Marker Training
What is a Marker?
In dog training, a marker is a signal (a word, sound, clicker or hand gesture) that communicates to the dog that they have performed a desired behaviour at the exact moment it happens. The marker is then followed by a reward (like food, praise, or play), reinforcing the behaviour. At K9 360 our marker word is “YES”, the reason being is “yes” can be projected at a distance and it cannot be misplaced like a clicker can.
Types of Markers:
Verbal Marker – Words like “Yes!” or “Good!” used consistently.
Clicker Marker – A distinct, consistent sound made by a clicker tool.
Non-Verbal Marker – A hand signal, flash of light, or vibration (useful for deaf dogs).
Why use a Marker?
Precision – Marks the exact behaviour being rewarded.
Clear Communication – Helps the dog understand what earned them the reward.
Stronger Learning – Dogs associate the marked behaviour with positive reinforcement.
A negative marker (like “No” or “Eh-eh”) can also be used to indicate an incorrect behaviour, this negative marker isn’t used until the dog understand what they are doing wrong.
Example: A dog learning sit, if the dog breaks the sit it will be gently guided back. However if a dog knows sit, a negative marker (like “No” or “Eh-eh”) will be used to guide the dog.
Step 1: Loading the marker
The below videos will show you how to load a marker with your dog. You may replace the “yes” word with another word or use a clicker. Keep in mind clicker sounds can only be heard a certain distance. A word can be yelled across a great distance. You may also pair a verbal word or sound with a hand gesture, for use in noisy environments.