Key signals and basics in dog training
To make training clear to your dog, there are a bunch of signals that are important: start and end signal of the training session, right signal also called reward marker, praise and free signal. If you use these signals consistently, you frame the dog's lesson, convey when it is focus and break, you are clear about what is right and how long your dog should perform a step. And you know what? It gives your dog a razor-sharp focus. Who doesn't want that?
Positive start signals for successful training
Try starting each training session with a cheerful "Let's go" or "Shall we train?". Raise your eyebrows, smile, lean back (invite the dog) and wait for the dog's response. Does your dog come running with positive anticipation in his eyes? Good, then you have created a good feeling in your training together.
Clear end and pause signals for training
When you have practiced a number of repetitions, say "End" (if the whole session is over) or "Let's take a break" (if you are going to take a few minutes break). If you are consistent with these signals, it will be clear to your dog when it is training or break. Like when it rings out for break and rings in for lesson, you as a student know exactly if it is time for free play or learning.
Understanding your dog's reactions and emotions
These signals not only frame the training but also give you the opportunity to see how your dog feels about the training. Read your dog when you say "Shall we train?". Does your friend look excited and happy? If so, training is a positive element of everyday life. Does your dog look tired or unsure? Then something doesn't feel right and you should try to find out what.
The same goes for "It's time for a break". If your dog is happy and content and settles down to rest, that's a good thing. If, on the other hand, the pooch looks exuberantly happy and a little relieved, well then maybe the most fun thing about the training was that it ended. Then you need to find out what it is that your dog would like to see less of when you train together. Maybe the session is too long (mentally exhausting), too physically demanding, or perhaps too emotionally taxing (if you're training on emotional things). You can read more about how dogs' emotional lives affect their behavior here.
Right signal: Mark the right behavior clearly
Your right signal is your dog's reward marker. It is a tool that tells your dog what is right and it is also a promise that a reward is coming. You say the signal exactly when your dog succeeds in a training step or offers a desirable behavior in everyday life.
Clicker: effective reward marker
A well-known reward marker in dog training is the clicker sound. A clicker is a small box that makes a clear, clicking sound when you press it. You associate the click with rewards by clicking and then rewarding. The click becomes an acoustic marker with which you can mark a desirable behavior and then reward it.
Verbal right signals as an alternative to clicks
If you don't want to use a clicker, you can click your tongue, snap your fingers, or use a good old-fashioned verbal reward signal like "Yep", "Right", "Yes" or "Good". Say your right signal cheerfully, firmly and quickly. You want to freeze the dog's memory of its own action at the exact moment the clicker/right signal sounds. Follow up with a reward of some kind to keep the signal meaningful and continue to inform your dog of what the reward is.
The legal signal: Marker, not reward
The command signal itself is not a reward but should always be followed by a reward. The right signal itself is just a marker that makes dog training more effective as it marks desirable behaviors and it becomes easy for the dog to remember what is beneficial.
Motivational praise for sustained behaviors
Praise is encouraging words or harangues that motivate your dog to, for example, maintain a position you are practicing or continue a behavior. "Wow, cheer up!", "Good girl/guy!", "Yeah, that's it!"... Choose what feels natural for you to exclaim in delight when the token falls on your dog. Praise doesn't interrupt a moment and you don't need to reward afterwards. The purpose is to encourage your dog to maintain the behavior he is performing.
Use praise to strengthen continuity
See praise as a keep-going signal. Unlike the short, sharp right signal, praise sounds longer: "Good boy!" or "Good job!" (versus a short "Yep"). The praise therefore covers more behaviors, longer executions which can be useful when the dog, for example, rushes towards you after your recall, or walks nicely at your side when you are training foot, or sits purposefully after you say Sit/Stay.
You can sprinkle your dog's life with praise, during training as well as in everyday life. Praise when your dog offers desirable behaviors, makes wise choices, or sets a moment you are practicing.
Free signal: End moment clearly
Another signal that makes your dog training more effective is the free signal. It ends a session and makes it clear to your dog how long he should stay in a position, for example. Common free signals are "Okay", "Free", "Here you go" and "Jump and play". A dog trained with a free signal will lie down when you ask it to lie down and stay there until you say "Okay". A dog that has not been trained with a free signal will lie down when you ask it to lie down but will get up when it feels like it.
If you are consistent with your free signal, you will have a dog that you can praise and encourage, reward and boost before you signal that the moment is over. This means a dog that lies down until you say so, comes on recall and stays with you until you say otherwise or walks by your side until you give the okay to stroll on.
Practical guide to using signals
We put the signals in a training context:
- For example, you say "Sit" (the signal for the behavior)
- Your dog sits down, you praise "Good boy, well done!" (praise) then your dog sits down and stays put. The praise encourages your dog.
- You click or say "Correct" (right signal) when your dog is sitting most purposefully. You mark a desirable behavior and then reward it.
- You reward your dog and then say "Go ahead" (free signal) before you move a few steps and your dog gets up from the position. The Free signal releases your dog from the Sit signal.
Summary: The role of signals in training
Keep training free from unnecessary distractions, frame training sessions with "Let's go", "Break" and "That's it". Use a consistent and distinctive right signal "Yep", "Yes" that marks the right behavior which is then rewarded. End each step with a free signal like "Here you go". You encourage your dog during the training with praise such as "Good job, cheers!".
For more on dog behavior and their emotions, visit Dogs' emotional life - not unlike ours or read about Dog language - learn to interpret and speak dog language.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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