1. ABC’S OF LEARNING THEORY How Dogs Learn – The Basics
The Cognitive Dog
ABC’S OF LEARNING THEORY
How Dogs Learn – The Basics

2. How Dogs Learn CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
Also known as Pavlovian, Associative and Respondent
OPERANT CONDITIONING
What we know as “training”

3. How Dogs Learn CLASSICAL CONDITIONING Pavlov’s Dogs
Relates to reflexes not to voluntary behaviors
Happening all the time
Clicker and food is a classical association
Teaching a cue is a classical association

4. How Dogs Learn OPERANT CONDITIONING
Definition (from How Dog’s Learn Burch & Bailey, 1999):
“The part of science of behavior
that explains the functional relationship
between environmental events and
behavior. It is a key component in
explaining how all organisms
(including dogs) learn.” In simple
terms what happens in the environment
will affect what a dog will do in the future.
If a dog receives a cookie for sitting he will
be more likely to sit again. If a bee stings a
dog when he sits he is less likely to sit.

5. How Dogs Learn OPERANT CONDITIONING REINFORCEMENT PUNISHMENT
CHANGING BEHAVIOR
REINFORCEMENT PUNISHMENT
POSITIVE Strengthens Weakens
NEGATIVE Strengthens Weakens

6. How Dogs Learn OPERANT CONDITIONING REINFORCEMENT:
Strengthens behaviors .
PUNISHMENT:
Weakens behaviors
Do you want to stop or increase the behavior?

7. How Dogs Learn OPERANT CONDITIONING REINFORCEMENT:
Strengthens behaviors
Is anything that will increase the likelihood of a behavior to happen in the future
To be effective it should closely follow the behavior so an association is made

8. How Dogs Learn OPERANT CONDITIONING PUNISHMENT: Weakens behaviors
Punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior to be repeated in the future
To be effective it should closely follow the behavior
Has potential fallout; fear, anxiety

9. How Dogs Learn REINFORCEMENT in dog training Strengthens behaviors
Positive Reinforcement
Add good
As perceived by the dog
Negative Reinforcement
Remove bad

10. How Dogs Learn REINFORCEMENT in dog training Positive Reinforcement
Add good - As perceived
by the dog
Examples: Food, toys, exercise,
play & petting (not all dogs)

11. How Dogs Learn REINFORCEMENT in dog training Negative Reinforcement
Remove aversive, As perceived
by the dog
Examples: Stop pulling on a leash, stop electronic collar; spray or shock, stop ear pinch

12. REINFORCEMENT in dog training
How Dogs Learn
REINFORCEMENT in dog training
Positive Reinforcement
Primary Reinforcer
Secondary Reinforcer
Negative Reinforcement

13. How Dogs Learn REINFORCEMENT in dog training
Positive & Negative Reinforcement
Primary
An Unconditioned Reinforcer. A primary reinforcer will increase the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated in the future when presented immediately following a behavior. Related to basic needs, food, drink, some touch.
Secondary
A Conditioned Reinforcer. It is something that by itself does not mean anything to the dog. But when paired with a primary reinforcer the secondary will then strengthen behaviors. For dogs these can include, praise, clicker, petting, verbal reprimand or sound. This pairing is classical conditioning.
REINFORCEMENT INCREASES BEHAVIOR

14. Punishment in dog training:
How Dogs Learn
Punishment in dog training:
Punishment decreases behavior
Positive Punishment
add something bad
Negative Punishment
take away something good
The good or bad must be the dogs perception

15. Punishment in dog training:
How Dogs Learn
Punishment in dog training:
Positive Punishment
Add something thing bad
Examples: electric shock, quick leash correction, spray bottle or collar, throwing objects, hitting

16. Punishment in dog training:
How Dogs Learn
Punishment in dog training:
Negative Punishment
Remove something good
Examples: Time out in crate = removes you or the fun, Take dog away from fun event such as agility run for broken stay

17. Punishment in dog training:
How Dogs Learn
Punishment in dog training:
Positive Punishment
Primary Punisher
Secondary Punisher
Negative Punishment

