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Trainer Reveals the No. 1 Best Way to Tell Your Dog "Good Job"

By Beth Ann Mayer Parade Pets

Updated April 25, 2026 3:24 PM

A dog being trained. Getty Image Iuliia Zavalishina

As a pet parent, there's no denying that you adore your dogs and want to communicate with them. Telling them how much you love them, how proud you are of them and how good they are can feel like the least you can do for all of the unconditional love and steadfast loyalty your dogs give to you. But one trainer points out that pet owners should be mindful of how they communicate with their dogs to ensure they get their point across. After all, since dogs speak another language, sometimes the way people interact and express things can be confusing for pups. To help show you the right way to praise your dog, read on to discover the number one way to tell your dog "good job," according to a trainer.

"Dogs can't speak or think using language, so they learn what the sounds predict and mean," explains Bridget Murphy, the CEO of Koru K9 Dog Training. "Therefore, words become meaningful when they are followed by something the dog values." To them, that's their love language.

Luckily, making the small switch from confusing praise to crystal-clear communication is incredibly simple, and it's the fastest way to solidify your bond and ensure your pup understands exactly what they did right. Below Murphy break downs the science of canine communication and reveal the one technique guaranteed to cut through the noise and tell your dog, "good job." See what it is and how you can start applying it!

The Best Way to Tell Your Dog "Good Job"

Murphy says people often make training mistakes when praising their dogs, primarily by using unclear or inconsistent cues. Time and delivery also matter. If they're off, Murphy says it confuses them instead. So, it's worth getting some basic training on the best way to tell your dog "good job" so you know you're doing it right. "This prevents frustration on both sides," Murphy says. "Your dog understands what's right, and you don't feel like you're repeating yourself."

So, what's the best way to tell your dog "good job," according to a trainer? Murphy says pet parents should always tell their dog "good job" using a clear marker paired with a reward. "Saying 'good job' to your pet only becomes meaningful to your dog when it consistently leads to something like treats, food, praise, release or play."

This is called a marker or clicker training, according to Murphy. "The mark/click acts as a snapshot in time, telling your dog that you like what they are doing and to do more of it. Then your dog can determine the reward based on what they like, so you'll need to tune into your pup's preferences to determine what that is.

She says this method works because it's precise and consistent. "Dogs learn fastest when feedback is immediate and easy to understand," Murphy reveals. "Clear communication and feedback help to provide your dog clarity, and so they learn when they are doing a good job. Over time, it becomes a marker of success, telling your dog, 'That's exactly what I wanted! Good job!'"

Murphy suggests using this method when you are teaching new behaviors, or you want to reinforce good choices, such as checking in and calm behavior or you're working to build clarity and confidence.

How to Train Your Dog To Know What 'Good Job' Means

To make this method effective and sustainable, Murphy suggests using this step-by-step guide for implementing marker/clicker training:

Choose your marker

Murphy says it can be a physical clicker or a verbal marker, like the word "yes." The key is to choose something that you can use consistently.

Start in Lo-Fi settings

Murphy suggests introducing your marker in low-distraction environments to help your dog understand the pattern clearly. "If you start in areas with a lot of distractions, your dog may find something else more rewarding," Murphy points out. "You have to train them to understand that you are the most exciting thing in their world."

Follow through

The second your dog does the right thing, say the marker and follow it with a reward," Murphy advises.

Practice

Murphy encourages pet parents to practice in everyday moments rather than just during formal training sessions. "Meal times, walks or even when it's time to go to bed are great ways to implement small training moments in your dog's life," Murphy explains.

How to Praise Your Dog Other Ways

Marker/clicker training is the top way to tell your furry companion "good job." But there are some other dog positive reinforcement methods you can use to incorporate praise into your pet's life.

Calm, clear verbal praise

Murphy reports that simply saying "good" using a calm tone is highly effective once the dog knows what that word means. "We call this a duration marker," Murphy says. "You can follow this with a reward or not."

Affection

Not all dogs enjoy affection, but yours might. "But if your dog does like petting and snuggling, this can be a great bonding experience and way to let them know they are the best dog," Murphy says.

Release as the reward

We often think of rewards as treats or praise. But Murphy shares release can be one, too. "Letting the dog move, sniff or break position can be a powerful reward," she explains. "This also utilizes impulse control and can build desire or drive to offer up behaviors. This is especially effective for structured behaviors like place, sit or duration work."

Source:

Bridget Murphy, the CEO of Koru K9 Dog Training

This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 3:10 PM.