What Is a Marker and Why Is It Used in Training?

Author holds a clicker.

Photo Courtesy of Pat Koven, LVT, KPA-CTP

A marker is a word, sound or gesture that signals the exact moment your pet has offered a behavior you like and want repeated. It is a language bridge between species and communicates to your pet they have earned a reinforcement for something they just did. A marker is a camera snapshot, marking the split second of an act. Marking and reinforcing that moment increases the likelihood of your pet repeating that desired behavior. The marker predicts the reinforcement is coming and is a promise of a paycheck. The reward always comes immediately after the marker.

A marker should be clear, concise, and consistent. It should be repeatable with minimal variation.

A verbal marker should be the same word each time and used by everyone involved in your pet’s training. The word “yes” is short and positive sounding and more easily repeated than “good girl” or “good boy”. Verbal markers carry tone however which can influence your dog’s response, making them hesitant if they perceive your bad mood.

Hand signals and gestures can be used as alternative markers for hearing-impaired animals, animals working at a far distance or underwater.

A clicker is most often used as an audible marker. It is a preferred marker by most trainers and comes in many styles. The sound produced is consistent regardless of who is using it, without inflection or conveying tone. It will make the identical sound regardless of who is using it. A clicker can mark subtle movements, making training precise.

Begin teaching the meaning of the marker by clicking, verbalizing, or gesturing then quickly giving the reinforcement. Repeat this five times. Then begin using the marker for training other behaviors.

Press Release 2022

CattleDog Publishing, VIN and the VIN Foundation Partner to Honor Dr. Sophia Yin’s Legacy

The Low Stress Handling® Movement: How Sophia and Her CattleDog Started It All!

Davis, CA:  As the 8th anniversary of Dr. Sophia Yin’s death approaches, CattleDog Publishing, Veterinary Information Network, and the VIN Foundation, honor her memory by highlighting her life achievements and contributions. Her passion, science-based teachings and experiences transformed the veterinary and pet professional community. Without knowing their origin, many continue to use her techniques daily. 

A tribute written by board-certified veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Christine Calder is available at  https://cattledogpublishing.com/blog/the-low-stress-handling-movement-how-sophia-and-her-cattledog-started-it-all/ and a tribute video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrvl7vuebrI

“With good handling, the patient should get better and not worse.” Sophia Yin

In the early 2000’s Dr. Sophia Yin, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist, made it her lifelong passion to educate veterinarians and pet professionals about animal behavior, which led her to create the innovative and industry-standard Low Stress Handling® method for dogs and cats. Sophia developed the “Ten General Principles of Handling,” which are now the core concepts for other certification programs, including AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practices®, and Fear Free® Pets.

Sophia’s contributions to veterinary behavior did not stop at implementing low stress veterinary care. She also introduced pet professionals to the scientific method and learning theory. She provided hands-on training in the fundamentals of animal behavior, emphasizing the specific causes and effects of behavior and how a learner will only repeat what has been reinforced, both desired and undesired. In her lectures, she used visual examples from her extensive video and photographic library and cited scientific studies showing how positive punishment often increases fear and anxiety. 

Before her untimely passing, Sophia had many long-term goals for her company, CattleDog Publishing. She was actively creating additional Low Stress Handling® Certification programs and various material targeting pet owners, shelter workers, and dog trainers. So much has come from Sophia’s legacy, including the body language posters hanging on many veterinary hospital walls, The Perfect Puppy in 7 days book, bite prevention posters, books, and videos for children, and the How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves book for pet owners. These publications and tools are still relevant and popular today. Sophia’s company, CattleDog Publishing, continues to thrive and expand upon the foundation she built.

