Train Your Pup With the Best Dog Clickers
Positive reinforcement is a word that reverberates through the classrooms of AP psychology. In simple terms, it means encouraging the desired behavior by rewarding it. A great example of positive reinforcement is dog training. We teach our pooches to obey simple commands like sitting, fetching, and staying by associating a reward with it. While some trainers will simply shout out ‘good boy’ and treat their pups, there is another more straightforward (not to say cheaper) way. Say hello to the highest-rated dog clickers in 2023!
So what exactly is a dog clicker? It’s a small device with a button that a dog trainer can hold in their hand. When you press the button, the device makes a distinct clicking sound. When training your dog, you can press this clicker when your pup implements the desired behavior. Soon enough, your doggo will associate the sound with the desired behavior. Then when you follow the behavior up with a treat, your pup will associate this reward with the behavior for which you clicked it. Over time, your dog will get conditioned into doing the said task when you press the clicker.
Today, we’ll be taking you through the leading clickers that the online marketplace has to offer. We’ll supplement our list of recommendations with a detailed buyer’s guide that will teach you all about these handy devices and how you can go about buying them.
Finding a Premium Dog Clicker Buying Guide
Now that we are done with our highest-rated picks, here is a comprehensive guide that will take you through the benefits of dog clickers and equip you with some killer tips and tricks that will help you find the right one.
Are Dog Clickers Worth It?
If you’re second-guessing your purchase, here are two factors that make dog clickers a must-have for anyone looking to train their furry friend:
Effectiveness
There are certain factors that make dog clickers so much more effective than other training tools. Firstly, they produce a consistent sound that doesn’t vary over time. The sound is super distinct and unique, so your pup will quickly isolate this click from other sounds and associate it with the behavior training.
The click from this device also comes out instantly, meaning you can time it to the exact behavior. For example, if you’re training your puppy to sit on command, you can click the device as soon as its furry butt hits the ground. As a result, your dog will associate the sitting with the click.
On the other hand, if you just produce a treat for them, your pup will stand up to accept its reward. This might make them think the prize is for getting up and not sitting down. See the dilemma here?
Convenience
Let’s also not forget that dog clickers are super easy to use, and since you won’t need to follow the behavior up with a treat each time, you’ll save a couple of bucks over time. No?
Things to Consider
We recommend that you take these factors into consideration when looking for a new dog clicker:
Durability
From parks to beaches, your new dog clicker will join you and your pup in all your escapades, so this device must be durable enough to withstand continuous usage. We recommend opting for something with a mix of metal and plastic in the construction that will ensure robustness and guarantee that the clicker holds up in different weather circumstances.
Sound
It’s also worth finding out the exact sound the dog clicker makes before you make your purchase since not all clicker sounds are compatible with all dogs. Some clickers can have sounds that are too loud or high-pitched for certain dogs with sensitive hearing or trauma. Your purchase might end up being a waste of money if the sound just hurts your pup’s ears or causes it to become anxious or aggressive. Also, consider the volume since the sound should be loud enough to be heard clearly outdoors.
Ergonomics
From rubberized grips to functional designs, an ergonomic dog clicker is worth keeping an eye out for. Ergonomic elements will make the clicker super comfortable to hold during longer sessions.
Application
Talking about customer reviews, these previous buyer experiences will also help you get a better idea of what your clicker is best suited for. For example, some clickers are great for teaching your four-legged friend how to sit or move on command. However, you might need something different for advanced training, like barking control.
Color
While aesthetics should never be prioritized over functionality, a dog clicker that comes in a variety of colors will not hurt anyone.
How We Choose Our Favorite Dog Clickers
Our team looked at these two things when shortlisting the finest dog clickers for you:
Accessibility
We prioritized two things in the domain of accessibility. First, we made sure that all our dog clickers had big buttons that were easy to reach and press. We also prioritized models whose buttons won’t stick or jam easily to prevent inconvenience. Some of our shortlisted dog clickers even came with instructional manuals that further enhanced their ease of use.
Portability
On the portability side of things, we chose lightweight clickers with wrist straps. On the topic of straps, we made sure that we only chose models with straps that buyers found to be extremely comfortable on the skin and won’t budge so easily. This ensures that the clicker is always secure on your wrist.
