More than a Click

Piper, a yellow lab in an orange harness, poses for a photo on the trail.

Last week, I traveled through Austria and Germany for a dog training seminar. The road signs were similar, the streets were the same as the US. However, I was entirely lost when it came to the language. Not knowing a word of German, I didn’t know what it meant when announcements came over the loud speaker in the airport, words flashed on the signs in the train car, or a sweet lady tried to tell me directions. I felt like I couldn’t talk at all; I was shut down and confused.

That’s how it can feel for dogs when we train without clear markers.

Marker words or sounds (like a clicker) bridge the gap between behavior and reinforcement. They tell the dog, "That—right there—is what earned you the reward." Karen Pryor popularized this concept through clicker training, and it’s one of the most effective tools we have in our positive reinforcement toolkit.

The magic of the marker lies in precision and timing. Patricia McConnell refers to this as "clean communication." Without a clear signal, dogs may struggle to understand what behavior they’re being reinforced for. That ambiguity can lead to confusion, slower learning, or worse, a shut down feeling.

Hannah Brannigan uses marker systems with surgical precision in her sport training. Whether it's a verbal "yes," a clicker, or even different markers for different outcomes (like food vs. toys), she builds systems that help the dog succeed through clarity. I’ve found this same approach invaluable in board-and-train settings. Dogs settle faster, learn quicker, and get less frustrated when the communication is consistent. I gift almost every client with a clicker of their own to use. When the communication is bridged from one person to another, the training can stick that much faster.

The marker is more than a training tool. It’s a bridge to trust. When used well, it builds confidence and clarity, and turns training into a game dogs want to play.

References:

• Pryor, K. (2006). Don't Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training. Bantam.

• McConnell, P. (2002). The Other End of the Leash. Ballantine Books.

• Brannigan, H. (2021). "Drinking from the Toilet" Podcast.