I have a question about marker training. When you have an 8 week old puppy do you teach the command of sit, down and come or do you only mark it when they do it but you don't say the actual command? The reason why I'm asking is because I just read the article on marker training and that's what it says to do. But I'm watching 8 weeks and Ed is actually teaching the words sit, down with the 8 week puppy. I just need some clarification. Thanks to everyone's patience with my numerous questions. This is a whole new world to me so I'm just trying to grasp it properly.

Good question.

I think this varies from trainer to trainer.

You want the dog to understand the concept of "Training". I define it this way: A dog "understands" what training is when it realizes that its actions can elicit a reward.

This connection can take anywhere from 1 session to 3 or 4 sessions. Once the dog has realized it, they will tend to do what Ed describes as "pulling out every trick from their bag" -- they will offer up actions that have brought a reward in the past in an attempt to get the reward you have. This is great, it shows that they fully understand that you will give them a reward, they just need to do the right thing.

How do you teach a dog that what training is? This usually happens in your first training session. The way I do it happens to be without words, because I think at THIS point, extra verbalization is only confusing.

Lure the dog into a sit. 20 times. On the 21st time, do not lure, just wait for the dog to perform the sit on its own. Praise and treat. At this point, when the dog is offering the behavior with no prompting, is when I start to say "Sit" as the dog does it.

After one or two sessions like that, I'd go ahead and use the command as you teach the action, but wait until the dog understands what you're luring it into. So, lure into a down 5 times. Once it anticipates what it's going to do, start introducing the word, not as you lure, but as the dog begins to comply. Then, click, treat, release.

But it's very important to establish in the dogs mind what this "Training" time is all about, and the way I generally do it is what I've listed above. Others will have different ideas, and every dog responds differently. There's not a "really wrong way", just ways that work better or less well for you and for your specific dog.

Just so it's clear ( from Ed's video ) a word can act as a marker - the "clicker" training was carried over from its use in training marine mammals and for many people, the clicker is much clearer and easier to use ( I'm old school and still find that a vocal marker works better for me, but it's different for every trainer ).

And welcome to the wonderful word of training!

I find that with my wife verbal markers are more successful than the clicker....

Hehe. The really crucial thing that I think we can take away from the clicker itself is the importance of timing. There are a lot of timing exercises that you can do with voice or clicker that will make you really think about your training. I find that because I have to manipulate a clicker by hand, these exercises are more challenging with a clicker.

With that said, I no longer use a clicker for my dogs, I use my voice 100% for their markers.

Okay, I think I'm getting it now.

Will, I was referring to the part in the video when he is in the kitchen with the puppy and teaching it Sit and Down. He says "Sit" then gives the puppy a treat when it sits. In the next section he talks about marker training and to reward without a command. I was just trying to put two to two together. You guys have made it clear to me. Thanks.

 Quote: david eagle

I find that with my wife verbal markers are more successful than the clicker....

I know this is not what you meant, but I remember Ed saying long ago, when markers were kinda new here, that they were great for some men who just couldn't get a "yes" tone into their verbal marker.... so that their verbal marker had the intonation of a verbal correction.....


This made me think about my own verbal marker, and while it's upbeat and pleased-sounding, it VARIES a lot! I had never noticed!

So, long story short: I ordered my first clicker from LB today.

We'll see ......