become a bit more confident, and/or some day he might just "get it" and decide to try harder with the Kong. If it's really stressing him out, there are other puzzle toys you can try, or you can feed him exclusively through training sessions.

Hope that helps!

1. I'm somewhere in between. I bought like 10 clickers and have them everywhere, but I also use "yep!" as a marker word. I probably reinforce the marker word at lower than 100% though, so I know the clicker is really better. If you think startle reflex/ noise aversion might be an issue, we use these which are quieter and pretty cheap.
   
   
2. My dog did this a lot. Is she generally a nervous girl? For Smokey, doing stuff like sitting down on the floor, relaxing my shoulders, using a quiet, gentle voice, and yawning or licking my lips helped. Having me standing up, looking stiff/focused, and using a commanding voice was intimidating to him. As people said she may also just be settling in to a new place. If she's not yet eating a good amount of her normal dog food, this is probably the case.
   
   
3. Once you get any issues sorted out, the clicker/treat association should happen within minutes. Until then, you can use your marker word and treat when she reorients to you in the presence of prey.
   
   PS: she is gorgeous!! Congrats on your new furbaby.

Buying a clicker would probably be better - having a loud clear sound is ideal - pen clicks are not that loud. Pens are great for young puppies or dogs afraid of a clicker, but if that is not a problem, a classic box style clicker is really cheap and really hard to confuse in their environment. Dogs are generally pretty good at determining what is a mark and what isn't but if you are around people who click pens around your dog a lot it COULD weaken the signal.

A clicker is also going to be loud enough to hear outside or in noisy environments (like training class). Many obedience school will give free clickers to students if you choose a school that uses positive reinforcement/clickers 8)

You're almost done with heartworm treatment, yay!

I second the recommendation for a treat pouch. Yes it's dorky, but I'm so over caring about how I look. I'm more concerned with preventing my dog from acting like an asshole. I've seen guys in reactive dog class use nail pouches or work aprons from Home Depot, if that's more your style.

I use clickers with wrist straps to keeps my hands free. I keep the leash and clicker in one hand, and use my other hand for treats.

I have discovered that I am getting really good at (and enjoy) dog training! I have trained both my own husky and mine and my roommate's foster German Shepherd. I would like to take some classes and turn this into a hobby or job. A few clickers would be a great way to start out! I have some friends who have recently adopted dogs, and I could try the clicker out on my dogs and their dogs!

Thanks for the contest! I want to try something new.

http://www.amazon.com/Button-Pet-Training-Clickers-click/dp/B003BK9XPY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2Z8QXC2F6RJMY&coliid=IZZNY0IAP1FV

I would suggest going for a working dog - collie, springer spaniel, german shepherd, lab etc if you're very active. They can drive you up the wall if they don't get out much OR their brains aren't challenged regularly. You need to keep in mind what that working breed has been trained to do over the centuries, herd, guard, sniff out stuff etc and train/walk them with that in mind. If you have a springer spaniel and try training it whilst there are critters around in the undergrowth you'll have problems. Border Collies are sight dogs so again, you're going to set the dog up to fail if you try and train them somewhere sheep or similar are about.

The trendy breeds I'd advise against such as mentioned elsewhere bulldogs and pugs as their breathing is awful due to their shite selective breeding/eugenics.

I was told about a way of training recall by a hunting dog trainer. He said buy one of these 210.5 dog whistles.

When the puppy is young and ready to go on walks off lead then you whistle three times and place the puppies food down as it arrives to investigate. The following day do the same thing. Then on the third day take the food out to the park with the puppy when it's run off to investigate something blow three times again and give it the food when it arrives. That... surprisingly was all it took to train mine to recall to the whistle. This is what you use in emergencies and need the animal to return immediately.

For general training you need a [Clicker](
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Multi-Clicker-Puppy-Training-Guide/dp/B000QRF336/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1491942493&sr=8-6&keywords=dog+clicker)

a [Treat Bag](
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coachies-TCB-Training-Treat-Bag/dp/B004Y3QHOC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1491942633&sr=8-3&keywords=dog+treat+bag)

and some
Books, [Don't Shoot the Dog](
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Teaching-Training/dp/1860542387/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1491942695&sr=1-7&keywords=clicker+training+for+dogs), [Clicker Training for Dogs](
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clicker-Training-Dogs-Positive-reinforcement-x/dp/1860542824/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1491942769&sr=1-3&keywords=Karen+Pryor)

Positive reinforcement works great. Take a read of these and take small steps and you'll have a fantastic dog whatever breed you choose.

