326. Clicker used for toilet training?

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

Over 300 puppy owners surveyed. None used the clicker for toilet training in the survey in Singapore.

A clicker is a box with a metal plate which make a "click" sound when pressed.

Clicker training makes use of the clicker to click and treat a dog that has performed to the owner's expectations. Rewarding behaviour that the owner likes. Part of positive reinforcement training (no punishment).

Clicker makes a consistent sound unlike verbal cues (good boy) which depends on our tone or timing which may be delayed, confusing the dog.

METHOD

Click once and give a treat immediately. Repeat. Soon the dog associates clicks with treats. Do this for short periods like 5 minutes. For toilet training, only click when the dog has just peed or pooped.

Next, say "pee pee", click and give treat when the dog eliminates. Give treats only after the dog obeys the verbal command and click. Later, no clicking but just verbal command. Re-train occasionaly with verbal command, click and treat.


Every dog is different. So, the clicker method may not work for all dogs.