Is clicker training a forever thing?

Remember that clicker training is a philosophy and a way of communicating with your dog. While it will not always be necessary to use a clicker, this is how you will always communicate with your dog. The "pure" clicker trainers I know are always watching their dogs for new behaviors that they can shape and turn into commands/cues/tricks, no matter how old the dog is.

In our classes most students say "yes" instead of using a clicker. The principle is the same: do something I like, you hear a sound and know a reward is on its way. The word is helpful because you don't have to carry around special equipment (small as a clicker is) and it is one less thing that people who are totally new to training have to handle (when you already have a leash and treats in your hand, where does the clicker go?!).

I admit to being a Clicker Training enthusiast. Once the dog learns that the clicker has marked a behavior that you want and can repeat the behavior several times, then

move on to a verbal cue or hand signal. Repetition is important but if you pup is smart, he won't need too much. You gradually faze the clicker out for each behavior, but don't forget to keep rewarding your dog. Rewards can be food treat, play, a special toy or even a verbal "Hooray" and good puppy rubbing.

I am amazed at all the behaviors the dogs can do and how quickly they learn them once they know the clicker marks the correct behavior.

At home I only use the clicker when we are trying something totally new. Once my dog "gets it", I establish the cue.

She gets excited when we get the clicker out cause that means we are going to have fun and she is going to get treats.

It does last forever and thats why not very many people have gone to doing that. It is very effective and does work good but it just gets kind of anoying having to do that all of the time. If he is a smart dog I think some minor training would work fine without using a clicker.

I've used clicker training on my dogs and no, you don't have to do it forever. Once they know the behaviour, you wean them off the clicker and they still do the behaviour. You'd just use the clicker for anything new you want to teach.