Marker Training for Dogs

Marker training is an extremely effective technique used to train many show dogs and dogs that work with police and government agencies. It uses both positive and negative behavior to help the dog understand what actions are correct. It breaks training into small steps or stages where the dog is rewarded for each step, rather than more traditional training that waits until the end of an action to give a treat.

  1. Your Markers

    • Choose a positive word such as "yes" to signal the dog that he has done something correct. Then think of a very dissimilar word to mean the opposite (that he should stop or he is doing something wrong). A word such as "no" or "bad" is fine. These words will be your markers.

    Charging

    • Once you have the markers to train with, you now have to "charge" them. This means to give them meaning to the dog. Choose a small treat the dog likes, such as pieces of meat. Spend a few days saying your positive word and immediately giving the treat. Remember you are not having your dog do anything, you are educating him on what the word you are saying will result in.

      Alternating with the positive command and the reward, say the negative word and show him your bare hand (without a treat). If you can, try doing this about once or twice an hour or do this intensely for 15 to 20 minutes in the morning and evening. Dogs learn at different speeds.

      If after one day, you can see your dog hears the word and starts salivating, perking up and getting excited, you have successfully "charged" the word.

    Mark Each Stage

    • Break up the action you want to train your dog for into small steps. For example, turning on a light could be broken up into going to the wall, standing up, flipping the switch and returning. When your dog is looking at you and is calm, give a command you have chosen for this action such as "light." Bring him to the wall, say "yes" and reward him. Do this over and over until you can feel him walking there by himself when you say the command word. Once at the wall, tap the light if he can understand to get up or prop him up to the wall. Say "yes" and reward him.

    Step By Step

    • Now start from the beginning. Say "light" and he should run to the wall. Say "yes" and he should stand up. Now train for the other stages, step by step. Have him turn the light on and return.

    Negative Markers

    • If your dog fails at any stage, give the negative marker "no" and show him your empty hand. At times your dog may be confused and not know (remember) what to do. Help him by bringing him to the wall or propping him on the wall, say "yes" and give him the treat.

      Training takes time and patience. Once all stages are complete, you should be able to say "light" for him to perform all the stages.