Are you looking to start training your dog and you want a clicker?
Clicker training has become increasingly popular over the past decade or so as dog owners look to adopt positive reinforcement training rather than outdated training methods.
If you’re familiar with some well-knock dog trainers on television, you’ll probably know that trainers such as Zak George endorse and encourage clicker training.
A clicker is a simple mechanical noisemaker that will usually make a single or double click sound to indicate to your dog that they’ve done something good and a treat is forthcoming.
While clickers are usually affordable, you shouldn’t underestimate how valuable these little training tools can be when it comes to training sessions with your dog.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best clicker for dog training in the UK right now to help experienced or new dog owners in their quest to master clicker training.
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What Is Clicker Training?
As we touched upon above, clicker training is a form of positive training reinforcement that focuses on what your dog is doing right rather than what they’re getting wrong.
The idea behind clicker training is that you’ll use the clicker when your dog successfully follows a command or does something good to indicate that you’re happy with your pup.
At the start of clicker training, you’ll usually give your dog a treat after every click so they begin to associate the sound of the clicker with a reward.
The American Kennel Club explain on their website that these techniques are based on the science of animal learning, which says that behaviours that are rewarded are more likely to be repeated in the future.
By concentrating on your dog’s good behaviour, you’ll hopefully encouragement your pet to be a well-mannered and obedient dog as well as building a bond between you and your canine companion.
While you may have tried verbal positive reinforcement as a method of training, the clicker has a distinct and loud sound that clearly communicates with your four-legged frined.
Once your dog associates the clicker with good behaviour, you can slowly stop giving your pooch a treat every time.
Things To Look For When Buying A Clicker
Terrier looks at dog owner with clicker (Photo: Adobe Stock)
There are a number of considerations when you’re looking at getting a clicker for your dog.
Most clickers will have a simplistic design and there’s no need to overcomplicate this little training device.
You’ll want to be sure that the clicker gives a clear, distinct and loud sound so it effectively signals good behaviour.
Some clickers can hang from your wrist or you can place it on your finger, it comes down to personal preference.
You’ll want a clicker that’s easy to find and press in case you ned to use the clicker when you notice another dog approaching or you spot a small animal that your pup would typically chase.
If you’ve got a dog who is prone to anxiety or nervous when outside the home, you may want a clicker with volume control.
There are some clickers that include a whistle which could be a handy tool if you’re working on recall or commands that require you to leave your dog in position and move away.
Best Clicker For Dog Training UK
Now that we’ve explained what a clicker is and a little about clicker training, let’s look at the best clickers for dog training in the UK at the moment.
1) Diyife Pet Training Clicker
Where To Buy: www.amazon.co.uk
If you’re familiar with training clickers for dogs, you’ll likely recognise the Diyife Pet Training Clicker. It has a big button for easy clicking with a loud sound. It has a double click sound thanks to the metal plate that is depressed before popping back up to give two clicks. Designed in the shape of a water droplet, the Diyife Pet Clicker isn’t battery powered. You can get the Diyife Pet Training Clicker in a range of different colours. The elastic wrist strap allows the clicker to be worn on your wrist for easy access when you need to use it. The Diyife Pet Clicker gets an average rating of 4.4 stars based upon nearly 8,000 reviews on Amazon.
2) PetSafe Clik-R Training Tool
Where To Buy: www.amazon.co.uk
PetSafe write on their Amazon page that their Clik-R Training has been designed to provide a clear way to train your pet using a click and reward system. It has an ergonomic shape so it feels comfortable when held in your hand. Unlike the previous product, the PetSafe Clik-R Training Tool has an attached finger band to make it easy to hold and use at a moment’s notice. Whether you’re laying down the ground-rules with a puppy or you’re trying to work on your dog’s reactivity, the PetSafe’s finger band is extremely convenient. At the time of writing, the PetSafe Clik-R Training Tool gets 4.1 stars out of 5 based upon nearly 17,000 reviews online.
3) Coachi Multi-Clicker
Where To Buy: www.amazon.co.uk
Coachi Multi-Clicker is a clicker for dog training with three volume settings. So you can adjust the clicker’s sound so it won’t upset anxious or nervous dogs. With an adjustable wristband and a raised thumb-piece to make it easy to use, the Coachi Mult-Clicker has a sophisticated design. Coachi have used some reflective material in their clicker to give you an added layer of safety. Their clicker was designed by Dr Roger Mugford and his team of training and behaviour specialists. The Coachi Multi-Clicker has 4.3 stars based upon 1,275 reviews on Amazon.
4) Coachi Whizzclick Combined Clicker
Where To Buy: www.amazon.co.uk
The Coachi Whizzclick is a clicker for dog training with an added bonus. While you’ll have a clicker that you can use for dog training, the The Company of Animals Whizzclick has a whistle – too. So they’ve combined two of the most-popular dog training tools for your ultimate convenience. This clicker could be particularly useful if you’re working on your dog’s recall or harnessing their prey drive. You can also use the whistle for basic training commands such as sit, lie down and stay. It’s got an elasticated wrist strap with a raised button to access the clicker. The Company of Animals’ Whizzclick has an average rating of 4.3 stars based upon over 1,000 reviews on Amazon.
5) STARMARK Pro-Training Clicker Training Aid
Where To Buy: www.amazon.co.uk
STARMARK Pro-Training Clicker Training Aid is an easy, safe and fun way to shape and reward positive behaviours. The STARMARK is a stainless steel clicker that won’t rust so you can hope for some longevity with this clicker. Judging by the Amazon reviews, the STARMARK Pro-Training Clicker delivers on a loud click. So if that’s what you want, you may want to consider this no thrills clicker. It has an average rating of 4.3 stars based upon 4,570 reviews on Amazon.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
Australian Shepherd looks at dog owner with clicker (Photo: Adobe Stock)
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best clickers for dog training in the UK at the moment.
Clickers are a useful training tool for British dog owners looking to pursue positive reinforcement training.
They’re a relatively cheap piece of training equipment but their effectiveness shouldn’t be underestimated.
If you’ve got a dog breed that tends to have poor recall or a high prey drive like me, you may prefer a clicker that has a whistle included to give you an even more versatile training device.
We’ve highlighted five clickers for dog training that can serve a purpose and help UK pet owners train their dog as well as boosting communication and deepening your bond.
