Marker

A marker is a word or sound that tells the dog: YES, you did the right thing and a reward is on its way.

A marker makes it clear to the dog exactly what it is doing that triggers the reward, helping the dog understand more quickly what we want to teach.

• Choose a marker that is easy to say and that is short and precise.Examples: CLICK (with a clicker or a tongue click), YES, CHECK or OK.
• Be consistent with your marker. The marker is followed by a reward EVERY time.

Conditioning the marker

To give the marker meaning for the dog, we need to “condition” the marker. This means creating an expectation in the dog that marker = reward, so that when the dog hears the marker it automatically expects a reward to follow.

Conditioning the marker is quite simple and is really just about giving the dog a reward when it hears the marker. Have a handful of treats ready and easily accessible, give the marker and then offer the dog a reward. The reward should follow immediately after the marker (think within a maximum of 3 seconds).

At first, the marker has no meaning for the dog. But after enough repetitions, the dog will begin to associate the marker with the reward it receives. In this way we can create an expectation that when the marker sounds, a reward will follow.

Remember - the order is important! The marker must come before you reach for the treats and deliver them to the dog. If you begin moving your hand towards your pocket or delivering the treat before or at the same time as you give the marker, you may teach the dog a completely different signal, as it is very likely to focus on the visual cue (the hand moving towards the pocket) rather than hearing the marker.

When conditioning the marker, it does not matter very much what the dog is doing. Whether it is sitting, standing or changing position. Whether it is looking at you or at the surroundings. The important thing is that the reward follows immediately after the marker (within a maximum of 3 seconds). Therefore, keep the treats easily accessible so you can get to them quickly.