Dog training basics

From a wide perspective, dog behavior training is a simple process: you have to reward desired behaviors, and to reprimand or ignore non-desired ones.

But, how to properly reward or reprehend the behavior of your dog? Well, you must use the principles of classical and operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning and dog training

Pavlov's classical conditioning establishes that any animal can learn to associate an environmental sign with a pleasant thing or situation. In other words: you can teach your dog to associate a reward with a sound or a gesture.

Imagine that you're holding some tiny food treats in your hand, such as sliced hot dog. If your dog can smell or see the treats, she will be focused on your hand because she will expect to receive some chow. She will also salivate and secrete digestive enzymes, although these cannot be seen.

Then, you say, "eat" and give your dog a treat. You repeat this process several times. Later, you come closer to your dog without having any treat in your hand, and say "eat". She reacts as if you were going to feed her. She has associated the word "eat" with food.

Your dog has been conditioned to the command "eat".

Operant conditioning and dog training

Skinner's operant conditioning establishes that an animal will tend to repeat those behaviors that have pleasant consequences. In other words: you have to reward those behaviors you want to teach to your dog.

Imagine that you are eating lunch and your dog places her front paw on your knee. You give her a piece of chicken. Your dog's behavior has been rewarded, so she will probably place her paw on your knee again. If that sequence is repeated several times, your dog will place her paw on your knee every time you're at the table.

Your dog has been conditioned to place her paw on your knee while you are lunching.

Extinction of behaviors

A conditioned behavior will disappear if it had been performed several times without being rewarded. This process is called extinction of behavior. So, your dog will stop following your orders if obeying is no longer rewarded in any way.

Imagine that you used food treats to teach your dog the command "sit". Then, one day you decide not to reward that behavior anymore and, after a period, your dog stops obeying that command. Since her behavior is no longer rewarded, your dog has learned to not respond to your command anymore. The "sit" command has been extinguished.

Reinforcement in dog behavior training

Reinforcement is the process that increases the frequency of a behavior every time that the behavior is rewarded. It is the process of rewarding your dog when she obeys an order or when she behaves properly.

Positive reinforcement takes place when something pleasant for your dog occurs when she performs a behavior. For example, you say, "sit" and she sits down. Then, you give her a treat. You've used the positive reinforcement approach to strengthen the "sit" command.

Negative reinforcement takes place when something unpleasant for your dog stops happening immediately after she performs a behavior. Imagine you say "sit" and push down (gently) the hindquarters of your dog. You stop pushing when she sits. You are using the negative reinforcement approach to strengthen the "sit" command.

Positive reinforcement has several advantages over negative reinforcement. The most important is that physical domination is not required. Another important advantage is that rewards can easily be ruled out while avoiding extinction of learned behavior.

Timing

Timing refers to the time elapsed since your dog emits a behavior until you give her a reward.

Your dog can easily associate behavior and rewards when the time between these two is short. Therefore, you should reinforce a good behavior as soon as possible. Otherwise you'll only confuse your puppy.

Consistency and dog behavior training

To train your dog, you must be clear and consistent. If for example, one day you let her climb into the armchair and another day you don't allow her to do so, your dog will be confused.

Maybe she will learn to climb on the armchair while you are gone. Maybe she will end up thinking: "My human is crazy. Tomorrow I'll try again; perhaps she will allow me to climb".

Generalization

Generalization is the process that makes your dog obey you in different environments and situations.

If your dog has learned the "sit" command in the garden, it will be very likely that she ignores the command at the park. Her learned behavior has not been generalized.

Generalization of learned behaviors is an easy task, but it could take some time. The only thing you have to do is to repeat some training sessions in different places and situations.

Please keep in mind that generalization comes after learning. Do not teach a new behavior in different places and/or situations.

Rodrigo Trigosso is a biologist and professional dog trainer. The Dog Training Tutorial, his website at dog-training-tutorial.com, provides objective and reliable information on dog training and behavior.