Reviewing the Top Dog Clickers in 2023
LFEEY Dog Training Clicker Kit
– Best Overall
This dog clicker is a fantastic option for training your dog and treating them with a reward when they’ve done a good job. Although it will take some time and effort, with the LFEEY dog clicker, your pooch will learn to associate the click with the behavior you want it to perform in no time.
This dog clicker is constructed from stainless steel and ABS plastic. It produces a clear and loud sound that your dog is sure to hear even from a distance. You also get a lanyard in this package that is super comfortable to wear and enhances the overall portability of the product. This all-in-one-package of a high-quality whistle and comfortable wrist strap makes this dog clicker the best overall on our list.
- Solid stainless steel construction
- Super comfortable to wear
- Loud and distinct whistle sound
- Great for outdoor training
- No color options
Ruconla Dog Training Clicker
– Most Versatile
This all-in-one dog clicker by Ruconla comes with a wrist strap and lanyard clip to help you keep hold of the device. Thanks to the big button on the exterior, you can instantly send a signal to your dog as it makes a loud and clear sound. It should be noted that the clicker button might get stuck sometimes and cause some unnecessary inconvenience, so we recommend exerting some pressure to reduce the risk of this jamming.
Not only is this clicker designed to train dogs but also cats, horses, sheep, and other pets. The package includes four dog clickers available in black, blue, white, and red colors.
- Loud button sound
- Wrist strap with a lanyard clip
- Comfortable to hold
- Four different colors
- The click button might get stuck sometimes
HoAoOo Pet Training Clicker
– Most Durable
This dog clicker is constructed with a robust combination of metal and plastic, so it will neither fall apart nor rust over time. It features a big button for quick accessibility that can be pressed down to produce a crisp and clear sound easily heard by your dog.
This dog clicker has a wrist strap with a lanyard clip to keep it secure in your hand and prevent you from accidentally dropping or misplacing it. The ergonomic design ensures this clicker isn’t uncomfortable to hold for long puppy training sessions. HoAoOo offers their affordable and robust two-pack dog clicker in blue and black colors.
- Big button for easy accessibility
- Sturdy metal and plastic construction
- Produces crisp and clear sound
- Ergonomic design for comfort
- May be too loud for certain dogs
OYEFLY Dog Training Clicker
– Most Lightweight
Oyefly’s dog clicker is a great tool to make training your pets easier, especially for small puppies. The soft-push button facilitates easy clicking and instant rewarding to make your dog’s learning process effective like never before.
From basic obedience to advanced behavioral training, this dog clicker is meant to prepare your dogs for multiple purposes. Due to the high-quality ABS plastic construction, this dog clicker is lightweight and will last for years. These dog clickers come in packs of two in three different color combinations: green+black, white+blue, and red+blue. For additional peace of mind, you get a full refund guarantee, so you can simply return your purchase if you’re unsatisfied with it.
- Manufactured from high-quality plastic
- Soft push-button for easy accessibility
- Available in two-pack of bright colors
- Comes with a 100% refund warranty
- The sound is not loud enough
Starmark Pro-Training Dogs Clicker
– Best Handling
StarMark’s dog clicker is made of rust-proof stainless steel for enhanced durability and longevity, but the button is made of rubber to prevent your thumb from getting hurt. It produces a sharp and loud noise for your dog to identify quickly, but this also makes a poor choice for dogs with more sensitive ears.
This ergonomically designed dog clicker offers maximum comfort, so you can use it for longer sessions or multiple dogs if you train dogs professionally. You also get a detailed training guide for free which makes it simple to use. The only downside of this dog clicker is that it doesn’t have a wristband or lanyard for keeping it on your person.
- Rust-proof stainless steel material
- Easy to use
- It comes with a detailed training guide
- Doesn’t include a wrist strap or lanyard for security
People Also Asked
A: No! Dog clickers don't hurt or harm your pup in any way. Just make sure you opt for something with a low pitch if your dog has sensitive ears and gets startled by the slightest of sounds.
A: The sound of the dog clicker registers in your dog's little brain. For example: when you click right when your dog sits, their brain will register the click as an outcome of them sitting down. When you follow up the click by praising your dog or giving it a treat, their brain will be conditioned into associating the marked act: sitting down, with the reward. Over time, this positive reinforcement will encourage them to sit down each time you click the device.
A: Yes! Clicker training is excellent for dogs of all ages. For young pups, we recommend waiting until they're at least six months old before introducing them to a clicker.