Now, when the dog perks at the sound of the click, you know he recognizes it as a predictor of good things to come. When he is doing something, and he hears that click, his brain will instantly file that information, and he will work to repeat the behavior which he was performing at the instant he heard the click. Let s say you want to teach the dog to sit. You could lure the dog with food, or wait for him to sit on his own. The instant his cute little butt plops on the floor, you click, then give him his treat.
Timing is critical.
If you are late, don t click. You have lost the opportunity to reward THAT SIT forever. Don t panic. There will be more sits. Just be careful to reward them when they happen.