| Have you ever wondered how really good dog | | | | 5. Extinction: when behaviour is no longer reinforced |
| trainers come up with the techniques they use to | | | | and it eventually goes away, we call this extinction. |
| solve behaviour problems in dogs such as excessive | | | | e.g dog is used to being allowed outside when he |
| barking, destructive chewing, toileting in the house | | | | whines at the door, but is suddenly no longer allowed |
| and jumping up on visitors? Or how top dog trainers | | | | out when he whines. Dog learns not to whine at the |
| come up with ways to train dogs in top obedience | | | | door. Extinction sometimes makes the target |
| and working competitions? Apart from a few | | | | behaviour worse before it gets better, sometimes |
| "naturals", most really good dog trainers have a very | | | | significantly. This is known as an "extinction burst" |
| good understanding of how dogs learn. They have | | | | and is usually a sign that the behaviour is about to |
| adapted theory from the world of behavioural | | | | diminish rapidly. In the current example, the dog might |
| science and turned that knowledge into real-life | | | | whine more often, more loudly, and for longer |
| practical skills for training dogs. This article explains in | | | | periods before learning that whining doesn't work for |
| plain English some of the science and theory behind | | | | him any more. |
| dog training, these really are secrets of the dog | | | | Let's examine the terms more closely. Apart from |
| training professionals! | | | | extinction, you will notice four words that can be |
| Operant Conditioning is the term that scientists use | | | | used in four different combinations. These are |
| to describe what dog trainers call "training with | | | | "positive", "negative", "reinforcement" and |
| consequences". That is, any training that involves a | | | | "punishment" and they are technical terms that |
| consequence that either reinforces or punishes | | | | scientists use when discussing Operant Conditioning. |
| behavior. There are 4 possible consequence types | | | | "Positive" means to add something. We add the |
| used in Operant Conditioning, and 1 non-consequence. | | | | reward, or add the punisher. By contrast, "Negative" |
| These are: | | | | means to take something away. We take away the |
| 1. Positive Reinforcement: when we give a reward | | | | reward, or take away the unpleasant stimulus. |
| and the behaviour increases or is maintained as a | | | | "Reinforcement" is when we increase or maintain |
| result, we call this positive reinforcement (+R). e.g | | | | behaviour. The behaviour happens more often, more |
| dog sits when asked, we give a treat. Dog learns to | | | | intensely, for longer periods, or it continues to happen |
| sit when asked in future. | | | | without reducing in frequency, intensity or duration. |
| 2. Negative Reinforcement: when we take something | | | | By contrast, "Punishment" is when we decrease or |
| unpleasant away and the behaviour increases or is | | | | eliminate behaviour using consequence. We reduce |
| maintained as a result, we call this negative | | | | the frequency, intensity or duration of the behaviour. |
| reinforcement (-R). e.g we ask dog to sit, pulling up | | | | A common mistake is to assume that we have |
| on collar, dog sits, we release pressure from the | | | | reinforced or punished behaviour when in fact in |
| collar. Dog learns to sit when asked in future. | | | | future we discover that the behaviour has not |
| 3. Positive Punishment: when we do something | | | | actually been changed! Many dog trainers believe that |
| unpleasant and the behaviour is decreased or | | | | praise is an effective reinforcer. It may be, for some |
| eliminated as a result, we call this positive punishment | | | | dogs in some circumstances. The truth is we don't |
| (+P). e.g dog goes to investigate kitchen bench for | | | | know unless we see the behaviour that earned the |
| food, we make a sharp noise. Dog learns not to | | | | praise increase or keep occurring in the future. The |
| investigate kitchen benches for food in future. | | | | same applies to punishment. Yelling at a dog might |
| 4. Negative Punishment: when we take away | | | | stop it from going through your rubbish bin while you |
| something the dog wants or enjoys and the | | | | are there, but does it stop your dog going through |
| behaviour is decreased or eliminated as a result, we | | | | the rubbish bin while you're not there? Probably not. |
| call this negative punishment (-P). e.g dog plays too | | | | A more effective approach is to use a more secure |
| roughly with another more timid dog, we leash rough | | | | rubbish bin, or put the rubbish bin in a place which is |
| dog and remove the opportunity to play. Dog learns | | | | inaccessible to the dog. |
| not to play too roughly in future. | | | | |