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Clickaroo training guide · Foundations

How to charge a clicker for dog training

This skill teaches your dog that a click means a treat is coming, so the click can tell your dog the exact moment it got something right.

4 short steps, each with a picture and a clear goal that tells you when to move on. About 3 minutes per session.

By Shengxing Yang, developer of ClickarooBased on positive-reinforcement (clicker) training

On this pageEvery step in text and pictures, free to read, and Mochi’s animation of step 1.

In the Clickaroo appAn animation for every step, ✓ or ✕ for every try, and a suggestion after each session: move on, stay on the step or make it a little easier. Charge the Clicker is one of the five free skills.

Step by step

The 4 steps

  1. Mochi, a cartoon puppy, acting out step 1 of Charge the Clicker: Click, then treat

    Step 1

    Click, then treat

    1. Stand or sit near your dog in a quiet room.
    2. Click once, then hand your dog a treat within a second or two.
    3. Don't ask for anything first. Your dog just has to be there.
    4. Do 10 click-and-treat pairs, then stop and play.

    Move on whenYour dog looks toward you or your treat hand right after the click in at least 8 of 10 tries, two sessions in a row.

  2. Mochi, a cartoon puppy, acting out step 2 of Charge the Clicker: Mix up where your dog is

    Step 2

    Mix up where your dog is

    1. Click when your dog is a few steps away or facing a little to the side.
    2. After each click, bring the treat to your dog or drop it by its paws.
    3. Keep your treat hand still until after the click. The sound is the signal, not your hand.

    Move on whenYour dog turns toward you right after the click in at least 8 of 10 tries, two sessions in a row.

  3. Mochi, a cartoon puppy, acting out step 3 of Charge the Clicker: The surprise test

    Step 3

    The surprise test

    1. Wait until your dog is busy sniffing or looking away.
    2. Click once, then give a treat as soon as your dog turns to you.
    3. A quick head turn toward you means the click now has meaning.

    Move on whenYour dog turns or comes to you right after a surprise click in at least 8 of 10 tries, two sessions in a row.

  4. Mochi, a cartoon puppy, acting out step 4 of Charge the Clicker: Take it to new places

    Step 4

    Take it to new places

    1. Repeat the surprise test in another room, then in your yard or on a quiet walk.
    2. Use extra-tasty treats outside, where there is more to sniff.
    3. Stop while your dog still wants more, and end with an easy click and treat.

    Move on whenYour dog turns to you after a surprise click in at least 8 of 10 tries, two sessions in a row, in a new place.

Common mistakes

  • Clicking without giving a treat. Every click needs a treat, even a click you didn't mean to make.
  • Reaching for the treat before you click. Click first, then move your hand.
  • Clicking right next to your dog's ear. Hold your phone at your waist.
  • Using the click to call your dog or get its attention. The click only means “a treat is coming.”
  • Training too long. Stop after 3–5 minutes, while your dog still wants more.

Safety

  • Treats add up. Use tiny pieces, and take a little food out of meals on training days.
  • If your dog has a food allergy or a special diet, ask your vet which treats are okay.

Good to know

Questions and troubleshooting

How do you charge a clicker for dog training?

Charge the clicker in 4 short steps: 1) Click, then treat; 2) Mix up where your dog is; 3) The surprise test; 4) Take it to new places. Move on from a step only when your dog meets its goal. For step 1, that means your dog looks toward you or your treat hand right after the click in at least 8 of 10 tries, two sessions in a row.

What if my dog seems startled by the click?

Turn the volume down, switch to the Soft sound, or keep the phone in your pocket. Pair the quiet click with extra-tasty treats, then raise the volume bit by bit over several sessions.

What if my dog doesn't care about the treats?

Try softer, smellier treats, and train before a meal instead of after. Pick a quiet room with nothing else going on.

What if my dog ignores the surprise click?

Go back to Step 2 for a few more sessions. Make sure a treat follows every click, fast.

Practice Charge the Clicker with Mochi

Clickaroo is an ad-free dog clicker and whistle for iPhone. Mochi acts out every step of all 31 skills. Five skills are free; Pro is a one-time purchase. No subscription, no account.

Coming soon to the App StoreGet Clickaroo on the App Store See Clickaroo

More training guides

About this guide

Written by Shengxing Yang, the developer of Clickaroo, from the app’s own lessons. It uses positive reinforcement: you mark the right behavior with a click, then reward it.

Why positive reinforcement: in its 2021 Position Statement on Humane Dog Training, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) writes, “Evidence supports the use of reward based methods for all canine training,” and finds no evidence that aversive training is necessary for dog training or behavior modification.

Clickaroo teaches everyday skills and tricks with positive reinforcement. For aggression, fear or severe anxiety, please work with a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist.