Dog Training | Continuation Marker vs The Terminal Marker - Episode 3

This video will give you a better understanding of how and when to use a marker.

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Mark or Marker (Conditioned-Reinforcers): This is a word or sound that predicts either a reward or a correction.

Your communication channels to your dog (markers or conditioned-reinforcers):
a. Continuation Marker: This sound lets your dog know they are correct, and you will be delivering a reward to them.
b. Terminal Marker: This lets your dog know they are correct, and they may come to you to get the reward. It is a release word that always predicts that a reward is about to be given.

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Check out my show on ANIMAL PLANET: Rescue Dog to Super Dog

Next weeks video: How to know which marker to use.

Future videos:
• How to properly space rewards.
• The four quadrants of operate conditioning.
• What is a self-reinforcing behavior?
• What causes our dogs to repeat behaviors?
• How long should I train my dog?
• Formal vs informal commands.
• Preparing your training environment
• Setting up your dogs training food for the day.
• Proper food handling
• How to load a marker / engagement training
• Fixed and free shaping
• Reward placement
• Luring and chasing
• Power-ups
• One command per behavior
• Shaping behaviors
• Teaching and understanding leash pressure
• How to name your dog training commands
• Release word
• Drop it command
• Come when called
• Crate command
• Climb and off command
• How to teach your dog to sit on command
• How to teach your dog to down on command
• How to teach your dog to stand on command
• How to teach your dog to stay
• How to teach your dog to walk on a loose leash
• How to teach your dog to automatically sit when halted
• The random sits and down game
• How to teach your dog to play fetch
• How to get your dog into the car
• How to teach your dog to swim and to get out of a pool
• How to Introducing two dogs
• How to potty train your puppy or dog
• How to teach your dog to signal to go outside
• Confidence building
• What is counter conditioning or re-conditioning
• How to introduce your new puppy to your house
• Walking through doorways
• Teach your dog to properly meet new people
• How to fix behavioral problems
• How to stop puppy biting
• How to stop your dog from getting into the trash
• How to prevent resource guarding
• How to teach sit, down, and stand in motion
• How to teach the place command
• How to teach the center command
• How to teach your dog to walk backwards
• How to teach your dog commands from a distance
• How to teach your dog a down on recall
• How to teach the flip and by finish
• How to teach your dog a send out command
• How to teach your dog the stand for exam exercise (AKC)
• How to teach your dog AKC hand signals
• How to teach the around command and problem solving games
• How to start teaching a focused heel
• How to develop the focused heel
• How to teach the backwards follow exercise to your dog
• How to teach your dog strong eye contact in heel position
• How to teach the backwards follow into heel
• How to solidify the heel position
• How to use the spiral technique
• How to teach your dog a right about turn
• How to teach your dog a left about turn
• How to teach your dog figure 8 heeling

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[cherylthomas]

I just found you! You showed up on my feed and now I’m hooked.

[EHoney_]

This videos so far have been really really helpful thank you so much for making this series

[JoshuaXiong]

Yeah my dog used to think when I said good means gets the treat but now it understood and doesn’t move to come get the treat when I said yes!!!

Good you thought of this also.

[kayleenelsen]

Thank you for explaining the difference between the terminal and continuous markers. Before watching this video, I only knew about the continuous marker (though not exactly continuous, because I just rewarded it happening, not holding it). It was helpful to hear more about the terminal marker. I have a 5 month rescue puppy and plan on starting to incorporate both. I look forward to seeing some videos where these are in action as I continue the series!

[susanhughes]

I’ve always used stay but this method makes much more sense. You really make it easy to understand. I re-watch your training videos over and over and often realise I’ve missed something. I think you are really training owners 🤣🤣

[antoniostudernoguez]

I am learning on dog training thanks to you, again, much appreciated Nate, best vibes your way, wishing you the best!!

[GeorgiaK]

Ahhh yes thank you for explaining this!!

[sangeetakumar]

This is the best Video I have seen so far.
i feel understood, very easily and fully explained gives you the Feeling yes I can do it.
Thank you for the very useful and Motivational Video.
Thank you so much Dear Nath.😊

[danhayes]

Awesome video! My puppy gets extremely excited with any food based training. Right when she hears the click she’ll jump out of a lie down for her reward. I wasn’t sure this was an issue until I saw this video!