Good luck.

Karma inducing images of my dog on a recent winter barn camp.

I've looked up some of the resources for you that I have found helpful in the past and can give you a better idea of how to clicker train your cat. It takes a lot of patience and needing to pair the behavior you're desiring with the sound of the click and then the treat. This helps kitty know that the reward is contingent on the behavior.

https://www.adventurecats.org/backcountry-basics/how-to-clicker-train-a-cat/
http://www.thejacksongalaxyproject.org/2018-Cat-Pawsitive-Clicker-Training-Basics-Handout-FINAL.pdf
https://www.clickertraining.com/cat-training


Some examples of clickers you can purchase off of Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Pryor-Clicker-Training-Terry/dp/B00CDRJ3FG?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Button-Pet-Training-Clickers-click/dp/B003BK9XPY/ref=pd_sim_199_13?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B003BK9XPY&pd_rd_r=6ace0485-9212-4434-ae64-506ffd2a37ab&pd_rd_w=LiNJD&pd_rd_wg=Syl0D&pf_rd_p=5c130

You got me interested.

After the Minkery book this early year, i'am interested for something else that i could study. Clicker training could be a great addition to my book collection.

Found also a clicker with 4 different tone https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B004WO8SUE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1X6FK5RDHNB96&psc=1

So, does someone have a good book on the subject ?

Thanks

Here's the dog training answer: get a dog training clicker and some really good dog treats, like small bits of real meat. Go outside, get the dog's attention, and wait for the dog to stop barking, even for a fraction of a second. Click the clicker and throw the treat over the fence. While the dog is eating the treat, they probably won't be barking, so click again and throw another treat. Basically the idea is to teach the dog that they get food when they're being quiet, so click and treat every time there's a moment of silence. Once the dog's figured it out, start waiting for a full second of silence before you click and treat. Then two seconds, etc. Do this for ten minutes a couple of times a day, and in a few days you'll be living next to a much quieter dog.

(For the curious, you use a clicker because it tells the dog exactly what they're being rewarded for. Most dogs can do a dozen different things in the time it takes to say "good dog" and get a treat out of your pocket, but if you can click at the exact moment they do something right, they learn what you want them to do much faster.)

Reward him for even the slightest interest or movement towards the treat in your hand. If you're still seeing that he's hesitant then you can try a couple of different things to lure him:

• A Click Stick with pb or soft treats smushed on the end
  
  
• A wooden spoon with a glob of pb on the end
  
  
• A lean lix style treat
  
  
• a small jar (baby food jars are perfect) with frozen wet food in it

Oh sure clicker training is a method I saw from kikopup (again all her YouTube stuff is great).

It's literally a small thing that makes a click (this is the one I used, love the finger strap) there are tons out there. Basically it's another marker for the pup that they did something right. I also give a "good!" In a specific voice as another marker it's what you asked for. The idea is eventually you can remove the treat and then the clicker and the "good!" Is all you need for the pup to know they did it right!

I use this one, which is significantly quieter than the traditional box clicker like this one that you can find in any pet store. Now that my dog is older and isn't as fearful I find that I can use them interchangeably. I actually prefer the box clicker in certain environments (like outdoors or for more remote stuff) since the button clicker can sometimes be too soft.

If you have a dog that is scared or startled by the clicker, another good way to muffle it is wrapping it up in a sock. We had to start clicker training off like that at first to get her used to the sound being a good thing.

I use a [Dog Training Clicker] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K7ZJJG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). My friends and I change up acknowledgement clicks, because other guys have started to pick up on our use of these, but it makes for great communication without such an exotic sound.

