Clicker Training...
Clicker training is a method where you mark and reward every good behavior your dog performs. It is based on positive reinforcement methods. I used to be a huge fan but in teaches classes and in trying to pass on the method to my students, the clicker got left behind and replaced with a marker word, the word "yes". Using the word follows the same concept but it doesn't take the extra coordination the clicker does and you always have your words on you. I found that people often had a hard time remember to keep their clicker handy. Plus, and this is true even in my own experience, sometimes you truly need 3 hands to operate a clicker. So in trying to keep with realistic methods for my clients, the clicker basically disappeared from my teachings all together.
However, I am reconsidering. The clicker really speeds up the training process, it is a unique sound so it becomes very significant to the dog. If you learn how to use a bridge word, such as "yes", you can easily transition from using the clicker to using the word so that once your dog has good experience with the new cues, you can really wean off the clicker very quickly.
Below is a video showing you the first few steps of introducing the clicker. The next video will show you how to start applying it to teach and clean up new behaviors
