Markers are how you talk to Melon during training. Three words. Each one means something specific. Consistency here is everything.
The Three Markers
YES — “That’s it! Come get your reward.”
- Energy: Bright, excited, crisp
- Means: You did the thing. The behavior is done. Come get paid.
- Followed by: Treat delivery, toy toss, or start of play
- Use for: Completing a behavior — the moment her butt hits the ground on a sit, the moment she drops the tug on out, the moment she checks in on a walk
YES ends the behavior. When she hears YES, she’s free to move. That’s why you don’t use it during duration work.
GOOD — “Keep doing that.”
- Energy: Calm, warm, steady
- Means: You’re on the right track. Stay where you are. More reward is coming.
- Followed by: Treat delivered in position (don’t make her move to get it)
- Use for: Duration — holding a down, holding a sit-stay, staying on place, waiting calmly
GOOD keeps the behavior going. She stays in position because she’s learned that GOOD means “more is coming if you stay put.”
BREAK — “You’re free.”
- Energy: Upbeat, clear
- Means: Whatever you were doing, you’re released. Move, shake it off, be a dog.
- Use for: Ending duration behaviors, releasing from sit/down/place, ending a session
- Use after: A GOOD sequence, or after she’s held position and you’re done
The Difference That Matters
| Marker | Energy | Dog’s Response | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| YES | Excited | Breaks position, comes to you | Moment of correct behavior |
| GOOD | Calm | Stays in position, waits | During duration/hold behaviors |
| BREAK | Upbeat | Free to move | Releasing from any position |
The most common mistake: Using YES when you mean GOOD. If Melon is holding a down and you say YES, she’s going to pop up — that’s what YES means. Use GOOD to reward the hold, YES only when you want the behavior to end.
Building Marker Strength
If Melon’s marker response isn’t sharp, spend a few sessions just conditioning:
YES conditioning (2 minutes):
- Say YES in a bright tone
- Immediately deliver a treat (within 1 second)
- Repeat 15-20 times
- She should start orienting toward you the instant she hears YES
GOOD conditioning (2 minutes):
- With her in a sit or down (use a lure if needed)
- Say GOOD in a calm tone
- Deliver treat in position — between her front paws for down, at nose level for sit
- Repeat 10-15 times
- She should visibly relax and hold position when she hears GOOD
When markers are sharp: She reacts instantly and distinctly to each word. YES makes her move toward you with excitement. GOOD makes her settle deeper into position. That’s the goal.
Markers in Each Phase
Phase 1 (Tug):
- YES when she grips the tug
- YES when she drops on out
- GOOD when she’s holding a sit waiting for the game to start
Phase 2 (Fetch):
- YES when she picks up the ball
- YES when she returns to you
- GOOD when she’s holding a wait before you throw
Phase 3 (Walking):
- YES when she checks in (voluntary eye contact)
- YES when she responds to a turn or direction change
- GOOD when she’s walking in position without pulling