Marker training

Marker training uses a specific sound, such as a clicker or a short verbal word, to pinpoint the exact moment a dog does something worth rewarding. The marker acts as a bridge between the behaviour and the reward, which usually arrives a second or two later.

The dog first has to learn that the marker itself predicts a reward, before it can be used meaningfully in training. This is usually done by clicking or saying the marker word, then immediately following it with a treat, repeated until the dog associates one with the other.

Once the marker is understood, it's used to mark the precise instant a behaviour happens. If a dog is being shaped to touch a target, the marker fires the moment their nose makes contact, even if the treat itself takes another second or two to reach them.

This precision matters most in shaping and capturing, where the behaviour being rewarded might last only a fraction of a second.

Marking late, or marking behaviour that has already ended, reinforces the wrong moment. Consistency also matters. Switching between different marker words or sounds can slow the dog's understanding of what the marker means.