VERBAL MARKERS
Verbal Markers are the most important words you can teach your dog. They are what helps you reinforce the behaviors you want and stop the behaviors you don’t want.
If you train NO OTHER obedience, you can effectively help your dog be successful in your life by teaching and using verbal markers.
Verbal markers help you get the results you want from your dog by enabling you to clearly communicate with your dog what you want and what you don't want.
It also helps your dog learn that the choices they make have consequences, both good and bad - great when they’ve earned free time!
Used in conjunction with obedience commands, or by themselves, Verbal Markers help you take a snapshot, precisely marking a behavior (or mindset), clearly telling your dog that you agree or don’t agree with their choice. This helps them know which behaviors we want them to continue and which we want them to stop.
▶ We use 3 Verbal Markers
Good - Keep doing what you’re doing, I’ll bring you your reward- builds duration
No/Nope - Stop what you’re doing, go back or you’ll get a correction - builds impulse control
Break - Job is done, come get your reward, you are free to go - builds motivation & enthusiasm
◈ Break is more commonly used in training as a release command. We simplify and use this is our replacement for Yesss!
Verbal markers help you get your timing down and buy you time to give a consequence, whether good or bad, for a behavior.
！FIRST mark what your dog is doing, THEN reach for or apply the proper consequence.
This 4 Step Process will help you clearly communicate with your dog
Verbal Marker
Consequence (Reinforce by paying or correcting)
Repeat Command if necessary
Continue to pay for duration or Guide the dog back into position
xoxo
-J