I couldn’t find the info anywhere else. Looks like our clicker will be the terminal marker and I need to start teaching her a continuation marker. Thanks!

[AnnainAwe]

You give the best explanation of this of any YouTube, dog training, publisher I am acquainted with.
In many regards my dog and I are needing lessons in your advanced training category, and many of those were nearly mastered prior to our making your acquaintance.
HOWEVER... this video covers a topic that I did not at all comprehend. I can now see that I have inadvertently created Much confusion for my poor puppy dog.
Over to last few days I have endeavored to watch myself to determine if I have ANY marker that I use exclusively for continuation and a different one I use exclusively for termination.
Sadly I have witnessed that each of my markers are used both ways 😢😜
After 2 1/2 years my patterns are deeply ingrained.
SOMEHOW!!! I need to take myself back to basics in this arena.
These are the markers I use, in the order I think I use them most frequently:
- a double click of my tongue (this is my hands-free version of the clicker device)
- thank you
- awesome
- yes
I suppose I do have a few release markers for crossing a threshold
- let’s go
- OK
- Lead
And when we are returning to the RV, our home, I do not want him to enter without my verbal consent…
- Load up (I also find myself using this with a taxi or a friends automobile)

[tayakares]

Your videos are so good and helpful that I sometimes forget that I subscribed and I try to again.

[limited_edition]

Best trainer ever ♥️♥️ love you teacher

[JoshuaXiong]

1:40 Yeah I used to do that saying stay stay but not anymore. Now down means down stay.

[CamilleGG]

Awesome content as always Nate!!

Ok, I've been using the continuation marker differently...

"Yes!" is my terminal marker and means "you got it right, you're done with that and here is/come get/I'm bringing your treat."

What I've been calling a continuation marker is: "You're doing the right behavior and I want you to continue doing that" regardless of how I eventually release him/her.

Example is say, working on loose leash walking:

Dog is doing a nice job. I don't want to use terminal marker bcuz we need to continue. I want to praise the dog tho, so I say a long, calm "gooood" and reward in this case, with continuing to getting to walk forward. Similarly, if I want to teach dog to sit and stay I will give the cue to sit. Then use continuation marker "gooood" and go up and give a treat here and there while dog's still in position. Then use terminal marker.

Yikes- What am I doing right and what am I doing wrong here?! 🤯😆

TIA for your time if you have it!!

[shahdosman]

Thank u for taking your time in observing to start with thats a great thing to do in everything important to any human..

And i really appreciate ur effort for making this vedio

Lots of peace and blessing from sudan to u

[bugninja]

Hey boss thx so much u our so motivating. I havent purchased the dog i want uet but iam stuck watching all ur videos. Just wanted to say thank u 🙏 and keep kicking these video's out #thankful

[kimphatpham]

Hi Nate, thank you very much for your very informative videos. I like your approach to training and videos compared to other YouTubers. I have been watching your basic obedience training serie, and I am not sure how to teach my dog the continuation marker and terminal marker.

How do I train my dog so that it understands that the continuation marker means I will come to them to give the treat, versus the terminal marker which means they can come to me for the treat? Do I use leash pressure and luring to teach my dog to come to me when I use the terminal marker?

For example, my puppy is doing a behaviour that I like 6 ft away from me while attached to the leash, then I use my terminal marker "Free", do I pull the leash toward me slightly while luring with the treat, so that they understand "Free" means they can come to me for the treat?

As for the continuation marker, I stay close to them, make them look at me, then say "Yes" and give them the treat. But how do I teach the continuation marker while being far from them, so that they understand that they must stay there, and I must come to them to give the treat?

I hope my question is clear enough. Thank you!

[hughgallagher]

Great Videos! The step by step process is Outstanding! Can you use one click for continuayion and two quick clicks for terminal?

[michealsteely]

I’m a newish dog owner and I don’t completely understand what you’re saying. Is there any videos of you demonstrating the commands

[Ri-ver]

These videos have transformed my training. I feel closer to my dog than I ever have. She's conditioned to all of the markers and is on fast pace to master the focused heel.
She is longboard trained (like a sled dog) and is gonna begin alpine training soon! Thanks for all of your help