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Ready to start training your dog? In addition to healthy treats, you’ll want to pick up a clicker. The idea with clicker training is to provide your dog with a consistent cue for correct behavior. To clicker train your dog, when your dog behaves in line with a desired action you make a click sound, then reward them with a treat, so that they know they did the right thing.
Clicker training uses positive reinforcement to steer your dog towards a trained behavior, and can be used to build training slowly. For example, if you're trying to teach your dog to shake, you can begin by clicking and rewarding their attention, then the proper stance, and then when they lift a paw towards you. Check out our guide to clicker training for more details.
Our favorite training clicker is the Karen Pryor Clicker Trianing i-Click Original Clicker, which is ergonomic, always easy to use with one hand, and is commonly sold in multi-packs.
Best Overall
Karen Pryor Clicker Training i-Click Original Clicker
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Karen Pryor Clicker Training
One of the leading voices in clicker training, Karen Pryor's excellent i-Click Original Clickers has an ergonomic design that ensures easy clicking—if it's in your hand, your click won't miss. The i-Click is pocketable, small, and is available in multi-packs (3-, 5-, 30-packs), since it can be easy to lose the keychain-sized clickers.
Pryor's i-Clicks are designed to be a little quieter than so-called "box" clickers, generating a sound that's consistent but never abrasive to your dog. This makes them usable with shy or sound-sensitive animals, but also means that you might want to check out some of the other recommendations on this list if you intend to conduct training in noisy or otherwise distracting conditions.
While the i-Click has a built-in loop for a string or keychain, it doesn't come with a clip or wrist strap. The Karen Pryor i-Click Original Clicker is available in five different colors. You can also buy the i-Click as part of a Dog Training Kit, complete with a 100-page training manual and "Click-a-Trick" flash cards.
Price at time of publish: $6 (3-pack)
Best Budget
Frisco Pet Training Clicker with Wrist Band
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Courtesy of Chewy
Trainers recommend clickers because—unlike your voice which undulates with varying tones and volume—they are consistent and neutral. This dog training clicker from Frisco makes a loud, clear, classic clicking sound when you push the button that your pup will learn to associate with positive reinforcement. The ergonomic design fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and the button sticks out a bit which makes it easy for you to find and press. It has an attached bungee wrist band so you won’t drop it as you perform a hand motion associated with the command.
Price at time of publish: $3
Best Loud
HoAoOo Pet Training Clicker with Wrist Strap
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Courtesy of Amazon
When you’re training your pup, you need to be ready to click your clicker in an instant so they correctly associate the click with the behavior you’re requesting they perform. These clickers have a tear-drop shape that’s easy to palm and a large, easy-to-push button that allows you to react instantly. They also have a wrist strap so you won’t accidentally drop the clicker as you go to reward your dog with a tasty healthy treat. The clicker produces a clear, consistent loud sound. They come in a two-pack and are very affordable.
Price at time of publish: $6
Best for Puppies
SunGrow Clickers Dog & Cat Training Tool
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Courtesy of Chewy
Each clicker produces the same sound, which is a must for consistency’s sake. The sound is described as audible, yet soft and gently so it won’t alarm a skittish pup. Each clicker has a keychain and elastic bracelet attached so no worries about dropping these. The bright rainbow colors are cheery and nice to look at.
Price at time of publish $5
Best with Training Book
PetSafe Clik-R Dog Training Clicker with Training Guide
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Courtesy of Amazon
Even the best clicker in the world won’t help to train your pup if you don’t know how to use it. The PetSafe Clik-R comes with a guide chock full of helpful and actionable tips that will have your dog sitting, staying, and rolling over in no time. As for the clicker itself, it makes a short sound that’s consistent (unlike your voice) to help your pup understand when they’re doing something right. The clicker is small and compact and comes with a finger band that you can attach to your finger for easy holding. The bright colors help make it easy for you to locate when you’re in a rush to get out the door.
Price at time of publish: $4
Best Training Treats
Full Moon Organic Human Grade Training Treats for Dogs
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Courtesy of Amazon
When it’s time to train your pup, a tasty reward works hand in hand with the clicker. It’s hard to do better than these Full Moon Training Treats are small in size and easy for your pup to chew, which lets you get back to the business at hand, pronto. They’re made of the highest quality organic, human-grade ingredients, namely cage- and antibiotic-free chicken with no added grains, wheat, or soy. Each treat is only three calories, so you can treat heavily without worrying about your pup’s waistline. The price is right, too, as these cost less than other brands of organic treats.
Price at time of publish: $8
When it comes to a dog clicker, you want one that’s easy to hold with a button that’s easy to find and press and that produces a clear crisp clicking sound. The Karen Pryor i-Click Original Clicker delivers on all fronts.
What to Look for in a Dog Training Clicker
Sound
One of the reasons that dog trainers recommend clickers is that they are more consistent in tone and volume than human voices. So, it follows that the most important factor when selecting a dog training clicker is that it produces an audible distinct sound.
Ease of Use
For clicker training to be effective, you need to be able to click the button quickly. Clickers with raised or clearly indented buttons make it easier for you to find and push the button without looking. Wristbands are also helpful to keep the clicker readily accessible.
Size
A clicker that’s small and tear-dropped shape is easy to hold in your palm during training sessions. This is particularly useful if you're looking to bring it along with you while traveling or doing outdoor training.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This piece was written by Anne Fritz, who has been researching pet products for The Spruce for more than two years. Before writing this article, she consulted with her own dog trainer and gathered information from customer reviews and third-party articles. She is the proud owner of two rescue dogs.
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