So you want to train with positive reinforcement, but do you want to use a clicker, or a marker work?
If you’re venturing into the world of positive reinforcement training (Great choice! Did you know it increases optimism in your dog[5]?, it might be a case that you’ve stumbled across clicker training, and you’re wondering why you might use it, or not use it. Or, you’re struggling with marker based training and you’re wondering if clicker training might make you more efficient!
I feel you! As a dog mom (before I was a trainer) this was very much something I debated too. But now, as a trainer, I want to take a minute and discuss with you why you may want to choose one school of thought over the other. Should we be opting towards clicker-trained dogs? Is it the right form of training? Is it easier? Is it quicker?
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2020.07.005
Note; I’ll be referring to dogs in this article, but it stands for all animals as all animals learn in the same way (even humans!), so feel free to replace the word “dog” mentally, with anything from Hamster to Giraffe. The same principle applies, and is used by any animal trainer effectively.
It’s also good to note that whilst I’m trying to make this as friendly as possible to read, there is some science involved, so it may be a little much, if so, skip down to the conclusion!
The difference between the methods is solely what we use to tell our dog they’ve done the right thing – other than the process is identical.
e.g. the learning process is simply;
Verbal command (or visual cue) > Positive Dog Response (i.e. correct position) > Click/mark > Increase the likelihood of your dog repeating the action correctly in the future.
What Is A Clicker?
A clicker is a small, palm size device (requiring no batteries) that pings a piece of metal within it at the press of a button, and creates a noise, a relatively unique noise that clicks. This unique sound (something like the click of a ballpoint pen) is what the clicker trainers want to capitalize on, believing that this marker being so unique and consistent refines the process.
Inherrently, this noise is entirely meaningless to your dog (or pet), however, proper use of a clicker will result in your dog associating the clicker with the prediction of food, making it signal to your dog (or pet) that they’ve done the correct thing, and that good things are coming.
Food rewards (e.g. small pieces of chicken or other high value treats) are used to be the positive reward typically, but you can also use play, affection, or even smells!
The clicker then becomes classically conditioned, aka a Pavlovian response.
Stainless steel clicker will not rust, so even if you're caught in the rain. It's also nicely shaped and easy to use.
Stainless Steel click, variable volume and easy to add to your dog gear or walking bag.
Combined whistle and clicker, it's red colouring also means you can find it a little simpler when you lose it (which will happen!)
What Is Clicker Training?
In the early 2000’s, clicker training was popularized by Karen Pryor (founder of the Karen Pryor Academy, and author of many books on the subject), as an incredibly effective way of training your dog, and is something that often gets branded as the “most efficient” way of training, supposed to decrease the length of time it takes for your dog to learn new things, and to help them retain things better by decreasing the natural variation we humans use when priasing our dogs.[4]
The premise is that we “Charge” the clicker by showing our dogs that when a click happens, a reward will come momentarily (sometimes referred to as a bridge or bridging stimulus by dog trainers). The reliability and predictability of this is used to shape new behavior, and reward good behavior.
The clicker is then used with consistency and then a verbal cue (or hand signal) will be taught effectively and efficiently.
- Consistent sound
- Easily Transferable
- Hones timing
- Reward based training
- Extra piece of gear
- Can be aversive
- Easy to misplace
- Requires practice
What Is A Marker Word?
Simply put, your marker word is the same as praise.
It is a verbal marker, such as “Good girl!”, “Yes!” or “Good dog”, your verbal reward marker is used during your training session at the exact moment your dog does the correct thing and you then add in a food reward which encourages the desired behavior. The food is something we’d technically refer to as a primary reinforcer (as dogs need food, and we’re providing them a sample of that, eventually, when a cue is reinforced sufficiently, the action can become reinforcing, this would be a secondary reinforcer).
- Easy to use
- Easy to handle
- Hones timing
- Reward based training
- Requires practice
What Marker Word Should I Use?
Whatever comes naturally, usually, when we start training, I encourage my puppy parents to pick one cue, and stick to it really well, because it helps get them in a habit! But, as your dog grows, typically you end up using more than one marker word (and it still works!). Personally, I use “Yes!” And “Good!” done with different pitches and tones depending on what I’m trying to achieve, because tone is quite important, e.g. if I’m rewarding calmness, I’m going to use a calmer tone, vs when I’m trying to excite a recall? That’s going to have far more energy.
How Do Clickers Vs Marker Words Compare? What Does Research Say?
Early research suggested there was as much as a 60% increase in efficacy when a clicker was used [4], however, the more science has been able to conduct tests on clicker training as a method, the more skepticism seems to be being case.
