Michael Baugh CDBC
Some things trainers teach are simply their opinion. Others are the opinions shared among many trainers. Then there are the facts, verified and peer-reviewed. The latter is what this article is about: the science of dog training.
If your dog does something, and a well-timed favorable outcome follows that action, the behavior will happen more frequently in the future. Edward Thorndike served up that gem back in 1905. It’s been tested so many times it’s known as Thorndike’s Law of Effect.
We know this, too. We can give or withhold good things to influence our dog’s behavior. That’s the core thinking behind Skinner’s famous Learning Theory. Our dogs control their own behavior, but we can sway their choices. How cool is that? The dog jumps up; he gets nothing. The dog sits nicely; he gets something nice. What do we get? We get less jumping and more sitting. This is probably the most scientifically tested piece of psychology on the planet. Good things happen; behavior increases. Good things don’t happen; behavior decreases.
It gets better. We influence something else too. We can create cues in the environment, like certain words, hand signals, and situations, to trigger behaviors. It’s not trainer magic. It’s behavior science. The cue “sit,” for instance, informs the dog that something good might be afoot. He plants his booty on the ground because he’s learned that’s a safe bet. Bingo! Here comes the goodie. Sit, then, becomes a powerful word.
Okay, let’s geek out a little. All this boils down to A–B–C. That cue we were talking about is the “A.” It’s called an antecedent: the cue. The “B” is for behavior (what the dog does). The “C” is the consequence, giving or taking something away to influence a change in behavior. That’s Learning Theory. “A” (antecedent): Doggie, come! “B” (behavior) he runs to us. “C” (consequence): We throw his favorite ball for him to fetch. Brilliant! Now, here’s the rub. This process is still always in play. Our dogs are learning just about every waking hour, even when we’re not around. Check this out. “A” (antecedent): Leftovers on the counter. “B” (behavior): The dog lifts himself onto the countertop for a sniff. “C” (consequence): the whole thing ends in a tasty snack. Our dog just learned a new trick, and we had nothing at all to do with it.
Good dog trainers and behavior consultants know this stuff backwards and forwards. We’ve studied it, watched it at work, and applied it in the field. I won’t bore you with all the minutiae of contingency statements and functional analysis (okay, I might a little). Instead, let’s look at any behavior problem and ask: What is the dog actually doing? That’s the behavior itself, like jumping up on the counter. It’s not an interpretation of behavior like, “he’s dominant” or “he’s trying to get back at you.” (That’s non-science). Then, let’s ask, what’s triggering the behavior? There’s your antecedent, in this case the sight of the countertop itself. Now, what’s keeping the behavior going? Ah, the consequences! Sometimes there’s food up there.
Move a few puzzle pieces, and the picture changes. We can control antecedents and consequences. Adjust those, and sure enough, your dog changes his behavior. That’s what learning is all about. In this example, keeping the dog out of the kitchen is a good way to avoid the antecedent. Clearing the countertop removes the potential for a yummy consequence. Teaching the dog to put his nose to work elsewhere is even better.
Practice your ABCs. This science left the laboratory a century ago. Skinner’s students took it on the road in the 1940s, training animals for carnivals, movies, TV, and the military. Sea mammal trainers eat, breathe, and sleep it. It’s at work right now in your own home.
Applied well and gently, science-based training is the stuff of good communication with your dog. Applied lovingly, it’s the path to a deep and abiding friendship. Of course, that last part is simply my opinion.
Michael Baugh teaches dog training in Sedona and online to dog lovers worldwide. He specializes in fearful and aggressive dog behavior.