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Get your hands on the patented training leash Modern Dog calls "genius" and help your dog be their best while you build a powerful life-long bond. The Clicker Leash helps you cut through the noise of everyday life and make the most of the good behavior while bad habits quickly fade away. Whether raising your first puppy or rehabilitating a mature dog, the Clicker Leash works up to 50% faster than traditional methods and moves seamlessly from training class to real-world situations.
The Clicker Leash is one of the most comfortable leashes out there. The ergonomic handle provides a slip resistant grip so even the feistiest Fido will be secure. Surprisingly lightweight but extremely durable, the Clicker Leash won't just be your favorite training tool, it will be your favorite leash.
*The combined length of your Clicker Leash handle and 3ft leash length is close to 4ft. We have found this to be the ideal length for most dogs and handlers when starting to train.
The Clicker Leash will change the way you think about dog training!
Your dog performs hundreds of behaviors every day; giving you kisses, digging holes, walking beside you, jumping up, sitting, smelling the grass, laying down, just to name a few. Unfortunately, they don't come preprogrammed to know which behaviors you like and which ones drive you nuts. Instead of using your energy to correct your dog for the behaviors you don't like, with the Clicker Leash you can effectively reward your dog for the behaviors you do like, resulting in a social, well-mannered dog.
Training Tips & Videos
If you follow our three easy training steps, the "click" from your Clicker Leash will come to mean "good dog!" Because the click is brief and distinct from most of the sounds your dog hears every day, it will cut through the confusion and let your dog know the exact moment he has done something you like. Because your dog will understand what he had to do to make good things happen, he will be more likely to offer you that behavior again.
With the Clicker Leash, the dog you want is within reach! Follow the simple steps below and you will be on your way to communicating clearly with your dog, all while building a trusting relationship based on love and respect.
Tail waggin' good times! Experiment with a variety of food treats, toys, play and praise to see what your dog loves. In addition to life rewards like regular meals, access to the outdoors and getting to explore new smells, you will use whatever your dog likes or needs to reward them for the behavior you want to see them repeat in the future.
Click = good dog! Now pair the things your dog loves with the "click" from your Clicker Leash. Your dog doesn't have to do anything to earn the reward at this stage. Simply click and as quickly as possible present the reward. If you are using food, keep your treat size very small so your dog does not get full quickly and you will be able to get lots of practice in. If you are using a toy, interact with your dog for five to ten seconds after you click. Click and reward repeatedly until you start to see your dog's ears perk up, his tail wag or he focuses on you when he hears the click. This usually requires 25-50 repetitions. Now your pooch understands that the click means a reward is on its way and you are ready to start using the Clicker Leash in your training.
If you like it, click it! Now you can let your dog know the exact moment he has done something you like and follow it with a reward. By rewarding your dog for the behavior you like, he will be more likely to offer you that behavior again in the future. If you did a good job of finding out what motivates your dog in step one, you will soon see him trying to figure out what you would like him to do so he can make the clicker go off again!
Once your dog understands that when he hears a "click," good things happen, you can start teaching him various commands and signals to do what you want, when you want.
You can treat these skills like a puzzle that your dog has to figure out. Break the behavior down into small steps and click and reward as he gets closer to the end result you are looking for. No need to correct him if he is on the wrong track, just wait until he does something closer to your goal, click and reward. When your dog accomplishes the goal you have set out, give him five times the regular amount of reward he had been getting up to that point. This is called a jackpot and it will encourage your dog to perform that specific behavior again in the future.
Once your dog is reaching the goal consistently, you can give your command or signal just before you know your dog is going to perform the behavior. With practice, whatever you say or do just before your dog offers a behavior, will become the command for that behavior. As the behavior becomes a habit, you will be able to start fading out your rewards.
If your dog is timid or more hesitant to offer new behaviors you can help them out by luring them into the position you are looking for, then clicking and rewarding with the lure. One of the keys to this training method is to not give any commands when you have the reward in your hand. This is considered bribery and your dog will start to listen only when he sees the reward in your hand. If you have a reward in your hand, pretend you have a piece of tape covering your mouth and don't say anything!
Once your dog understands how to follow his reward into position (usually five to 10 repetitions), keep your reward hidden in a pocket or pouch and see if your dog can follow your empty hand into the position you have been practicing. If your dog is successful, click and produce the hidden reward.
Once you are happy with your dog's behavior, it is time to introduce a verbal command before you get him to follow your hand into position. Try to remain still while the word is coming out of your mouth. If you move while you are speaking, your dog will take longer to learn the word because he will be focused on your movement instead of what you are saying.
Remember to only give your verbal command once. When you repeat commands, your dog learns that you didn't mean what you said the first time and your words will lose their meaning. Give your dog time to think things through. If he seems really stuck, you can help out with your empty hand target. As soon as your dog is in the position you are working on, click and reward.