Science’s current opinion is that there is no significant difference between auditory cues [1,2,3]
“…point toward no advantage in favor of the shaping method using one acoustic signal over another. Moreover, at best the allegedly beneficial effect of clicker would seem to be rather small” Chiandetti, 2016.
“the use of a clicker did not improve training progress or the rate of training for either behavior trained in this study.” Dorey, 2020.
So, scientifically, they’re both roughly equally likely to result in the same learning speed, meaning neither one is more effective than the other. Future studies have been encouraged by the scientific community to investigate the finer points of clicker training, and it’s efficacy in animal training.
Consequently, I would leave this up to you, as dog owners. If you want to use it and it facilitates you, as an individual, training your dog with a clicking sound? Do it! If not? Don’t.
Regardless of what science says, there is also the you factor. Clicker training is rarely aversive*, and if it becomes a great way for you and your dog to train, that’s fantastic! However, you should not feel pressured to clicker train over using a marker word because there are no statistically significant differences.
*Aversive meaning uncomfortable or unpleasant for your dog, as sometimes the sharp click noise can be something sensitive dogs find to be too much.
The Big Problem With Both Methods
The single biggest struggle with both clicker training and marker word use is that a pet parent takes time and practice to get the right time for this signal.
Timing takes practice, it takes a certain level of skill, and it’s something that is actually usually the reason for training problems, and this may be the possible explanation as to why some people believe clicker training is more effective than the marker training concept, because clicker training puts a real emphasis on timing – where as when we’re just saying “Good boy!” sometimes we leave it too late because of our instinct, or give our food treats before we use our marker word.
My personal stance;
To me, if there’s no difference, don’t complicate it.
I was raised with a “Keep It Simple, Stupid” approach, and it’s hard to forget your own voice! The biggest issue with marker words is using the same word consistently.
But even then, it’s not a significant difference in training value, and only make it more difficult to handle when you’re trying to walk a large, reactive dog and pull things from a treat pouch.
In summary
Use what works. I’d you’re struggling to say consistent with your words, trying a clicker can’t hurt! But be aware that you will see some regression if you’ve already started training.
Or, if you don’t want to, don’t! Tighten up your marker word usage and go from there.
I’m a thorough believer in making dog training as simple as possible to encourage you to do it more! Keep training in short sessions, keep making training fun, and keep training!
If you need help in training your dog, Head to my store where you can book an appointment!
Citations
[1] Cinzia Chiandetti, Silvia Avella, Erica Fongaro, Francesco Cerri (2016). Can clicker training facilitate conditioning in dogs? Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 184, 109-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.08.006
[2] Nicole R. Dorey, Alexander Blandina, Monique A.R. Udell, (2020). Clicker training does not enhance learning in mixed-breed shelter puppies (Canis familiarise). Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Volume 39, Pages 57-63,
[3] Pfaller-Sadovsky, Nicole, Camilo Hurtado-Parrado, Daniela Cardillo, Lucia G. Medina, and Susan G. Friedman. (2020). What’s in a Click? The Efficacy of Conditioned Reinforcement in Applied Animal Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Animals 10, no. 10: 1757. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101757
[4] Wood, Lindsay, (2008). Clicker Bridging Stimulus Efficacy. Clickertraining.com. https://www.clickertraining.com/node/1960
[5] Casey, R.A., Naj-Oleari, M., Campbell, S. et al. (2021) Dogs are more pessimistic if their owners use two or more aversive training methods. Sci Rep 11, 19023. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97743-0
[6] Dickmann, Jana, et al. 2022. “Clicker Training Mice for Improved Compliance in the Catwalk Test” Animals 12, no. 24: 3545. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243545
References
Stanley Coren. (2017). Is Clicker Training the Most Effective Way to Train Dogs? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/canine-corner/201704/is-clicker-training-the-most-effective-way-train-dogs
Feng, L.C., Howell, T.J., Bennett, P.C. (2016) How clicker training works: Comparing reinforcing, marking, andbridging hypotheses Applied Animal Behaviour Science 181: 34-40,
Pryor, K. 1999. Don’t shoot the dog! The new art of teaching and training. 2 ed. Bantam Books, New York,
Skinner, B.F. 1938. The behavior of organisms: an experimental analysis. England.
Author, Ali Smith
Ali Smith is a professional, qualified, and multi-award winning trainer is the founder of rebarkable. She has always believed animals deserve kindness and champions force free methods. Believing that dog guardians will all choose the kindest options if proper information is provided, she aims to help all dog guardians who need it and make dog training as accessible as possible
Ali lives win Maryland, US with her husband and her three dogs.
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