Fostering Communication with a Marker Word

One of the first things I do with new training clients is teach a marker word. It seems so simple at first, say the word—I use “yes!”—and feed the dog. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. 

If you’ve ever heard of clicker training, you may be familiar with markers already. The clicker acts as a marker the same way I use “yes!” with my clients. You can can get pretty fancy with markers or keep things very simple! My dog knows seven different markers, but one will suffice for the majority of family dogs. 

We begin training a marker by teaching the dog to associate the word with being fed. Essentially, the marker becomes a cue meaning, “your treat is coming.” But why is it so important? 

There will always be a delay between the moment you decide to reward your dog and the moment that your dog actually gets the reward. This delay can become an issue. For example, say that you want to reward your dog for walking nicely next to you on a loose-leash. You pick a moment when your dog is trotting happily beside you, but when your dog sees you reaching for a treat, they go from walking perfectly at your side to mugging your pocket instead. You feed your dog anyway. What has your dog learned? To walk nicely with you, or to mug you for treats? 

By teaching a marker you can inform your dog the exact moment that they earn their reward, bridging that gap where problems can occur. This extra clarity can become a powerful tool for communicating with your dog! For a well-trained dog, the marker doesn’t just mean “food is coming,” but also “That’s it! That’s exactly what I wanted! You’ve earned a reward!” 

The magic of a well-trained dog is that they know their behavior has the power to get them access to the things they want. These dogs are empowered to try and anticipate how they can earn their next reward. One of my favorite moments in training is watching dogs have that ah-ha moment! And the marker is what makes that ah-ha moment possible.