Free online dog clicker

How to use a dog clicker

A clicker is a marker: a short, distinct sound that tells your dog "that, exactly that" at the instant they do something right. On its own the sound means nothing. It gets its meaning from what follows it, which is a treat, every time.

1. Charge it first. Click, then hand over a small treat within a second or two. Repeat 10 to 15 times. When your dog's head whips round at the sound, it's charged.
2. Click the moment, not the result. Click as the bottom touches the floor, not when the dog has been sitting for a while.
3. One click, one treat. Even if you clicked by accident. That keeps the sound meaningful.
4. Keep sessions short. Two to five minutes, a few times a day, beats one long session.

New to this? Start with our clicker training guide, then teach sit. To understand why speed matters, read clicker timing.

Click, "Yes!" or a box clicker?

All three work. A box clicker or this page sounds the same every time, which helps. A spoken "Yes!" is always with you but changes with your mood. Sound-sensitive dogs often do better with a softer click; turn the volume down or use "Yes!".

The hard part is knowing it's working

A clicker can't tell you if you're doing it right, or whether your dog is actually learning. That's what Sit AI is for: prop up your iPhone, and it watches your dog, tells you when to treat, and shows your progress session by session.