Location and Reward Specific Markers: Taking Your Dog Sport Training to the Next Level
When we talk about clear communication in dog training, many people think first of clickers or marker words like yes! These tools are incredibly powerful because they act as a bridge — they tell the dog the exact moment they did the right thing, and that reinforcement is coming. But if you’re working in dog sports, where precision and motivation matter, you can take this concept a step further with location-specific markers and reward-specific markers. Think of them as sat-nav directions and menu choices for your dog. They not only confirm that the behaviour was right, but also tell the dog where and how their reinforcement will happen.
What are Location-Specific Markers?
A location marker tells your dog exactly where to go to collect their reward. Instead of always coming back to your hand for food, you can signal whether reinforcement will appear at your side, on the ground, or even away from you. For example, in my own training I use:
“Cheese!” – come back to me to collect food directly.
“Run!” – food will be thrown ahead for the dog to chase.
“Get it!” – grab the toy in my hand.
This matters in sports because dogs learn movement patterns very quickly. If your agility dog always runs back to your hand for food, you risk pulling them off a jump or slowing their drive. A location marker avoids that conflict: you can reward behind them for a tight turn, or ahead to drive them on.
Analogy: Imagine finishing a race and someone shouts “medal at the podium!” vs. “medal at the finish line!” Both mean you won, but the location cue changes where you head next.
What are Reward-Specific Markers?
A reward-specific marker tells the dog what kind of reinforcement is coming. Is it food, a thrown toy, a tug game, or a scatter of treats?
Why does this matter? Because not all rewards create the same emotional state. Tugging builds intensity and arousal, while calm food delivery can settle. Using specific markers allows you to shape not just behaviour, but energy.
For example:
“Cheese!” = food delivered by hand.
“Run!” = food thrown.
“Get it!” = toy play.
Your dog learns to predict not just reinforcement but the flavour of it. This makes training more efficient, because anticipation helps them adjust their behaviour and state of mind.
How to Introduce Location and Reward Markers
Choose your words carefully. Keep them short, distinct, and consistent.
Pair each marker with its outcome several times before using it in training. For example, say “run!” then throw the food. Do this until the word alone makes the dog’s eyes light up.
Practise in easy contexts first. Ask for a simple sit, mark with “cheese,” and deliver food at your side. Next time, try “run” and throw the food.
Start applying in sport behaviours. For example, after a tunnel you might want “run” to drive the dog forward, or after a tight turn, “cheese” to come back and reset.
Avoid muddying the waters. Don’t sometimes use “run” to mean food thrown and other times to mean toy thrown. Consistency builds clarity.
Common Mistakes
Inconsistency.
If sometimes “get it” means toy and sometimes food, your dog won’t trust the system.
Overusing one marker.
If you always say “cheese,” your dog may lose drive or anticipation.
Forgetting arousal effects.
A tug marker right before a delicate heelwork routine might tip your dog into over-excitement.
Marker creep.
Using your marker casually in everyday speech (e.g. saying “get it” when tidying socks) can dilute its meaning.
How Does This Link to Clicker Training?
Clickers and general marker words (like “yes”) are still essential. They tell the dog what behaviour was right. Reward and location markers simply add an extra layer of clarity: they tell the dog how and where they’ll be reinforced.
Think of it as upgrading from a single traffic light (“go!”) to a full sat-nav (“turn left, service station ahead, McDonald’s on your right”). The more information you give, the smoother the journey.
Why This Matters in Sports
In agility, hoopers, heelwork to music, or canicross, split-second decisions and energy levels make or break a run. Location and reward markers let you:
Maintain drive forward without sacrificing accuracy.
Reward tight turns without breaking flow.
Use toys to pump energy, or food to calm intensity.
Build resilience and adaptability in your dog’s understanding of reinforcement.
In short, you gain not only precision, but a powerful way to balance motivation and control.
Ready to Put This Into Practice?
If this has piqued your interest, why not come and learn hands-on? I’m hosting some awesome workshops in October with guest trainers who will cover marker systems, reinforcement strategies, and other advanced training techniques.👉 Book your participation or spectator place now — spaces are limited!