18. Punishment in dog training:
How Dogs Learn
Punishment in dog training:
Positive & Negative Punishment
Primary
An Unconditioned Punisher. The dog does not need prior experience for it to be perceived as a punisher. Extreme heat or cold, shock, pinch, citronella spray, hitting are all examples of primary
Secondary
A Conditioned Punisher. It is something that by itself does not mean anything to the dog. But when paired with a primary punisher the secondary will then weaken behaviors. Verbal or sound. This pairing is classical conditioning.
PUNISHMENT DECREASES BEHAVIOR
But there is possible increased anxiety and fallout

19. How Dogs Learn OPERANT CONDITIONING Reinforcement Punishment
Positive Primary: Food Shock Secondary: Click Warning Sound
Negative Primary: Remove Shock Remove Food
Secondary: Remove Verbal Remove Verbal

20. The ABC's of learning How Dogs Learn B= Behavior (action)
A= Antecedent (cue)
B= Behavior (action)
C= Consequence (payoff)
Good Consequence = Reinforcement
Bad Consequence = Punishment

21. The ABC's of learning How Dogs Learn Cues Verbal: words, sounds
A= Antecedent
Cues
Verbal: words, sounds
Visual: hand, body, motion
Environmental: doors, leash
Think about the dog you have when making choices for cues; visual or sound stimulation stronger?

22. The ABC's of learning How Dogs Learn Action or duration of non action
B= Behavior
Action or duration of non action
Voluntary action: sit, down, lift paw
Non action: stay in position

23. The ABC's of learning How Dogs Learn Payoff
C= Consequence
Payoff
Good Consequence = Reinforcement, R+
Increases likelihood of behavior
Bad Consequence = Punishment
Decreases likelihood of behavior

24. How Dogs Learn Once learned, Good Consequences = Behaviors Happen:
Human Example:
A = Antecedent (cue): Alarm goes off, ugh…
B = Behavior: Get up and go to work
C = Consequence: Paycheck, yahoo!
Canine Example: A = Antecedent (cue): Verbal “Sit” or Door
B = Behavior: Dog puts butt on the floor
C = Consequence: Dog gets to go out to play!

25. How Dogs Learn “Natural” Progression of A-B-C Begging:
A - Owner eating at table
B - Dog Begs
C - Owner gives a piece of food
Think the begging will be repeated?!

26. R + Training Steps: A new alphabet
How Dogs Learn
R + Training Steps: A new alphabet
Maximizes learning & the quality of the final behavior performance
B = Behavior: Get it
C = Consequence: Give it
A = Antecedent or A Signal: Add after behavior is strong, insert before behavior

27. Training Steps How Dogs Learn B = Behavior:
Get the dog to perform the desired behavior
Capture: R+ dog doing behavior
Shape: R+ parts of the behavior working closer to the end behavior
Lure: Use of food or toy as a guide to where you want the dog then R+

28. Training Steps How Dogs Learn C = Consequence: R+
When the dog does the behavior- Capturing
When the dog does part of the behavior- Shaping
As the dog follows the food into position or partial position - Luring

29. Training Steps How Dogs Learn A = Antecedent or Cue:
Add after the dog becomes good at the behavior, cue will pair with the end behavior performance (usually better than beginning)
Cue is presented just before the dog does the behavior = Classical Conditioning
R+ as usual

30. How Dogs Learn EXAMPLE OF CAPTURING – SHAPING – LURING Down –
Capture: Sit in a small quiet room R+ as dog lies down on his own
Shape: R+ as dog lowers head, then bends elbows, then lowers back end etc.
Lure: Guide dog into position with food or toy desired by the dog, R+ in position

31. How Dogs Learn
BUT KEEP IN MIND…

32. Emotions & Motivation impact Learning
How Dogs Learn
Emotions & Motivation impact Learning
Take all we have studied so far into consideration…
Emotions
Hardwiring - Motivation
Past Experiences
Lack of Experiences
Keep in mind all of this and the immediate environment have a big influence on a learners ability to learn

33. THE LEARNERS …that have taught us….
How Dogs Learn
THE LEARNERS …that have taught us….

34. Shaping and desensitizing

35. Chicken Training

36. Advanced chickens!