reinforceDay TWELVE-21 Day Positive Training Kickstart Challenge

The next step with training once you have observed a behavior is to mark & reinforce it. With Clicker training we use something called a “clicker” to “mark” the behavior. Marking a behavior means signaling to the animal that we liked that behavior. Signaling to the learner that we liked the behavior can also be done via a verbal marker, like a special word (for example, “Yessss” or “Gooooood”).

The way that this works is that we watch for the behavior that we are seeking. Then we “mark” that behavior by clicking our clicker or using our verbal marker (“yessss”) the very second that the behavior occurs. Finally, we reinforce that behavior by offering something that the learner finds worth while to work for!

ACTION: Try asking your dog to make eye contact with you. This is done by saying your pup’s name. When their eyes meet yours quickly say “Yessssss!” & offer them something that they enjoy!