About CattleDog Publishing 

After Dr. Sophia Yin’s untimely death in 2014, her mother, Jackie, chose the Veterinary Information Network to archive and protect Sophia’s materials. Now an integral part of the VIN family, CattleDog Publishing is revitalizing Sophia’s vision while continuing her original goals of educating others and improving animal welfare. To learn more, visit https://cattledogpublishing.com

About VIN Foundation

The VIN Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides resources to help the veterinary community thrive so they can help our animals and those who care for them. The Foundation was created by members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), an online community of veterinarians and veterinary students with over 94,000 members worldwide. Learn more about the VIN Foundation and its resources at https://VINFoundation.org. The VIN Foundation is made possible through generous gifts by individual donors and grants; all gifts made to the VIN Foundation are tax deductible. 

The Low Stress Handling® Movement: How Sophia and Her CattleDog Started It All!

By Christine D. Calder, DVM, DACVB

Dr. Sophia Yin presenting. Photo courtesy of CattleDog Publishing.

“With good handling, the patient should get better and not worse.” Sophia Yin


From the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral conditions to the reduction of fear, anxiety, and stress in veterinary patients, the past 20 years have seen numerous advances in veterinary behavior. In the early 2000’s Sophia Yin, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist, emerged on the scene to lead this transformation. Motivated by the realization that more pets were euthanized for behavioral reasons than medical issues, she made it her lifelong passion to educate veterinarians and animal professionals about animal behavior and the benefits of Low Stress Handling for dogs and cats.


In 2009, Sophia published her first textbook Low Stress Handling®, Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats. This ground-breaking book was the product of hundreds of hours spent objectively observing veterinary team members handling both dogs and cats. Using a photo journal style, Sophia illustrated her techniques for efficiently and safely restraining patients while minimizing stress levels of the patient, client, and veterinary team. The Low Stress Handling Silver Individual and Practice Certification was born from this book in 2014.


“If we provide an environment where the animal feels comfortable and safe, while also providing clear guidance regarding what we want the animal to do, the pet will be less fearful and more cooperative, which in turn will help us get through the procedure more quickly both now and on future visits.” Sophia Yin


Sophia developed the “Ten General Principles of Handling,” which she shared in numerous publications and lectures. These Principles have since become the core for other certification programs such as AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practices®, and Fear Free® Pets.


The low stress concepts promoted in each of these programs, such as how to approach patients in a less threatening way and the importance of starting with a comfortable environment, all began with Sophia’s work.


“When animals are sensitive to being touched, avoid patting the animal or touching her quickly and repeatedly. Each touch will cause the dog to startle. Instead place your hands on the animal more proximally and keep it there until the dog relaxes.” Sophia Yin


Sophia taught how to keep patients feeling secure by placing hands and body to control movement in all six directions when restraining. She also taught towel wrapping techniques for cats. An advocate for sedation before pets become distressed, she created the two and three second rule of restraint to avoid prolonged struggling and introduced the veterinary world to the use of food as distractors and rewards during the exam and other procedures.


Sophia’s contributions to veterinary behavior did not stop at implementing low stress/fear veterinary care. She also introduced pet professionals to the scientific method and learning theory. She provided hands-on training in the fundamentals of animal behavior, emphasizing the specific causes and effects of behavior and how a learner will only repeat what has been reinforced. In her lectures, she used visual examples from her extensive video and photographic library and cited scientific studies showing how positive punishment often increases fear and anxiety. As her career progressed, she traveled to Europe and Australia to share her doctrine of behavior teachings.


Always the consummate scientist, Sophia led the way in debunking dominance theory and the misuse of “alpha” methods in behavior training. She supplemented her science-based teachings with engaging personal stories, including how her first attempt to use punishment-based training on her beloved dog Max changed her perspective on dog training and inspired her to become a behaviorist. After attending Bob Bailey’s, Animal Behavior Enterprise (ABE) Chicken Training Camp, she expanded her interests beyond companion animals to other species and unique training opportunities. At camp, she learned important mechanical training skills and the “process of training the trainers to train the animals.” Later, it was through Bob, that she met Simon Prins. A pioneer himself, Simon introduced the novel concepts of positive reinforcement training to the canine police and military dog training world. Together, Sophia and Simon created a device for teaching targeting exercises to police and military working dogs. These exercises were then later used in top secret operations.


