Markers

Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

Markers are a great way to help your dog recognize the behaviors that you like. We use them as a way to “mark” the exact moment a dog has completed a desired behavior. Some people use a verbal marker and some people use a clicker.

I use verbal markers. My verbal marker is the word “yes”. This word not only marks the exact moment my dog did something correct but it also signifies that a reward is to follow.

So why bother marking, why not just use treats/rewards?

Because timing is EVERYTHING in dog training. Whether using positive or negative reinforcers, timing is crucial. It must be done in conjunction with the act. In order to achieve this level of precision you would have to have treats on you, or in your hand at all times of the day.

So instead we use a marker that we can deliver immediately, marking the exact behavior we like which then gives us an extra few seconds to deliver the reward.
It is far quicker to say a single word or do a single click then it is to get your treats ready and deliver it to their mouth.

Because timing is so important, using markers also helps us to avoid rewarding the wrong behaviors. If you don’t have your treats available and ready, you may be planning to reward your dog for sitting but by the time you get the treat, your dog ends up breaking the sit and now you’re rewarding him for standing.

Another great use for markers is being able to mark your dog for doing something that you didn’t even ask for. This is probably my favorite use of it. For example, if a dog typically barks outside the window but one day, as a person walks by, you look at your dog, who has not barked yet, so you mark the non-barking behavior, ultimately preventing any reaction in that moment. How?
Because your dog knows this marker so well, the moment you present it, he looks away from the trigger and at you instead. The marker not only rewards the non-barking behavior but also helps your dog to learn how to disengage and focus back on you.

If you haven’t used markers before, it’s definitely not too late. Feel free to DM me to learn how to get it started.