List of Marker Words
What are marker words?
One of the most important tools in our dog-training toolbox is our marker words. Marker words are used as a signal to communicate to your dog. There are several marker words, all used for a different purpose. Depending on the marker word, it will communicate something different to your dog.
What are they used for?
Dogs do not have language centers in their brain. This means that they do not understand words in the same way we do. We use marker words to help dogs understand what we want, when they are right and when they are wrong. Using classical conditioning, good timing, positive reinforcement, as well as consequences, marker words become an incredible tool to communicate with your dog.
Basic list of marker words:
Yes → Positive
The positive marker word is used to let your dog know that an action they took was correct. Think of this as taking a snapshot in your dog’s brain of what they did, and that it was good. This marker also indicates that the reward is coming!
Good → Duration
A duration marker lets your dog know: ‘great job! Keep doing what you’re doing!’. Not all trainers use this, because it takes some time to fade out this praise. However, if you're training your pet dog, you can absolutely praise them intermittently for holding a stay for example.
Free → Release
This is possibly one of the most important marker words if you want reliable obedience with your dog. The release marker lets your dog know they are released from a command and can ‘go be a dog’. The clarity of a release marker helps obedience commands become much more reliable, since there is a clear beginning -the command- and an end -the release marker-. Just be sure to always use the same word as your release marker!
More advanced marker words:
No → “try again”
Although we want our dogs to know that “no” means they are not doing the right thing, we don’t want them to be worried about being wrong. So instead, we want to make the no command to mean ‘try again’ or 'try something else’.
Ready → Anticipatory
Using ready to create anticipation in your dog, which gets them excited can be used to your advantage. This is more advanced, since many people struggle with an excess of excitement around distractions with their dogs.
All Done → Concluding training session
Typically this cue is used to signal to your dog that the training session, or play session is now over, and it is time to settle back down.
FAQ
Why should I use marker words?
The reason we use marker words is to bring clarity to our dogs. Many dogs are anxious and do not understand what is asked of them. Using marker words is the beginning of clear, consistent communication with your dog, that will begin the process of increasing confidence in your dog.
When should I use marker words?
Depending on the marker word used, you will use all of them regularly.
Marker training vs clicker training
Marker training is The same thing as clicker training! The clicker is simply used INSTEAD of a “yes”, as a positive marker. At FSO Dog Training we prefer using marker words, since we always have our voice on us, and having to keep track of holding a clicker while also guiding the dog can make things more complicated.
A great down-stay is great for pictures of your pup!
Using marker words is going to solidify your down-stay so you can get pictures just like this one!