In addition to her humane handling techniques, Sophia strove to help pet owners become skilled trainers increasing the accessibility of behavior treatment options for them and their pets. She developed an algorithm and coding program to streamline the training and behavior modification process for veterinarians and their clients. With pet owners in mind, she invented the Manners Minder (later renamed the Treat & Train®), an automatic, remote-controlled treat dispenser to address problem behaviors such as door dashing, jumping up, and even car ride anxiety. Later she utilized this device in the treatment of fear-related aggression towards other dogs as part of a complete behavior modification plan.


Before her untimely passing, Sophia had many long-term goals for her company, CattleDog Publishing. She was actively creating additional Low Stress Handling® Certification programs and various material targeting pet owners, shelter workers, and dog trainers. She was creating an app for her coding program and educational material to support veterinarians in treating behavior patients in their own practice. From 2011-2014, Sophia authored several textbook chapters and was instrumental in the development of American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) Position Statements, the 2011 AAFP Feline Friendly Handling Position Statement, and 2015 AAHA Behavior Guidelines for Veterinarians.


So much has come from Sophia’s legacy, including the body language posters hanging on many veterinary hospital walls, The Perfect Puppy in 7 Days book inspired by her father and his new puppy, bite prevention posters, books, and videos for children, and the How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves book for pet owners. These publications and tools are still relevant and popular today.


In early 2020, Sophia’s mother Jackie chose the Veterinary Information Network® (VIN) to archive and protect Sophia’s materials. Now an integral part of the VIN family, CattleDog Publishing is revitalizing Sophia’s vision while continuing her original goals of educating others and improving animal welfare.

The Low Stress Handling Movement: How Sophia and Her Cattle Dog Started It All

Dr. Sophia Yin presenting

Photo Courtesy of CattleDog Publishing

“With good handling, the patient should get better and not worse.” Sophia Yin

From the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral conditions to the reduction of fear, anxiety, and stress in veterinary patients, the past 20 years have seen numerous advances in veterinary behavior. In the early 2000’s Sophia Yin, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist, emerged on the scene to lead this transformation. Motivated by the realization that more pets were euthanized for behavioral reasons than medical issues, she made it her lifelong passion to educate veterinarians and animal professionals about animal behavior and the benefits of Low Stress Handling for dogs and cats. 

In 2009, Sophia published her first textbook, Low Stress Handling®, Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats. This ground-breaking book was the product of hundreds of hours spent objectively observing veterinary team members handling both dogs and cats.  Using a photo journal style, Sophia illustrated her techniques for efficiently and safely restraining patients while minimizing the stress levels of the patient, client, and veterinary team. The Low Stress Handling Silver Individual and Practice Certification was born from this book in 2014. 

“If we provide an environment where the animal feels comfortable and safe, while also providing clear guidance regarding what we want the animal to do, the pet will be less fearful and more cooperative, which in turn will help us get through the procedure more quickly both now and on future visits.”
Sophia Yin

Sophia developed the “Ten General Principles of Handling,” which she shared in numerous publications and lectures. These Principles have since become the core for other certification programs such as AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practices®, and Fear Free® Pets. 

The low-stress concepts promoted in each of these programs, such as how to approach patients in a less threatening way and the importance of starting with a comfortable environment, all began with Sophia’s work.

“When animals are sensitive to being touched, avoid patting the animal or touching her quickly and repeatedly. Each touch will cause the dog to startle. Instead, place your hands on the animal more proximally and keep it there until the dog relaxes.”  Sophia Yin

Sophia taught how to keep patients feeling secure by placing hands and body to control movement in all six directions when restraining.  She also taught towel wrapping techniques for cats. An advocate for sedation before pets become distressed, she created the two and three-second rule of restraint to avoid prolonged struggling and introduced the veterinary world to the use of food as distractors and rewards during the exam and other procedures.  

