Marker

What Is a Marker?

A marker is a word, sound, or signal that identifies the exact moment your dog performs the behavior you want.

At BFF, we primarily use verbal markers.

Think of it as taking a mental screenshot:

That. Right there. That’s what I wanted.

Why Do We Need a Marker?

Timing matters in dog training.

Imagine asking your dog to Sit. The dog sits, you reach into your pocket, pull out a treat, and give it to them several seconds later.

During those few seconds, your dog may have looked away, stood up, moved toward you, or performed several other behaviors.

Which behavior earned the reward?

A marker helps answer that question.

It identifies the exact moment the dog got it right, even if the actual reward arrives a moment later.

A Marker Has to Be Taught

Words don’t automatically have meaning to dogs.

Before a marker becomes useful, we have to consistently connect it with what follows.

At BFF, our primary terminal marker is “Yes.”

During the early stages of training, “Yes” is consistently followed by a reward.

The dog begins learning:

Yes → Reward

Eventually, the word itself becomes meaningful because the dog understands what it predicts.

Precision Matters

The marker should happen at the moment the behavior we’re looking for occurs.

If we’re teaching Sit, we want to mark the moment the dog’s rear hits the ground—not several seconds later when they’re already standing again.

The better our timing, the clearer the information we give the dog.

Different Markers Can Communicate Different Things

Not every marker has to mean exactly the same thing.

At BFF, we commonly use:

Yes as a terminal marker.

Good as a duration marker.

We also use release words such as Free, Break, or Okay to tell the dog when a maintained behavior has ended.

Each has a different job.

The Bigger Picture

A marker gives us a way to communicate with precision.

Instead of leaving the dog guessing which part of what they just did earned the reward, we can identify the exact moment they made the correct choice.

Clear markers create clearer communication.