“That’s Not a Marker”: Cleaning Up Your Communication

“There are 100 ways to train a dog. And you’ve got to train the dog that’s in front of you.”

Our hosts, Robin Grubel and Stacy Barnett, unpack the role of markers in scent-detection training—and why a clicker or verbal “yes” isn’t a magic button. They explain the difference between a marker that signals the end of a behavior and a cue that asks the dog to do something. They also discuss how a click can accidentally become a cue for a trained final response if it’s used the same way every time and never faded.

Robin and Stacy talk about how to make verbal markers clearer and more consistent, when a clicker or whistle may offer better timing, and how reinforcement placement can shape a dog’s independence at odor. They explore the risks of hovering at the hide or pairing odor with food for too long, as well as how location-specific reinforcement cues—such as “eat” or “catch”—can help handlers communicate how a reward will be delivered.

Their central message: choose your training tools with a clear objective in mind, and adapt your approach to the dog and the skill you’re building. Whether you’re developing a trained final response, working on close-proximity hides, or building search skills, thoughtful marker use can give you more options and cleaner communication.

Key Topics:

• Markers versus Cues (03:30)

• What Makes a Verbal Marker Clear and Consistent (04:43)

• Timing Challenges with Verbal Markers (07:12)

• When to Use a Clicker—and When It May Not Be Needed (10:05)

• Pairing Odor with Food and Why to Fade It (12:13)

• Using Markers to Encourage Handler Distance and Dog Independence (19:28)

• Why Whistles Can Help with Loud Bark Alerts (22:09)

• Choosing Reinforcement Placement for the Training Goal (24:31)

• Location-Specific Reinforcement Cues and Arousal (29:42)

• How a Clicker Can Accidentally Become a Cue for the Trained Final Response (33:58)

• Distance, Duration, and the Six Ds (38:38)

Resources:

• Fenzi Dog Sports Academy – Schedule and Syllabus

• K9 Sensus – Working K9 Academy

• “Book a Weekend with Us!”

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• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!

• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy

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