What should I do about my dog being terrified of the clicker?

There's a couple things you can do.

There's nothing magic about the clicker (though operant conditioning has been proven to be the most effective way to teach animals new behaviors--and that's science), so you can use any sound you want. Many people just use the word "Yes" instead of a click. Just go about the training in the same way, using "yes" instead of the click.

Or, you can try starting off by using the clicker in your pocket, muffling the sound.

Some dogs can be desensitized to the sound of the clicker. It depends a lot on just how sensitive she is and how motivated she is by food or other things.

http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/desen...

Others suggest muffling the clicker and using it just before "something good" happens so the dog associates it with good things.

You can also get quieter clickers. One of the schools around here has little ones that look like bugs, they have a very soft little click. There are also bone-shaped ones that have a quieter click.

You can try using a different marker. Clicking a ball-point pen, clicking the lid of a jar, clicking with your tongue or even using a marker word like "yes" will all work just as well as the traditional clicker. My dogs are trained on both the clicker and the "yes" (for those times when the clicker is inconvenient).

Good luck!

STOP USING IT!

Clicker training is a gimmick anyway, unless you're training cats or birds for a show at Sea World.

It is no more or less effective than any other method. The clicker is meant to tell the animal that he has just performed correctly, and he will get his food treat shortly. The food is a "primary reinforcer". The clicker is a "secondary reinforcer". You waste a lot of time teaching the dog that the clicker means "good dog!" Unless you're a mute, why not just say "good dog!" when he does something right? Correct him with a appropriately when he doesn't. How are you going to communicate with him if you don't have your clicker handy? What if five other people nearby are all using clickers? Your dog's going to be very confused.

I know it's old fashioned, but you should try reading some great books on training. These are the books that I recommend to my students; you can get them on Amazon.com

What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/

Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins

Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin

Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor

Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard

Dog Problems - Benjamin

Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.

http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Don't use the clicker - it's obviously not working for this puppy. Dogs respond best to the sound of your voice anyway. Keep praising her in a very happy tone of voice, and she'll respond much better. A clicker is only a tool to be used in combination with treats and praise anyway, so let it go.

If the dog was adopted, it may have fear issues related to past abuse by an owner or shelter worker that tormented it with a clicker. You don't want the dog to associate an old fear with you, so, for the sake of your dog, stop using the clicker. Dogs respond just fine to verbal commands.

Some dogs are more sensitive to certain noises than others. My aunt tried the clicker thing and it terrified her dog too! You should probably try some other method of training. It would be easier for you and your dog.

I would just train her without it, or bring her to a trainers class and get help from a professional bahviourest/trainer if you would prefer to do it yourself than i would say leave the clicker out of it! Good LUck

as an adopted dog, she could have a history that you're not aware of. she could have associated that sound with something negative. you could either try to reassociate the clicker with treats which she could get used to over time. or you could use a verbal praise when she does something good and give her a treat.

I do everything with my hands and whistles. Also helps aid training because your hand and whistle is always there you don'thave to hunt for the clicker before you want your dog to do something.

your dog might have a past. I would lay off. Find another sound that does not scare her and use that. Like a finger snap. But hey save that clicker for future use it can be used as a way to punish. like for pooping on the floor or jumping up.