What’s in a Sit? Foundation Skills - Cues vs. Markers

Using Cues and Markers with the right ‘grammer’ in our training language means we can teach dogs to respond to their environment even *before* we have a chance to call their name, or say ‘leave it’ or tell them to Place. Because who doesn’t want a dog who can happily automatically come back to you when they see a squirrel? Or automatically check in with you when they see another dog on a walk? Or back up and sit when you start to open the door?

Otis sitting after I said ‘sit’, waiting for me to say ‘yes!’ and throw the ball.

Commands. Cues. Markers. Hand signals. Clickers. Leashes. Lures, and Tones…. Just on the surface, sometimes all the extra pieces of dog training can feel convoluted, complicated, and enigmatic. The details of communication with our dogs matter more than anything else. Good communication helps our training and daily interactions be clear, consistent, and efficient. The foundation in all of this is understanding the grammar and language of how our dogs understand us. 

So what’s in a sit? What does it mean when your dog sits for a treat? Are they doing it because they saw a treat come out, or your hand raise up, or because they heard a sound in that same “Siiiiiiit” tone?

Instead of getting bogged down with too many terms, options, and opinions, let’s simplify it with the basics of all communication and learning theory: it all comes down to Cues and Markers. As soon as you’re using cues and markers effectively in a way your dog understands, you’re commuication together will flourish. It isn’t about issuing out commands for your dog to follow like a computer - but ways that we can help them understand the world, and have our crucial communication be a two-way street together, building cooperation and opening up so many opportunities.

Often it feels like the semantics of language come off as unnecessary. “Well, you know what I mean…” And yes, sure, many times, the listener does know what the meaning and intention is supposed to be. But lumping together terms creates a gray zone - and that gray zone is the enemy of dog training for us building a plan, and our dogs to understand what we’re actually after. 

The terms ‘cue’ and ‘marker’ are some of the most commonly misused and confused. Once we can differentiate and use them to their potential, we’ll instantly raise our training levels. Efficient means less frustration for the learner (our dogs), more rewarded successful reps and more cooperation together. 

What is a Cue?

A cue is a signal to do a specific behavior or that an event that is about to happen. A cue tells your dog what to do next or what is coming next, and has bearing on what they’ve already done, seen or experienced. It’s the start of the chain.

The most common cues are verbal words (sit, down, stay), or hand signals. Your dog will also start to pickup on cues that happen in your daily routine too. Putting on running shoes becomes a cue that you’ll be going for a walk soon. Packing a bag might be a cue you

Kai offering eye contact to start the game of fetch again

What is a Marker?

A marker captures a snapshot in time and tells your dog what that moment means. A marker is information about the consequence that will happen next because of a behavior or experience. A consequence can be either positive or negative of course.

Common positive reward markers include a clicker sound, a specific word like "yes," or a hand signal. When I say ‘Yes!’ to my dog, it means “That was perfect, you’re done, and can come get a treat!” So “yes” lets my dog know both that the behavior was good and where to get their reward and what kind of reward it’ll be. Teaching marker words that are specific to the reward type and location gives our training an extra layer of clarity that reduces frustration and builds clarity. The marker word “chase” means the same ‘that was perfect, you’re done’ - but means I’ll be throwing a toy instead of a treat. For a dog who is absolutely obsessed with balls and fetch, imagine their disappointment when I hand them some dry kibble instead of throwing a toy. And vice versa for a food-obsessed pup who doesn’t really care about fetch. But, much more on markers and all they can do later on!

Cues and Learning Routines

What’s so incredibly cool about how dogs learn is how they’re naturally brilliant at figuring out events that tend to be linked together. Because we can rarely tell them “hey, we’re going to go out to the park to play at 3pm today” they notice all the little cues that tend to lead one to the other, ending in the fun thing! At first it’s just the car ride that gets them excited. Then they might realize that before each car ride to the park you put on running shoes (not sandals or work shoes). Then maybe it’s filling a water bottle…until the smallest thing that usually starts the chain of events ending at the park gets them excited.

Now what?

The key takeaway to start with - is that the cue happens first, then behavior, then the marker, then lastly, the reward.

Cue—> Behavior —> Marker —> Reward

Next couple ‘o blogs will delve into how we can reframe what we think of as a cue from our dog’s perspective of what they actually are perceiving as the cues. Both to make sure they’re actually listening (and not just watching your hand in the treat pouch) and to get those automatic recalls, check ins, sits and more….