Markers
Why You Need a Marker When Training Your Dog
You might’ve heard the term “marker” used in dog training — and if not, you’ve almost certainly come across clicker training. A clicker is a marker. But what does that actually mean?
A marker is a sound (or word) you use to mark or time-stamp a behaviour your dog just did — something you want to see more of. It’s your way of saying “yes, that!” at the exact moment the good behaviour happens.
So how do we make that sound meaningful to the dog?
Classical Conditioning: Making the Marker Matter
This is where classical conditioning comes in (yep — think Ivan Pavlov and his bell). We teach the dog that the marker predicts something good, usually food.
The process is simple:
Sound → Food
Sound → Food
Sound → Food
Always in that order. The sound must come before the food, because it’s the sound that predicts the reward.
And here’s a key point:
👉 The marker must always be followed by a reward.
If you mark and then don’t deliver the food, your dog will stop trusting it. That weakens your training and makes it much less effective.
What Kind of Marker Should You Use?
You can use a clicker, but a verbal marker works just as well (and is often more convenient).
Here are some good verbal markers:
“Yes!”
“Chip” (said like “cheep” — short and high-pitched)
The specific word doesn’t matter, as long as:
You’re not likely to say it casually in everyday conversation
You always follow it with a reward
It stays consistent and meaningful to your dog
Why Use a Marker at All in Dog Training?
You might be thinking: “People have trained dogs for thousands of years without this stuff — do I really need it?”
Technically, no. But I’m a fan of working smarter, not harder.
A marker helps your dog clearly understand what they’re being rewarded for. It bridges the gap between the behaviour and the reward — and the clearer that connection, the faster your dog learns.
When I work with clients here in Bournemouth (or indeed anywhere), developing a strong marker is usually the first bit of homework I give you before our session, and I’ll usually ask for a few video updates. Why?
It builds your confidence
It gives your dog a head start
It means you’ve got one less thing to worry about during our session
And it allows me to spot and fine-tune things like your timing, reward delivery, and how you say your marker
If you don’t do the homework, we can still go through it together, but it means we’re doing it on the fly. That can make the session feel clunky and slows everything down, especially when you’ve already got a lot to focus on.
One More Tip: Use Your Dog’s Daily Food
I always recommend using your dog’s regular food for training. Why?
It builds more drive for food, making it more valuable as a reward
It prevents overfeeding and helps you control calorie intake
It brings value to you as the handler
And most importantly, dogs learn better when they’re a bit hungry — a full belly often means they’re less interested in food and less motivated to work
So ditch the food bowl. When your dog earns their meals through training, you’re not just feeding them — you’re turning a daily routine into a powerful opportunity to build focus, engagement, and learning.