Flawless Communication

We all respond to multiple markers in our every day lives. For example, when the microwave dings, we casually walk over to retrieve the warm food. When the mail carrier honks his horn, we run to the front gate to retrieve a large parcel. It would be a little silly if we ran to the front gate when the microwave beeped. However, sometimes we put our dogs in the situation where they are waiting at the microwave when the parcel is at the front gate.  This video on demand is about creating clarity in our communication with our dogs using markers. I presented a shorter version of this presentation at the 2018 Art and Science of Animal Training Conference. There are many talented trainers using multiple markers in their training and I was lucky that at the beginning of my career to learn about different markers from one of my mentors Kyle Rayon. She showed me how we could use our voice, movement, touch and reinforcement delivery to help calm the shelter dogs and by associating a marker with these slow calm movements and treat deliveries we could use calm markers with the dogs to help promote calmness and reinforce behavior without creating over excitement or frustration.  In this video I will demonstrate how to train calm versus excitable markers.  We can teach a learner to anticipate WHAT reinforcement will be delivered, WHERE it will be delivered and HOW it will be delivered depending on the marker. We can also teach our dogs what to do after the marker.  I will describe the different options and then show how to train them.  Come - to handler for the reinforcement Stay - where you are reinforcement will be delivered to you Go - somewhere in the environment to receive reinforcement Do - an enjoyable activity like sniffing or a social interaction Continue - doing what you are doing reinforcement will come at some point I give examples and circumstances where multiple markers might be beneficial. For example, utilizing a different marker to teach a dog to relax at your feet at a café than the one often used when increasing speed and arousal for a recall or sport. Finally I describe when to stop using a marker and when to bring it back into your teaching plan.  Duration: 45 Minutes