Operant Conditioning in Dog Obedience Training

Dog trainers often use two main terms when describing training techniques: classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning involves pairing a desired response with an object with which the response might not usually be paired. An example is Pavlov's dogs drooling when they hear a bell ring because the bell came to mean they will be fed. Similarly, operant conditioning involves pairing a consequence, either positive or negative, with a dog's behavior.

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    • When pairing a behavior with a consequence, there are always four possible consequences for the dog: The behavior can predict something good happening, something bad happening, something good being removed or something bad being removed. These are the principles of operant conditioning, known scientifically as positive reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment or negative reinforcement.

    Positive Reinforcement

    • Positive reinforcement is exactly as it sounds: When your dog does a certain behavior, something good happens to it. Dog trainers use this method regularly. A dog is lured into a sit or given a verbal command to sit. When the dog sits, it is given praise or a treat for responding properly. This method is effective because it teaches the dog what it is supposed to do to make its owners happy. However, rewards must be used properly and given at the appropriate time to avoid using them as a bribe.

    Positive Punishment

    • In operant conditioning, the terms "positive" and "negative" refer to whether the consequence is being introduced or taken away. Positive punishment means that punishment is being introduced when a dog chooses the wrong behavior. This is rarely used in dog training anymore because positive reinforcement is so effective, but if your dog barks and you silence it by squirting it with water, this is an example of positive punishment.

    Negative Punishment

    • Since negative refers to removal of a stimulus, negative punishment involves removing a negative stimulus. This is also rarely used in dog training because of innovative new methods but is commonly used by owners during loose-leash walking exercises. If you have your dog on a choke chain while it is pulling, the choking is the punishment consequence for the pulling. If your dog stops pulling, the choking stops, thus removing the punishing stimulus.

    Negative Reinforcement

    • Negative reinforcement is the removal of something positive when the dog does a behavior. This is commonly used in dog training in the form of timeouts. For example, if your dog nips you, you stand up and storm out of the room, leaving it behind, alone. In this case, you are the reinforcement because your dog wants to play with you. Once your dog stops nipping, you return to the game. If you are petting your dog and it jumps on you, immediately ignore it. When the jumping stops, resume petting. In this case, removal of petting was the negative reinforcement.