If you’re wondering how to communicate with dogs, this is it! Marker training is one the clearest ways to communicate with your dog, a powerful modern training approach. It provides instant, clear dog communication with humans, making learning faster and more effective for your pup. Understanding markers can dramatically improve your training results.
What Is a Dog Training Marker?
Marker training tells your dog the exact moment they’ve done something right—or wrong. It’s based on classical conditioning, meaning the markers take on meaning through repetition. You may have heard of a “Pavlovian response,” which people often associate with their dogs drooling at mealtime. This is an example of classical conditioning.
Over time, dog training marker words create an automatic emotional and behavioral response in your dog, just like drooling when the food comes out. When conditioned properly, a dog feels a marker’s meaning. A well-trained “yes” creates excitement, while a well-trained “no” signals a consequence.
4 Essential Dog Training Marker Words
If you’re wondering how to improve communication with your dog, start with these four core words. They’re the ones we focus on at Wilde Acres:
- Yes
- Good
- Uh-Uh
- No
1. Yes – The Release Marker
“Yes” provides the terminal bridge. It tells the dog they’ve done something correctly and can now leave their position to claim their reward. This is positive reinforcement at its core.
For example, if your dog sits and you say yes, they know they are finished and can come to you for their treat or toy.
2. Good – The Duration Marker
“Good” is the signal to keep going. It tells the dog they’re doing the right thing but should continue holding the behavior. Unlike “yes,” this does not release them.
For example, if your dog is in a sit and you say ”good,” they should stay seated while you bring them their reward.
3. Uh-Uh – The Negative Punishment Marker
“Uh-uh” means the dog has made a mistake, and as a result, something desirable will be removed. This is an example of negative punishment.
For example, if you ask your dog to sit before giving them a treat, but they instead jump up or move toward the food, saying “uh-uh” and immediately removing the treat teaches them that the incorrect behavior makes the reward disappear. When they offer the correct behavior, they get the treat.
4. No – The Positive Punishment Marker
“No” signals that a consequence is coming. This is positive punishment—adding something to discourage behavior.
The consequence could be:
• A leash correction (on a slip lead, prong, or harness).
• A stim from an e-collar.
• A squirt from a spray bottle.
For example, if your dog is about to chase a squirrel despite being on a leash, saying “no” immediately before a leash pop helps them associate the behavior with an unwanted consequence.
How Marker Words Improve Communication With Dogs
These four dog training marker words help bridge the gap in dog communication with humans. Markers provide instant, clear feedback, helping dogs learn faster. Without timely communication, your pet will struggle to understand what you want. There are 4 reasons why dog training marker words works:
- Precision – The dog knows exactly what behavior was correct or incorrect.
- Faster Learning – Clear feedback reduces confusion and speeds up training.
- Emotional Impact – Properly conditioned markers create automatic emotional responses.
- Consistency – Marker words stay the same, no matter the tone of voice or situation.
If you’re not using marker training, you’re missing out on one of the best tools for clear, effective communication with your dog.
By mastering “yes,” “good,” “uh-uh,” and “no,” you’ll speed up learning, reduce frustration, and improve obedience.
Want to dive deeper? Learn more about how to teach obedience using positive reinforcement.
