When you use aversive methods, you naturally add to your dog’s discomfort and stress. ![]() It decreases the chances of anxiety and stress.This engagement becomes the foundation of success for all future training. This creates engagement with the handler and builds trust between the two. The reward becomes the motivator, instead of the fear of a correction. Skills learned through positive reinforcement training have been proven to last longer and require less maintenance down the road. This allows skills and behaviors to better engrain in their memory. ![]() When dogs are given a choice, their minds are more actively focused on the task at hand. They are also better socialized and have a reduced risk of being relinquished. Confident pets have a reduced chance of developing codependent behaviors. Confidence is hugely important in the lifelong happiness of a pet. An active thinking dog that has been socialized to their environment is a confident dog. Such dogs come across as robotic or shut down. Such methods develop a reactive thinking dog that is fearful of trying new things. Traditional training doesn’t train the pet what to do, only what NOT to do. Because dogs are rewarded for the correct behavior, they learn to offer behaviors to get more rewards ( active thinking). The benefits of positive reinforcement training are truly too many to count, but here are a few of the most prominent ones: An example of this is adding a correction when a dog barks to decrease the behavior.īenefits of Positive Reinforcement Dog Training Positive Punishment (P+)įinally, this method adds something the dog dislikes (+) to decrease the likelihood of an undesired behavior (P). An example of this is when you remove your attention when a dog jumps on you to decrease the behavior. Next, this method removes something the dog wants (-) to decrease the likelihood of an undesired behavior (P). An example of this is when a dog stops pulling on its leash and the pressure from the collar decreases. ![]() This method removes something the dog dislikes (-) to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior (R). An example is when you giving a dog a treat when it sits and the behavior increases. Positive Reinforcement (R+)Īs our primary focus, this method adds something the dog wants (+) to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior (R). There are four methods of operant conditioning that are commonly referred to as “The Four Quadrants”. The Four Quadrants of Operant Conditioning It’s important to remember that aversive training techniques also fall under the umbrella of operant conditioning, but research shows that it is not as effective as positive reinforcement dog training and can put your dog’s welfare at risk. Through operant conditioning, we can encourage dogs to perform wanted behaviors or discourage them from performing undesired behaviors. We might give a dog a treat when they sit or come when called. We use operant conditioning when teaching voluntary behaviors and skills. For example, we give dogs treats during thunderstorms to create a positive association with the sound of thunder. In dog training, we use classical conditioning to acclimate dogs to new environments and situations. Compared to classical conditioning which focuses on associations, operant conditioning teaches that actions have consequences, and we can make a choice that affects the outcome of a situation. Operant conditioning is what happens when we make a conscious decision to act on our environment. ringing a bell when it’s time to feed your dog so they start to get excited when they hear a bell).Īside from classical conditioning, humans and animals primarily use operant conditioning to learn. You’ve probably heard of classical conditioning, the process of pairing a pleasant stimulus with a neutral stimulus (ie. Learning theory explains how all animals (including humans) receive, process, and retain knowledge. ![]() Understanding Canine Learning Theory & Operant Conditioning
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