Sophia’s contributions to veterinary behavior did not stop at implementing low-stress/fear veterinary care. She also introduced pet professionals to the scientific method and learning theory. She provided hands-on training in the fundamentals of animal behavior, emphasizing the specific causes and effects of behavior and how a learner will only repeat what has been reinforced. In her lectures, she used visual examples from her extensive video and photographic library and cited scientific studies showing how positive punishment often increases fear and anxiety. As her career progressed, she traveled to Europe and Australia to share her doctrine of behavior teachings.

Always the consummate scientist, Sophia led the way in debunking dominance theory and the misuse of “alpha” methods in behavior training. She supplemented her science-based teachings with engaging personal stories, including how her first attempt to use punishment-based training on her beloved dog Max changed her perspective on dog training and inspired her to become a behaviorist. After attending Bob Bailey’s, Animal Behavior Enterprise (ABE) Chicken Training Camp, she expanded her interests beyond companion animals to other species and unique training opportunities. At camp, she learned important mechanical training skills and the “process of training the trainers to train the animals.” Later, it was through Bob, that she met Simon Prins. A pioneer himself, Simon introduced the novel concepts of positive reinforcement training to the canine police and military dog training world. Together, Sophia and Simon created a device for teaching targeting exercises to police and military working dogs. These exercises were then later used in top-secret operations. 

In addition to her humane handling techniques, Sophia strove to help pet owners become skilled trainers increasing the accessibility of behavior treatment options for them and their pets. She developed an algorithm and coding program to streamline the training and behavior modification process for veterinarians and their clients. With pet owners in mind, she invented the Manners Minder (later renamed the Treat & Train®), an automatic, remote-controlled treat dispenser to address problem behaviors such as door dashing, jumping up, and even car ride anxiety. Later she utilized this device in the treatment of fear-related aggression towards other dogs as part of a complete behavior modification plan. 

Before her untimely passing, Sophia had many long-term goals for her company, CattleDog Publishing. She was actively creating additional Low Stress Handling® Certification programs and various materials targeting pet owners, shelter workers, and dog trainers. She was creating an app for her coding program and educational material to support veterinarians in treating behavior patients in their own practice. From 2011-2014, Sophia authored several textbook chapters and was instrumental in the development of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) Position Statements, the 2011 AAFP Feline Friendly Handling Position Statement, and 2015 AAHA Behavior Guidelines for Veterinarians.

So much has come from Sophia’s legacy, including the body language posters hanging on many veterinary hospital walls, The Perfect Puppy in 7 days book inspired by her father and his new puppy, bite prevention posters, books, and videos for children, and the How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves book for pet owners. These publications and tools are still relevant and popular today.  

In early 2020, Sophia’s mother, Jackie, chose the Veterinary Information Network® (VIN) to archive and protect Sophia’s materials. Now an integral part of the VIN family, CattleDog Publishing is revitalizing Sophia’s vision while continuing her original goals of educating others and improving animal welfare.

Understanding Your Dog’s Body Language

This labrador appears relaxed, lying down and overall loose. Ears and eyes are in a neutral position and the facial features are relaxed. The tail is resting on the ground.
Photo Courtesy of VIN/Canto Library

Observing, understanding, and respecting body language is essential to strengthen and maintain the relationship with your dog. By understanding their needs, you can provide the best care and know when your dog is comfortable in a situation. Accurately interpreting body language can help you live safely with dogs and avoid behavior problems that could harm your relationship. 

By watching your dog, you will see them use their body position, ears, eyes, tail, lips, and vocalizations to communicate with you and the world around them. 

Relaxed Dog Body Language

A relaxed dog has “loose” body language. Their ears may be in a neutral position or forward if attentive and alert. Their eyes should be soft, not fixed on a particular object or staring. Their tail will be in a neutral position or wagging widely from side to side. Their mouth will look relaxed, not clenched or tense.  

