How we use reward markers in our dog training

Reward markers have been an integral part of working with my dog. First popularized by marine mammal trainers, marker training (often done with a clicker and thus called “clicker training”) allows us to “mark” moments of our dogs’ behavior to provide more clarity in the teaching process. This makes learning more efficient!

Here’s a look at our own reward marker system. What are markers? Why are they so helpful? How do we personally use them?

What exactly is a reward marker?

At its simplest, a reward marker is a signal that tells our dogs:

1. They just did the right thing, and

2. They are about to be rewarded.

Depending on the complexity of one’s training, a marker might also tell our dogs where the reward is coming from and what type of reward it is.

Markers are usually a sound like a clicker or short word. They can also be a specific motion (particularly when working with deaf dogs).