Guest Trainer Workshops
What is a Reward-Specific Marker?
A marker is a word or sound you use to tell your dog, “Yes, that’s the behaviour I wanted!” Many people use a clicker or the word “yes” for this.
A reward-specific marker goes a step further. Instead of just saying “yes” for everything, you have different markers that tell your dog what type of reward is coming.
Think of it like a promise:
🧀 “Cheese!” (or another chosen word) means food reward is on the way.
🎾 “Toy!” might mean play is about to happen.
🐕 “Go sniff!” could mean you’re free to explore the environment.
The marker isn’t the reward itself—it’s a signal that predicts a specific type of reward.
Why is this useful?
Clarity for your dog: Dogs learn more quickly when they know exactly what to expect.
Flexibility for you: You can mix rewards—food, toys, or freedom—without confusing your dog.
Motivation booster: Some dogs find toys more exciting in active situations, while food works better in calm ones.
Strengthens recall and focus: If your dog knows a special game comes after a particular word, they’ll race back with extra enthusiasm.