Marker Based Training for Puppies

Marker Based Training (MBT) marks the behaviors that are desirable. Marking the desired behaviors is the most efficient way to signal to your puppy/dog that it has just performed the exact behavior that you were looking for.

Marking the behavior that you want is a very simple task using two simple methods. Firstly, you can purchase a ‘clicker’ from any number of pet training suppliers. These provide a simple click sound that is always the same and that your puppy will quickly recognize and know that it has done something worthy of treats and praise. Alternatively, you could use a very easy and repeatable sound such the word ‘YES’ or ‘GOOD’ spoken in a very happy tone with a moderately high pitch. Just remember to practice your word a few dozen times before you start using it to ensure that you say it the same way (this is critical).

When you read ‘MARK’, remember that I am referring to a click of the clicker or you saying your marking word, such as ‘YES’ or ’GOOD’.

Likewise, whenever you read MTP in any of my training articles, I am referring to Mark, Treat & Praise. You must ALWAYS praise your puppy when you give it a treat and especially when it has done what you have asked. Praise is a soft, friendly, gentle praise, NOT a high energy and exciting praise. If you praise with lots of excitement and energy, your puppy will learn to jump about and get all excited and this may not be what you want as you will be forced to learn to settle your puppy while training and this can be very confusing. Think about it, your puppy does what is asked, gets a treat and some vigorous high energy praise, then it has to very quickly settle down to repeat the same exorcise. At the beginning of puppy’s life, this can be very frustrating. Save the vigorous high energy praise and playtime for when it is time to play, like after 15-20 minutes of training. Also, be sure to end every training session with something your puppy loves to do or something that it does very well.

Before all training sessions, take your puppy out to go potty and play a little. But, just a little. If you play a lot, your puppy may become very thirsty, which will increase the probability of an accident while training. Never start a training session with a dog that not been exorcised a little, as it will have too much energy and may not be able to focus properly.

Ready? Good, grab your dog, a bowl full of highly tasty dog treats and go to a quiet room in your house where your puppy has been many times before and will pay more attention to you than the other things in the room.

The objectives for the first few days are very simple, Mark, Treat, and Praise, in that order. That’s it. You are going to give your dog a treat and loving, happy, gentle praise every time you MARK. It’s that simple, over, and over again.

After you have done this a few times, your puppy will know that a treat and praise are coming every time it hears the MARK. At this point, we are not training any special behavior or trick. You are simply making a very solid connection between the MARK and reward.

Your puppy may master this in only 5-10 minutes. Some get master it after only 2-3 tries. Every puppy is different.

Happy Tails...