Reward Systems: The Bridging Stimulus

The bridging stimulus, or marker cue, is a powerful tool in animal training and is replicable across the animal kingdom. when we consistently pair that marker with a primary reinforcer (like food or play), the marker itself becomes meaningful. It sparks anticipation, engages the brain’s reward system, and helps the animal to acquire the behaviour faster.

But markers aren’t the only signals dog’s notice. Our own movements can become conditioned cues too. Many trainers recognise the “gun slinger”: the subtle hand drifting toward a treat pouch, or the step forward that so often predicts food, these behaviours often overshadow intended markers and/or become an unintentional conditioned stimuli. While our dogs are brilliant at picking up on these patterns, they can sometimes become so focused on us that it distracts from the real task at hand. During scent work, for example, working an odour to source takes a lot of mental maths and having to be aware of a handler’s movements in the periphery is comparable to having a conversation with someone while eavesdropping on another conversation after you heard your name mentioned.

This is where timing becomes everything. Science tells us that rewards need to follow behaviour quickly, ideally within a second, to strengthen learning. Even short delays can slow the process and require more repetition. A clear marker bridges that gap, keeping communication crisp and helping dogs stay motivated while we deliver the reward.

The takeaway is simple: by sharpening our timing and using markers we can make learning more efficient. It’s one of those small training details that delivers a big difference in results.