Some Training Vocabulary

     With dogs in general, not just training, there are many different approaches, styles and opinions.  Many of the ideas and methods utilized are based on Classical Conditioning or Operant Conditioning.  This post is not to push you towards one particular method over another, but to provide education about some commonly mis-used terms in training. 

     So, let's clear the air and try to minimize the confusion!

     There was a famous scientist.  His name was B.F. Skinner.  Skinner started the ball rolling on the idea of Behaviorism.  He took another look at another scientist's work (Thorndike's Law of Effect) and coined these awesome terms (like "Operant conditioning", "reinforcers") and clarified many concepts using animals in controlled experiments. 

     Fast forward to today.  Many many people have continued to develop and use the awesome information uncovered by Skinner.  There are Four Quadrants of Operant Conditioning.  These four sections have names based on two variables:  "Positive" versus "Negative", and "Reinforcement" versus "Punishment".

     When one is referring to Operant Conditioning "Positive" means adding something, "Negative" means taking something away.  It does not mean good or bad.  A "Reinforcement" is intended to make a behavior occur more frequently.  A "Punishment" is intended to discourage a behavior.  (In addition, it is worth mentioning a "Consequence" is neither good nor bad by definition either, simply a result of an action.)

     If you put them together and apply them to dog training that means you have four main categories.  No matter what you do, one of these four Quadrants are in use.  "Positive Reinforcement" would be giving your dog something (probably a treat and/or praise) to encourage the dog to do the behavior again.  In contrast, taking something away to make your dog continue to do a behavior is "Negative Reinforcement".  If you have ever taken a formal training class, you may notice the area is usually closed off or partitioned in some way.  Whomever is conducting the class is taking away extraneous stimulus to encourage you (and your dog) to give them your full attention.  If you have ever told your dog "No!", or "Eh-Eh!" you have used "Positive Punishment"- you added your voice to discourage a behavior.  Putting your shoes in the closet is using "Negative Punishment" because you do not want your puppy chewing them.

     The other type of conditioning is much more simple to summarize.  Classical Conditioning was first described by Pavlov.  In his famous experiment, he rang a bell while feeding dogs until the sound of the bell itself made the dogs salivate.  Classical Conditioning focuses on associating different stimuli (such as the word "Sit", or a hand gesture) with a single reaction (the dog sitting).  The original experiments were desined around involuntary reactions. 

     No matter what methods and techniques you use, the main factor is the consistency of the consequences  for the selected behaviors.  In short, a dog is as consistent as it's handler!