Attentive Dog Body Language

In this photo, the same dog is still attentive, alert with forward ears but their overall posture is more tense. Their jaw is tightly closed, and lips are tense, possibly watching something worrisome.
Photo Courtesy of VIN/Canto Library

An attentive, alert dog holds their ears forward and upright. Evaluate your dog’s entire body since their ears are only a part of the picture. Your dog could be attentive and in a positive emotional state during a training session with forward ears and an upright tail. Instead, they could be hypervigilant to an approaching stranger with ears forward, looking around quickly and assessing their surroundings. A tucked tail may indicate anxiety. They may have a front paw lifted while deciding whether to move toward something or away from something. They may be watching a squirrel with their ears forward, eyes focused and staring, the tail up and only wagging slightly at the tip. Their hair may be standing along the midline of their back indicating a state of attentiveness.  

Fearful Dog Body Language

If subtle signs of fear and anxiety are recognized and addressed early, obvious signs of fear and aggression can be avoided.  If ignored, their body language may escalate because the dog learns their previous subtle signs are not effective, causing behavior problems and safety concerns. 

Subtle fearful signs include lip licking, facial tensing, hair raising especially along the midline of the back, ears positioned backward and flattened, and eyes wide open. They may avoid eye contact and the tail may be tucked under the dog’s body. 

A Final Note About Respecting Body Language

Consider safety first when signs of fear, anxiety, or aggression are seen. Punishment is not a humane or effective strategy and could potentially worsen the behavior problem. If you need help with managing these situations, work with a qualified behavior professional. Click on the link to learn more: How to Identify a Qualified Trainer or Behavior Professional

This dog is showing subtle signs of fear. The dog is licking their lips, and their ears are held back. Overall, the body appears tense.
Photo Courtesy of VIN/Canto Library

This dog is showing escalating signs of fear. Their body is tucked and tense with pinned back ears, tightly closed mouth, tucked tail, and wide eyes with an averted gaze.
Photo Courtesy of VIN/Canto Library

More obvious signs of fear and aggression include baring of the teeth, growling, snapping, or biting. Here, the dog’s ears are pinned back and the body is tense. Their eyes are wide open with the white part of the eye showing, known as “whale eye”. Although the tail is not seen in this photograph, it is likely either tucked under their body or upright.
Photo Courtesy of VIN/Canto Library

This dog is showing overt signs of aggression. Their teeth are bared, their ears are erect and forward, and their body is tense.
Photo Courtesy of VIN/Canto Library

Can Cats Be Trained?

September 21, 2022Ask LSH Cats I am a... Pet Owner Trainer

Photo Courtesy Pat Koven, LVT, KPA- CTP

Q.  My cat has food, clean litter boxes, and toys everywhere, but she attacks my wife when we are sitting at the kitchen table. What can we do?

A.  If some cats attack at times other than during play, they might be trying to get attention and do not know how to communicate their intentions. Always discuss any new behavior changes with your veterinarian in case there are any underlying medical issues.

Some cats prefer interactive play with their owners. Toys on the floor are often not interesting since they don’t move. Cats are natural hunters and enjoy sudden movement, chase, and capture. If the owner starts shaking the toy for their cat to run and leap after, then playtime is more exciting. Toys such as waving a feather on a stick or tossing brightly colored plastic coil springs or furry mice are easy ways to build a good relationship between cats and their owners.

Many cats easily learn tricks and enjoy doing them, providing both physical and mental enrichment. Stationing to a mat is useful for carrier training, redirecting cats off counters or targeting to a spot for attention or grooming.

Using positive reinforcement, cats can be taught to fetch and retrieve, jump through hoops, sit, high five or perform any alternative behavior to replace unwanted ones. Training provides enrichment and a communication opportunity for your cat.