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Understanding how dogs
learn is very important aspect of training your dog. Trainers that lack this
fundamental knowledge can make serious mistakes when training. This would be like trying to fly an airplane without
understanding how the airplane flies!
Dogs learn primarily through a process of association.
Dogs learn very quickly that their behavior results in things they like
and things they don't like. In
this respect, dogs are very pragmatic animals. Dogs learn
very quickly how their behavior affects their environment. Behaviorists
have named this process of learning, Operant Conditioning.
Operant Conditioning is a system for understanding
how animals learn and can be can be summarized in
this way:
- Behaviors are likely to increase
in frequency with pleasant consequences, and decrease in frequency with
unpleasant consequences.
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A very effective way trainers use operant
conditioning is to provide a reward when the dog does something they want or
withhold a reward when the dog does something they don't want. Rewards can
be anything that truly motivates your dog. A pleasant reward is more likely to cause
a dog to repeat certain behaviors, while withholding a pleasant reward is more likely to cause the dog to avoid
certain behaviors. Trainers have to be very
careful to avoid presenting unpleasant consequences (punishment) or the dog may
learn to fear the trainer! Effective training is a mix of art and
science. |
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The Labrador Puppy in this picture is our female Lab, Bonnie at 8 weeks
of age. (October 2004) Bonnie is a wonderful example of what a Labrador Retriever should be. She
has strong retrieve instincts and has a gentle temperament. Bonnie earned her
AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate at 11 months. She passed the Delta Pet Partner
therapy dog evaluation at 1 year, and has earned three AKC Rally
Obedience titles. She was certified
as a Crisis Response dog in October 2007.
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Another important concept to
recognize is
repetition. Repeating behaviors, coupled with reinforcement,
helps establish a pattern of learning in a dog. Don't look for quick responses
in most cases. Expecting a dog to learn something fluently in one session
is not fair to the dog. Dogs
typically need
many repetitions before a behavior is reliable, especially when working around distractions.
This last point is critical when training a dog to be reliable
no matter what is happening around them.
Being consistent is critical when training. Don't allow a behavior
one day and then scold your dog the next day for the same behavior! Be
consistent with what you expect of your dog. Work with them everyday.
Everyone in your home
should be included some way into the training process.
Try and keep training fun by rewarding your dog
for behaviors you want. Problem behaviors can be solved through better
management of your dog in their environment, and by removing things that reinforce
behaviors you don't want. Over time, your dog will give up behaviors that don't
bring consequences they like. |
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Call to
schedule a Free Consultation today!
Dave Valantine, CPDT
661-313-1447
Note: Free consultations are offered
in Santa Clarita only.
Free phone consultations are available to people outside Santa Clarita.
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