A 5-minute-a-day clicker training plan
Short answer: train 3–5 minutes, once or twice a day. Week 1 charges the clicker and builds attention, week 2 adds sit and down, week 3 adds stay and come, week 4 practices everything in new places and adds a fun trick.
Week 1 — the basics
- Day 1: charge the clicker (click, treat, 10–15 times).
- Days 2–4: name game — click when your dog looks at you.
- Days 5–7: hand touch — click when the nose bumps your palm.
Week 2 — sit and down
- Lure sit with a treat; click the moment the rear touches the floor.
- From sit, lure down; click when the elbows land.
- Add the word just before the hand signal, then fade the signal.
Week 3 — stay and come
- Stay: build time first (2, 5, 10 seconds), then distance, one at a time.
- Come: start a few steps away indoors, step back, click when your dog reaches you.
Week 4 — new places and a trick
- Repeat each behavior in a new room, then the yard.
- Teach shake a paw or spin to keep sessions fun.
Keep track
Rate each session honestly — needs practice, getting there, nailed it — and move on after a few great ones. Treatcue logs this for you: every session, a day streak and a calendar, with all 15 lessons open.
FAQ
Is 5 minutes really enough?
Yes. Short, frequent sessions beat long ones. Most puppies lose focus after a few minutes; stop while they still want more.
What if my dog falls behind the plan?
Stay on the current step. Move on only when your dog does it 8 times out of 10 in a quiet room.
When can I stop using the clicker?
Once a behavior is reliable on a word or hand signal, fade the click and reward with praise or treats now and then.