I got very excited when I brought my first puppy home. I took note of those little achievements, special bonding, and development milestones.
But one thing that was putting me off was the obnoxious behaviors of my newly found friend. You can easily imagine those situations where I encountered endless biting, chewing, pooping, growling, and whining.
This was easily threatening to spoil my relationship with my young furry friend and I felt like screaming my lungs out.
Since I could not afford a professional dog trainer, I started researching the other options available when it comes to puppy training.
That is when I came across dog clickers and I realized I did not have to be an expert to train my puppy. This is because dog clickers have been designed to help you perform puppy training like an expert.
I can attest that they are one of the most user-friendly and effective training methods. I realized that as long as I had the best dog clicker that produces a sharp clicking sound that my pet can relate with, training my dog was easy.
I also noted that even though a clicker works in the same way as other visual and audio cues, it is a simple way of obedience training. The clickers are also far cheaper compared to taking your pooch to a professional trainer.
So, I had found my training solution. But then another problem arose; there were so many brands out there all claiming to be the best. I felt like pulling my hair out trying to make the right choice.
After many days of research, I ended up creating a list of the top five best dog clickers for training your puppy.
To help you avoid the stress I went through and help you make a quick buying decision, I have created a summary of the best training clickers below:
A Buying Guide For The Best Dog Clicker
Choosing the right dog clicker can go a long way in enhancing your training experience. Since not all dog clickers are made equal, how do you make the right choice of one? Here are things that you need to consider:
Top 5 Best Dog Clickers
One thing I found out the hard way is that there are literally hundreds of dog clicker brands out there that can make it difficult for you to make the right choice.
Even when you are already aware of what makes a good dog clicker, the wide varieties of brands available at different prices can leave you confused.
This is why you should know the most popular brands on the market today. Below I have explained in detail why I found these five brands to be the best.
The EcoCity Upgrade Version Dog Training Clicker is one of the best clickers for puppy and dog training. It is lightweight, sturdy, and comes with four big button clickers.
It is easy to press the button without it getting stuck. I like the gadget because it produces a sharp audible click. It fits well in your hand and comes with an elastic strap that will prevent you from dropping it.
I also like the fact that it is available in four color options: red, blue, white, and black. It is ideal for pets that are sensitive to sounds as it is not too loud or too soft. The package includes a dog training eBook that will help make the training easier. The only major downside of this clicker is that the wrist strap is a bit flimsy. You can choose to remove it or use it as it is. The button also clicks with little pressure and this can cause unwanted noise.
Take note that due to the popularity of this gadget, there are imitations out there and therefore, you should only buy from leading stores.
- Neither too loud or too soft
- Ergonomic design
- 4 different colors
- Flimsy wrist strap
The StarMark Clicker Dog Training System is another button-style clicker that has a sturdy construction and is easy to use.
It has a nice sharp click sound that rings consistently and will resonate well with your canine friend. Therefore, if you want to be consistent with your dog training, this is the right clicker to help you succeed.
The raised button will ensure that you do not miss any click. The fact that it is made of steel ensures it will last longer and help prevent rusting.
The ergonomic design enables it to fit well in your hand and you can even fit it on a keychain. The roundish shape enable it to fit between your fingers.
When rewarding your pooch, all you need to do is to click a button before giving the dog a treat. This way, he will learn to associate the action with the reward.
The clicker comes with a guide that offers scientifically-proven dog training methods and is approved by industry experts. This ensures that you can train your pooch easily and safely.
One of the drawbacks of the clicker is that it is among the loudest on the market which can make it unsuitable for sensitive dogs. Its price is also on the higher side.
- Sturdy
- Made of steel
- Very Loud
In dog training circles, Karen Pryor is considered to be the mother of dog clicker training. This is because she helped popularize the dog training method in the 90s.
This is an indication that she knows what works in a clicker and what doesn’t. Many of her clickers seem to have gotten it right and the Karen Pryor Clicker Training Terry Ryan Clik Stik for Pet Training is no different.
This is among the best clickers for dog training as it comes with a retractable target stick which is a great choice for target and trick training. The Clik Stik ensures that one of your hands is free when training the dog.
The clicker is a great choice especially for those with sensitive dogs as it is neither too soft nor too loud to leave your dog startled.
It is easy to use and produces a crisp, clear sound. The fact that it has a big raised button makes it hard to press accidentally.
It has a lanyard loop at the end of the clicker that can connect to a wrist band or a keychain. It also has an ergonomic design that makes it easy for you to hold comfortably and fit easily in your hand. This means that you will have one less piece of equipment to juggle, drop or lose.
The button presses easily and rises up without getting stuck. This equipment will make your dog training and bonding experience a breeze.
These features make the gadget a perfect choice for teaching your canine a wide range of skills such as targeting, go-outs, contacts & weave poles, send away, and much more.
One downside of this clicker is that it does not come with a training manual. Additionally, if you do not press the center and instead press the edges, it ends up sticking and does not produce the clicking sound.
- Ergonomic design
- Retractable training stick
- Doesn’t come with a training manual
One thing that you need to realize when it comes to effective dog training is that it requires more skills on the part of the trainer than on the dog.
Clicker training requires you to click at the right time for you to achieve your goal. When done well, the pooch can learn many skills using a clicker.
The PetSafe Clik-R Trainer is equipment is a gadget that will make it easy to train your canine friend. While it has a plastic body, it comes with a big button that is easy to press.
Not only is it made of good-quality material but it is also easy to use. At the back is an elastic strap that stretches over the finger ensuring that it holds in place. If you have never tried a clicker that has a finger loop, this is one option that is worth considering.
It is a good choice for dogs that pull back when being walked on a leash as they can be encouraged to focus on walking. The clicker has an ergonomic design that enables it to fit well in your hand.
It is a perfect choice for indoor training or for sensitive dogs due to its soft sound.
It comes with a training manual that introduces clicker training. If you are searching for a fun way to bond with your pooch and to teach him some tricks, I would highly recommend it.
The only drawback of this best dog clicker is that it has a very soft sound that makes it unsuitable for outdoor environments.
- Soft sound
- Training guide
- Unsuitable for outdoor training
The Attmu Pet Training Clicker is a good choice for teaching your canine small tricks, basic obedience, and for correcting bad behavior.
It is the right pick for sending signals to a dog that the right thing has been done without startling him. It is quieter and therefore, a good choice for indoor use or for sound-sensitive dogs.
The clicker is made of a durable metal that will not break or rust. It is available in a combination of seven colors such as red, blue, black, green, pink, white, and orange. It is also sturdy and lightweight.
It has a big button that is easy to click and produces a loud enough sound. Each set has seven pieces so you can be assured that you can use several clickers at the same time.
The wrist strap ensures that you do not drop it while training. This can prove to be quite helpful and improve portability when dog training.
The one drawback of the clicker is that it breaks easily. But the fact that they come in a pack of seven means you will always have a replacement when you need one.
- Comes in a pack of 7
- Suitable for outdoor use
- Breaks easily
Conclusion
There is no better way to train your dog than using a clicker sound and following it up with a treat. Science has proven that this is one of the most effective dog training methods for obedience commands, agility activities, and tricks.
Dog clicker training is very effective. It is also a less expensive and easy-to-use tool that will cost you much less than using a professional dog trainer.
However, your choice of a clicker will determine how effective it will be. Hopefully, by reading through this buying guide, it will be easier to make a decision. And once you do that, you will be on your way to training your pooch in no time.