Most people who are familiar with positive reinforcement training have heard of clicker training (a form of marker training). In recent years, many people have seen the added benefits of using a voice marker instead of or in addition to a clicker. So which is better: marker word or clicker? There are pros and cons for each and we’ll discuss advantages and disadvantages of both in this chapter.
Advantages of a Marker Word Over a Clicker
Marker words have many advantages over a clicker. Below are just a few.
You Always Have Your Voice With You
First of all, you always have your voice with you. This is probably the biggest benefit. If a dog who is not trained to a voice marker does something worth reinforcing when your clicker isn’t on you, you will miss the opportunity for powerful reinforcement with a marker. Even if the clicker is in the same room with you, you won’t be able to mark the behavior quick enough for the dog to associate the click with the behavior. On the other hand, your voice is easily assessable no matter where you are.
Multiple Clickers in a Training Class Can Confuse a Dog
Secondly, in a training class, with a lot of markers being clicked, it is difficult for the dog to respond only to the sound of the clicker meant for him. The sound of a clicker from a trainer other than his own could confuse him. If one dog did something wrong at the same time that another handler used his clicker, the wrong behavior could get reinforced. One click intended for one dog could reinforce wrong behaviors in multiple other dogs. However, if a voice is used, a dog can distinguish his own handler’s voice from other voice markers in the room.
Verbal Markers Condition a Dog to Love the Sound of Their Person’s Voice
Thirdly, a voice marker more thoroughly conditions a dog to love the sound of his own person’s voice.
Verbal Markers are Easier for the Trainer to Use
Fourthly, it is easier to make a sound with your own voice than to carry around and click a clicker. This is especially true if the trainer is handling several different items. These items could be food, a leash, and maybe even some other training aide like a toy or dumb bell.
Verbal Markers Give an Option of Using More Than One Type Marker
Fifthly, I like a marker word instead of a clicker because I will occasionally use two different marker words. One to tell the dog he got it right and will get his reward. A second marker can be used to tell the dog that he is on the right track and that he needs to continue with the behavior for longer.
A clicker only offers one sound. Therefore with a clicker only, there is no option to mark incorrect or incomplete behavior. The clicker only marks correct complete behavior.
Verbal Markers Train a Dog to Listen to You Even When He is Wrong
A dog trained to be highly in-tuned to his trainer’s voice rather than one who is listening for the sound of a mechanical box will develop listening skills focused on the handler’s voice. Then when the dog is wrong, the trainer has a more powerful tool to get the dog to try something else.
Advantages of a Clicker Over a Marker Word
Many people prefer a clicker to a marker word. They site several reasons. In my opinion, none of these reasons are sufficient to use a marker for the long term. In addition, in my opinion, none of these reasons are worth giving up the benefits of a verbal marker.
Here are the reasons that many recommend a clicker over a marker word if you want to consider them.
Some People Might Have Difficulty in Making a Distinguishable Sound With Their Voice
First of all, many will say that some persons are unable to make a sound that is easily distinguishable to the dog. Many trainers cite persons whose marker word sounded no different than words in normal conversation. I would argue that most, if not all, can be taught to make a distinguishable sound. However, if someone were unable to do so, then a clicker would indeed be a better option than a marker word that the dog won’t recognize.
Some Say Classical Conditioning Happens Better With a Mechanical Sound
Secondly, some say a dog is classically conditioned easier and better with a more mechanical sound than a voice. I disagree.
A Clicker Keeps the Handler’s Emotion Out of the Sound
Thirdly, some say that a clicker is necessary in order to keep a trainer’s emotion out of the training. This is true, but unless the emotions are negative, I don’t see this as a problem. I believe adding positive emotions can be a good thing. I think that a little excitement from the trainer adds motivation. It makes the marker more appealing and valuable to the dog.
A Dog Only Needs to Learn One Sound When Multiple People are Training the Dog at Different Times
Fourthly, many will say that a clicker is better if more than one person were training the dog. Again, I disagree in most cases. Several members of our family use marker words with all of our dogs. Further, Jenna and I have simultaneously trained well over a hundred 8-12 week old puppies. The puppies recognize both the sound of me saying “yes” as well as the sound of Jenna’s “yes”. In addition, we’ve seen well over 100 puppies easily transition from the sound of Jenna and my “yes” to a brand new person’s “yes”. The transition from my “yes” to Jenna’s “yes” to the new person’s “yes” was seamless in spite of the fact that the new people sounded nothing like Jenna or me. The puppies very quickly learned to recognize the new marker sound no matter who used it.
A Dog Only Needs to Learn One Sound When Multiple People are Training the Dog at the Same Time
And lastly, clicker trainers say that a clicker is helpful or even necessary when two people are working with one dog at the same time. When a trainer is teaching a student to use marker training and the student fails to mark a behavior in a timely fashion, the teacher can click his own clicker. If the two clickers sound the same, the dog will easily respond to either person clicking.
It is true that it is initially easier for the dog when the marks of both people working with him sounds the same. If a trainer felt that using a clicker would be helpful when training the person, that is fine. However, I don’t think this benefit is worth forfeiting the many benefits of using your voice.
In addition, the use of the clicker in this situation is only a temporary benefit. Once the person learns to properly mark behaviors, multiple clickers won’t be necessary. Also, multiple clickers aren’t helpful once the dog learns to recognize more than one person’s marker sound. Within a matter of one or two sessions, most people can easily transition to a verbal marker.
One Final Point
I think clickers are a very valuable tool. For many people, they can be a better option than a verbal marker.
Clickers can also be used in addition to verbal markers. It doesn’t necessarily need to be one or the other. Dogs can be conditioned to both.
I’ve personally never found a strong enough reason for me to use a clicker instead of my voice. However, it’s just a personal choice.
If you are already a clicker trainer, the results will be the same if you use a clicker any time I say to mark or say “yes”. Either sound will work with the system presented in this book.