Make training fun by always setting your dog up for success. Start off where there aren't a lot of distractions like your living room or backyard. Once your dog is consistently responding to your commands in a quiet environment, take your show on the road and start practicing out on your walks, exposing your dog to new and more challenging distractions when he is ready for them. This will be easy to do with your Clicker Leash because you will always have your most important communication tool right at your fingertips. Make sure you practice in every environment where you expect your dog to listen to you. Unlike us humans, they do not generalize well!
For a more detailed look at the steps you can take to help your dog understand what you want, check out our online video tutorials below:
Remember to keep things fun! If you aren't having fun, chances are your dog isn't either. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, take a break and come back to the exercise later. Keep your formal practice sessions short and always try to end them with your dog wanting more. With a little time, consistency and patience, you will have the dog you always wanted!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How old should my dog be to use the Clicker Leash?
A: The Clicker Leash is an effective training tool for dogs of any age. Whether you have a brand new puppy, a senior dog or anything in between, you can use the Clicker Leash to humanely train your dog.
Q: Why is the Clicker Leash effective?
A: The Clicker Leash combines the advantages of clicker training with convenience and ease of use. Because you use rewards to help your dog understand what you want, he will love to work with you. The click your dog hears is different from anything else he hears in the run of a day so it stands out and helps your dog learn faster. Because you always have your leash when you are out in public with your dog, you will take advantage of more training opportunities and your dog will learn how to work with you in a variety of environments. No more lost or forgotten clickers! Your favorite training tool will always be within easy reach.
Q: How does my dog know what the click from my Clicker Leash means?
A: When you first introduce your dog to the Clicker Leash, you will click and quickly reward until your dog begins to focus on you when he hears the click. Usually this will take about 25 repetitions of pairing the click with a reward.
Q: What is the best reward to use for my dog?
A: Only your dog can answer that question. Experiment and see what makes your dog happy or excited. High energy dogs usually enjoy a game of tug, lap dogs often like to be picked up and cuddled, scent hounds usually love a good sniff. Most dogs will happily work for small pieces of treats or kibble. Use whatever your dog loves to reward the behavior you would like to see more of.
Q: Will the Clicker Leash work with dominant or stubborn dogs?
A: Most dogs people think of as dominant or stubborn are just independent thinkers who may be under-motivated or don’t understand what you would like them to do. With the Clicker Leash you will be focusing on rewarding good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior so your dog will quickly learn that working with you is fun. The Clicker Leash will help you communicate clearly with your dog by letting your dog know the exact moment he has done something you like. You can harness your dog’s independent thinking style by shaping new behaviors.
Q: Will playing tug-of-war make my dog aggressive?
A: Playing tug-of-war will not create aggression in your dog. You should have a clear set of rules when playing tug. If your dog’s teeth touch your hands or if he begins to get over-stimulated, the toy goes away. If you want your dog to let go of the tug, simply hold his collar under his chin and release pressure on the tug toy. When your dog lets go, click and reward with another game of tug or a treat. You may hear your dog growl while he plays tug-of-war. Usually these are play-growls and a normal part of your dog’s vocalizations. If you think your dog is aggressive, you should contact a qualified trainer immediately.
Q: Can I use the Clicker Leash to train an adopted dog?
A: You can use the Clicker Leash to train any hearing dog regardless of age, size or how long you have owned him. Depending on what methods your dog’s previous owners used, it may take some time to build your dog’s confidence so that he will willingly offer you new behaviors. You may have to break the behaviors down into small steps and reward your dog as he gets closer to the final goal. Since you will be rewarding the behaviors you like, the Clicker Leash will help build a trusting relationship with your new dog.
Q: Will I have to carry treats and rewards for the rest of my dog’s life?
A: No, treats and other rewards are used while you are teaching your dog a new behavior. Once the behavior has become a habit, you can start fading out the treats and rewards. You should still reward occasionally so your dog maintains the behavior. Do not bribe your dog by asking them to do something with a treat in your hand. Your dog will learn to work only if he sees the treat. If there is a treat in your hand, pretend you have a piece of tape over your mouth and don't say anything.
Q: How do I use my Clicker Leash to correct a problem behavior?
A: Instead of correcting bad habits, you can use your Clicker Leash to teach your dog a new behavior that can’t be done at the same time as the problem behavior to replace the old action you didn’t like. For example, with the Clicker Leash you can reward your dog for sitting nicely when strangers are approaching you instead of jumping up on them. Or, you can reward your dog when he is walking beside you instead of trying to correct him if he is pulling ahead. Find more training tips here.
Q: My dog is very excitable out on our walks and won’t take treats from me. How can I reward him?
A: First, make sure your dog is hungry before you try to use a food reward. If you know he is hungry but still won’t accept a treat, you may have to start in a quiet environment like your living room or backyard. Make sure your dog has mastered a variety of new behaviors in these quiet environments and then try in a more active setting. You can also experiment with your treats to see if there are some your dog likes better than others. Your dog may be more motivated by toys or playing so experiment and use what he really loves.
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