Clicker training is a positive reinforcement technique that uses a small clicking sound to mark the exact moment your dog does something right, followed immediately by a reward. The clicker pairs a consistent sound with a reward so your dog learns to associate the click with correct behaviour. Before using it for training, your dog must first learn that a click always means a treat is coming. Once that association is established, the click can precisely mark behaviours like sitting, making eye contact, or touching a target. Timing is critical — clicking at the exact moment the behaviour occurs helps your dog pinpoint exactly what earned the reward, making clicker training especially effective for shaping complex behaviours step by step.