I've had good results with a dog clicker. https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Yellow-Training-Clicker-Wristband/dp/B007M0HT1Y/ref=asc_df_B007M0HT1Y/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198076665015&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18431237667828691673&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006507&hvtargid=pla-353158297336&psc=1

One click for pause or check in, multiple clicks for stop. Its been pretty easy to train as second nature for communication. Occasionally when my sub goes non verbal and pretty deep into space I'll ask for a click to check in. If that click doesn't happen it's time to stop.

Most also come with a little band to loop around your wrist so there is less risk of dropping it.

Did you get a box clicker? If so you might want to try a button clicker, as they tend to be quieter. Otherwise you can muffle it by pulling your sleeve over your hand, putting your hand in your pocket, or holding it behind your back.

Brown rice doesn't have that much nutritional value. A clicker is training device that makes a distinctive clicking sound. The concept is when you click, you give a reward. My pigeon's regular meals are pellets and vegetables; seed as treats. When he does something good/a behavior I want, I click-give seed then my pigeon is able to learn the behavior.

This one

The one I had before is this one which had a better front pouch I could put the ball in, but it wore out in only a few months, while the first one I linked is still going strong around a year later.

lol I recently bought clickers on Amazon for this express purpose. Haven't tested them out yet, but will be excited to do so soon!

https://www.amazon.com/EcoCity-Upgrade-Version-Training-Clicker/dp/B071NTVXN2/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1542761417&sr=1-4&keywords=DOG+CLICKER

I got a package of 5 clickers on Amazon for just under $10 - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LAS2LG/ref=twister_B002LAS7DO

They work great and having a bunch means I usually can find one when I need it.

I've been looking into training cats, I just bought a book and a Click Stick. I would love to train other animals, I just don't have the time right now because of school and such.

What other animals did you have in mind?

It doesn't matter, my animal trainer wife (super legit, she does research with it) just clicks her tongue when she doesn't have a clicker. Just takes them a sec to realize

there's a few kinds of clickers out there and the only difference between them is how the trainer wants to use them, like this one with a target, which we've totally used to get our bengal to jump through hoops

don't ever let lack of perfect equipment or "training treats" stop you!

I used these things. Click it in the mic when you botch a line, and it leaves two big peaks on the waveform that are very easily identified. Makes it easy to track down your edits.

Buy another one. This is the only one I ever use, because it's so convenient still being able to use that hand.

You could use something like a dog clicker driven by a servo or something.

http://www.amazon.com/Karen-i-Click-Training-Clicker-Clickers/dp/B002LAS2KW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404790777&sr=8-2&keywords=Dog+Clicker

http://www.amazon.com/Petco-PETCO-Dog-Training-Clicker/dp/B0006344B2/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1404790777&sr=8-15&keywords=Dog+Clicker

Something like this

I just bought four clickers so I'd always have one easily available and all the clickers would have consistent sound

Amazon :)

I opted for the 7 pack since she likes to destroy things :D

If you're ordering from Amazon, I like these clickers. They're not better than any other really, but for just a couple more dollars you get a 3 pack. And you'll want spares, clickers have a tendency to just run away.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience.

I for one have a hard time snapping my fingers consistently. Jangling keys or a dog clicker make an excellent tool for safe-wording when gagged.

Not at all! We bought these! Dog Training Clicker with Wrist Strap - Pet Training Clicker, Big Button Clicker Set, 2-Pack(Blue + White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756JFQ3K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qe.TAbHQBFJX4

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B018ZZVCYO/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1483967836&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=nipple+clicker+bitch

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002LAS2KW/ref=aw_wl_ov_dp_1_13?colid=QEE8QSNEZ02K&coliid=ISXMEE0DHXSQO&vs=1

I use Karen Pryor clickers because they're inexpensive and small. I tend to give them away.

Get a training clicker. Started when my cat was young, now it doesn't like treats but will still come when I use the clicker.

Maybe this. I've never tried it and there are no reviews, so I can't say how well it works or what the tones are.


I do seem to recall that there were a few clickers out that made alternative sounds, but for the life of me I can't remember where I saw them ... and it was a while ago so they may not be available any more.

I just say the word “Click.” It’s almost as fast, I don’t have to remember where I left the damn clicker, and Vader isn’t petrified of it the way he was the real clicker.

I also had some luck with the clik-r brand because it’s a quieter click.