How to Teach Your Dog a Praise Word (Marker Word) in 4 Easy Steps

Meet Bindi: why we started obedience training

Bindi is the easiest dog I’ve ever had the privilege of training. I remember watching working dogs when she was just 8 weeks old, thrilled with everything I could surely teach her. Fast forward a few years and she was obedient. She could sit, come, leave it, go out the back and drop, and she was loyal as anything.

But she’d pull on the lead, creep back inside whenever she got the chance, and need to be told “leave it” quite a few times before she believed I meant it. So I booked her into basic obedience training. Our first session was education only (no dogs allowed, just us humans!), and the very first thing we learnt was the praise word.

What is a praise word in dog training?

A praise word is a verbal signal that marks the exact moment your dog does something right, and promises a reward is coming. Trainers often call it a marker word. We chose “YES!” but any short, upbeat word works, as long as you use the same one every time.

It’s part of reward based training, which is the approach the RSPCA recommends. Reward based training sets your dog up to succeed, rewards the behaviour you want and avoids punishment, which makes training enjoyable and builds a stronger bond between you and your dog.

Why does a praise word matter?

Dogs live in the moment. If your dog sits and you take three seconds to dig a treat out of your pocket, they might think the treat was for looking at the cat. A praise word bridges that gap. It tells your dog “that, right there, is what earned the reward.”

The benefits of a praise word:

• It’s always with you. No clicker to forget at home.
• It marks the exact moment. Your dog learns precisely which action earned the reward.
• It works at a distance. You can mark good behaviour from across the yard or the park.
• It sets up every command to come. Once “YES!” means something, you can use it to teach sit, stay, recall and loose lead walking.

Praise word vs clicker: which is better?

Both work the same way. I’ve used clickers with dogs in the past, and the praise word is just the verbal version. Here’s how they compare:

Praise word (“YES!”)

• Cost: Free
• Always on hand: Yes, it’s your voice
• Sounds the same every time: Mostly, with practice
• Hands free: Yes
• Best for: Everyday training, walks and the park

Clicker

• Cost: Small cost
• Always on hand: Only if you remember it
• Sounds the same every time: Yes, every time
• Hands free: No, one hand holds it
• Best for: Precise trick training

For most families, a praise word is the easier choice because you’ll always have your voice with you.

What do you need to teach a praise word?

• An easy access treat pouch so rewards are fast
• Kibble for training at home
• High value treats for busy places, like wet food logs cut into small pieces

How to teach your dog a praise word: step by step

Time: 15 minutes a day | Difficulty: Easy

1. Say it and treat. Say “YES!” in a happy voice and give your dog a treat straight away, within a second or two. We used kibble because Bindi is very easy to bribe!
2. Repeat. Do this 10 to 15 times in a row. Your dog doesn’t need to do anything yet. You’re simply teaching them that “YES!” means a treat is coming.
3. Practise daily. Aim for up to 3 short sessions a day, if you remember (which I did not!).
4. Test it. When your dog is looking away, say “YES!” from across the room. If their head whips around, eager for the treat, they’ve got it. Now you’re ready to use it for real commands.

How long does it take a dog to learn a praise word?

Every dog is different. Bindi seemed to understand after just one session, but she’s a Border Collie and very food motivated. Most dogs get there within a few days of short, daily practice. Puppies, older dogs and dogs that aren’t food driven may take a little longer, and that’s completely fine.

Tips for success

• Use everyday kibble at home and save the high value treats for busy places with lots of distractions.
• Keep sessions short and fun so your dog stays keen. Stop while they still want more.
• Use the same word and tone every time. Pick one word for the whole family to use.
• Start somewhere quiet before you try it at the park or on walks.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Saying “YES!” without a treat. Every “YES!” should be followed by a reward, or the word loses its meaning.
• Using it as general chatter. If “YES!” also means “yes, we’re going for a walk”, it gets watered down. Keep it just for training.
• Waiting too long to reward. The treat should arrive within a second or two of the word.
• Training when your dog is overexcited. A calm dog learns faster, which is where the settling mat helps.

What I learnt in Bindi’s first week

Even with an easy dog, the praise word was a lightbulb moment for me. I’d been rewarding Bindi for years, but I hadn’t been telling her exactly what she was being rewarded for. The biggest lesson? Consistency matters more than session length. A couple of quick “YES!” and treat rounds while the kettle boiled did more than one long session ever would.

Next week we’ll put the praise word to work on loose lead walking, Bindi’s biggest challenge. Follow along with the series on the Social Pet Society blog.

Key takeaways

• A praise word like “YES!” tells your dog the exact moment they’ve got it right.
• Say the word, then give a treat within a second or two, every single time.
• Short daily sessions work best, and most dogs learn it within a few days.
• Once your dog knows the word, you can use it to teach every other command.

Reference: RSPCA Australia, “What is reward based dog training and why does the RSPCA support it?” (link to kb.rspca.org.au)