You Have One Second To Mark Behavior
Timing is crucial for dog training. It's essential to reward or correct a dog within one second of their behavior to ensure they make the connection between their action and the consequence. For this reason, verbal markers are used to communicate precise feedback to a dog about its behavior at the exact moment it occurs.
Markers Signify Rewards Are Coming Soon
Markers (verbal “yes” or “free”) are conditioned reinforcers that signal a reward is coming soon. Primary reinforcers (treats, toys, affection) are the direct rewards that come after. Just like the Pavlov’s dogs example, your dog will begin to salivate at the very sound of your marker.
Be A Broken Record
It’s important to use a consistent tone when using verbal markers like “yes” to signal the correct behavior. You should sound like a robot or a broken record, without a high degree of variability to help engrain predicability.
Continuation Markers VS Terminal Markers
“YES”, or the continuation marker, indicates to the dog that they are correct and should continue the current behavior, such as staying in a sit or down position. The trainer will bring the reward to the dog without ending the exercise. This is what we call an “implied stay”.
“FREE”, or the terminal marker, signals to the dog that they have completed the behavior correctly and are now released to come and get their reward, effectively ending the current exercise.
Watch An Example
How To Know If Your Dog Is Conditioned To The Markers
When you mark a behavior with a YES or FREE, you’re dog should show a visible sign of excitement. This varies between individual dogs. Sometimes its licking lips, taping feet, a turn of the head, or something similar. If you see no reaction, you’re dog may not yet be conditioned to the marker.
Video Resources
Marker Training 8:53
Basics on markers, timing and philosophy
Continuation Vs Terminal 5:11
Breaking down how different markers are used.
Reward Placement 6:16
Highlighting how placement affects your dogs positioning.
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Ch 2: Teaching Basic Commands
Please note: Youtube videos may be utilized throughout our training guide as examples and visual aids. While we have curated these links for your benefit, the individual companies and trainers featured in these videos are in no way affiliated with Life Is Golden.
