Dog training has two basic types of theory – classical conditioning and operant conditioning. The different types of dog training approaches are based on these two theories. Before you choose the type of training method you’d wish to use on your dog we highly suggest you discuss it with a professional dog trainer for the safety of both of you and your pet. Let’s discuss each theory in more detail.
Classical Conditioning
Pavlov, who is a Russian physiologist was the first person to study the Classical Conditioning theory. In his experiment, he feeds his dog at the same time as he rings his bell. He does this so that the taste of the food and the sound of the bell will happen simultaneously. Over time, the dog begins to associate the sound and the taste of the food together. When Pavlov rings the bell, the dog will start salivating even if there is no food yet. His experiment was a success because the dog has assimilated the stimulus in its subconscious. The dog salivated because it was triggered by a stimulus. This type of reaction didn’t happen before the training.
The theory is straightforward and easy to understand. According to Classical Conditioning, a stimulus regardless of kind (sound, smell, event) will instigate a reaction in any organism. This reaction is a result of association. This theory is popularly used in dog training. Here’s how.
When your dog hears the sound of the doorbell it starts barking. Your dog has conditioned its mind that when the doorbell makes a sound then it means someone is out there. If it’s your dog’s first time to hear the sound of the doorbell, it won’t bark. However, eventually, it will realize that whenever it makes a sound, it means someone is outside and your dog is conditioned to bark.
Operant Conditioning
Compared to Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning is more complex. This theory was studied closely by B.F. Skinner. In fact, he was hailed as the main creator behind this theory. Skinner studied both Reinforcers and Punishers. These are outside stimuli that either encourage or quell behavior. He used rats to study how living things would react both positively and negatively to specific stimuli. While Classical Conditioning targeted the subconscious, Operant Conditioning, on the other hand, targets conscious actions. Operant conditioning has 4 quadrants – positive reinforcement, negative punishment, positive punishment, and negative reinforcement. Let’s discuss each quadrant.
Positive Reinforcement – positive reinforcement is rewarding your dog for good behavior. The reward can come in various forms like a treat or attention or whatever object that your dog considers positive. You can give your dog a treat if it doesn’t bark at the sound of the doorbell or when it sits when you tell it to. According to dog trainers, this form of training is very effective because it’s been backed up by numerous proven and tested research work.
Negative Punishment – negative punishment is removing something positive whenever your dog misbehaves. Instead of scolding your dog, you’re choosing to withhold something positive. Although the term negative punishment may have a negative context, it’s surprisingly the second most effective method in dog training. An example of negative punishment is walking away from your dog when it barks at the sound of the doorbell or restricting your dog from getting inside your room when it eliminates inside the living room instead of the bathroom.
Positive Punishment – positive punishment is when you punish your dog for misbehaving with the use of force. Examples of positive punishment include alpha rolls, shocking, and swatting. This is not an effective method because it can lead to injury and trauma to your dog.
Negative Reinforcement – negative reinforcement focuses on removing anything painful from your dog when it does the right thing. An example of this is putting on a shock collar on your dog and letting it buzz until your dog performs the task correctly. This is also ineffective because it can make your dog nervous and terrified.
Takeaway
What type of dog training theory would you like to apply to your dog? We suggest you do your research and consult with professional dog trainers for the safety of your dog.
