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| How Dog Training Works |
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How Dog Training Works Topics 1. Introduction to How Dog Training Works 2. Reinforcers 3. Markers 4. Clicker Training: Introducing Commands 5. See all Dogs articles |
Although dogs have helped people with specific jobs
for millennia, today most resemble family members
more than employees. According to the American Pet
Products Manufacturers Association, in 2005,
American pet owners spent an estimated 39.5 billion
dollars on their pets, more than twice what they spent
in 1994.
While this represents a golden age for lucky dogs, the
status of family member may also require that the dog
meet certain standards of behavior. Although you
might guess otherwise from the abundance of doggy
fashions now available, dogs are not tiny, furry
people. They have their own way of thinking and
doing things. Thousands of dogs are surrendered to
animal shelters each year, or permanently relegated
to a backyard pen, simply for acting like dogs.
Dogs and people can live together happily, but this
requires that owners make the effort to bridge the
species gap and train their dogs to behave
appropriately in human society. There are many
different ways to train dogs and just as many trainers
who will say that their way is the only "right" way, but
the reality is that there are multiple methods that all
work. The main difference between them is how
quickly they work, and how enjoyable they are for dog
and handler.
for millennia, today most resemble family members
more than employees. According to the American Pet
Products Manufacturers Association, in 2005,
American pet owners spent an estimated 39.5 billion
dollars on their pets, more than twice what they spent
in 1994.
While this represents a golden age for lucky dogs, the
status of family member may also require that the dog
meet certain standards of behavior. Although you
might guess otherwise from the abundance of doggy
fashions now available, dogs are not tiny, furry
people. They have their own way of thinking and
doing things. Thousands of dogs are surrendered to
animal shelters each year, or permanently relegated
to a backyard pen, simply for acting like dogs.
Dogs and people can live together happily, but this
requires that owners make the effort to bridge the
species gap and train their dogs to behave
appropriately in human society. There are many
different ways to train dogs and just as many trainers
who will say that their way is the only "right" way, but
the reality is that there are multiple methods that all
work. The main difference between them is how
quickly they work, and how enjoyable they are for dog
and handler.
In this article, we'll explore the history and ideas behind most methods of dog training and talk about one of the
most popular methods today: Clicker training.
Learning Theory
Dog training typically centers on operant conditioning. The first scientist to define this concept was B.F. Skinner,
who studied the work of Russian physiologist Dr. Ivan Pavlov on animal behavior. In Pavlov's groundbreaking
study, dogs learned that a stimulus (in this case, a bell) meant they were about to be fed. Starting with two things
that are naturally paired -- salivating and being fed -- Pavlov added a third component by ringing a bell before
feeding. After a few trials, the dogs learned to associate the bell with being fed and would react by salivating at the
sound of the bell in anticipation of their food but without any food present.
most popular methods today: Clicker training.
Learning Theory
Dog training typically centers on operant conditioning. The first scientist to define this concept was B.F. Skinner,
who studied the work of Russian physiologist Dr. Ivan Pavlov on animal behavior. In Pavlov's groundbreaking
study, dogs learned that a stimulus (in this case, a bell) meant they were about to be fed. Starting with two things
that are naturally paired -- salivating and being fed -- Pavlov added a third component by ringing a bell before
feeding. After a few trials, the dogs learned to associate the bell with being fed and would react by salivating at the
sound of the bell in anticipation of their food but without any food present.
| Pavlov's famous study |
Since dogs naturally begin salivating when offered food, food is an unconditioned stimulus. No conditioning or
special training is necessary to cause the dog to salivate, which is an unconditioned response. In contrast, a
ringing bell does not normally cause dogs to salivate; they will do so only if they have been conditioned to
associate a bell with being fed. Therefore, the bell is a conditioned stimulus. The dog's new reaction is a reflex to
the stimulus and is a conditioned response.
Many of us see this today with our own dogs when they break into a frenzy of barking at the sound of the
doorbell, sometimes even a doorbell on television. In this case, the dog has been conditioned to associate the
stimulus of the bell with the imminent arrival of a stranger.
When we see flashing lights or hear a siren behind us while driving, we may reflexively tense up and our heart
rate may increase. We have been conditioned to associate the sound of sirens with the unpleasant and stressful
experience of getting a ticket. This is classical conditioning. Both animals and people can learn to relate a pair of
events and respond to the first in anticipation of the second. This type of learning is passive and involuntary; it
occurs without the learner doing anything and often without awareness.
While Pavlov's work dealt with a reflexive reaction to a conditioned stimulus, Skinner became interested in
creating a specific behavioral reaction to a stimulus by adding a reinforcer. A reinforcer can be either a reward
or a punisher. A reward is anything that increases the frequency of an action; a punisher is anything that
decreases its frequency.
When we are rewarded for a certain behavior, we are likely to repeat that behavior. When we are punished for a
certain behavior we are likely to stop. This type of learning is active and voluntary; it depends on the actions of
the learner.
Because the definition of a reinforcer is based on its effectiveness, it's important to remember that a reward for
one person may not be meaningful, and thus not a reward, for another. Similarly, what is a reward in one context
may not be somewhere else.
special training is necessary to cause the dog to salivate, which is an unconditioned response. In contrast, a
ringing bell does not normally cause dogs to salivate; they will do so only if they have been conditioned to
associate a bell with being fed. Therefore, the bell is a conditioned stimulus. The dog's new reaction is a reflex to
the stimulus and is a conditioned response.
Many of us see this today with our own dogs when they break into a frenzy of barking at the sound of the
doorbell, sometimes even a doorbell on television. In this case, the dog has been conditioned to associate the
stimulus of the bell with the imminent arrival of a stranger.
When we see flashing lights or hear a siren behind us while driving, we may reflexively tense up and our heart
rate may increase. We have been conditioned to associate the sound of sirens with the unpleasant and stressful
experience of getting a ticket. This is classical conditioning. Both animals and people can learn to relate a pair of
events and respond to the first in anticipation of the second. This type of learning is passive and involuntary; it
occurs without the learner doing anything and often without awareness.
While Pavlov's work dealt with a reflexive reaction to a conditioned stimulus, Skinner became interested in
creating a specific behavioral reaction to a stimulus by adding a reinforcer. A reinforcer can be either a reward
or a punisher. A reward is anything that increases the frequency of an action; a punisher is anything that
decreases its frequency.
When we are rewarded for a certain behavior, we are likely to repeat that behavior. When we are punished for a
certain behavior we are likely to stop. This type of learning is active and voluntary; it depends on the actions of
the learner.
Because the definition of a reinforcer is based on its effectiveness, it's important to remember that a reward for
one person may not be meaningful, and thus not a reward, for another. Similarly, what is a reward in one context
may not be somewhere else.
| A rat in a basic Skinner box |
Skinner showed that both animals and people would perform certain behaviors for a reward. In his experiments
with rats and pigeons, Skinner showed how animals could learn to press a lever to get a food reward. When the
animals were first introduced to the test box they moved around randomly. When they accidentally depressed the
lever, a food pellet was dispensed. They quickly learned to depress the lever on purpose to get a pellet. He also
shaped behaviors that are more complicated by reinforcing them step by step. Skinner called his approach
"operant conditioning" because the animal's behavior actually operated on the environment (pressing the lever)
in response to the anticipated outcome (getting a food reward).
Rewarding to encourage good behavior and punishing to discourage bad is something most of us do instinctively;
it's common sense. Operant conditioning had a long history in animal training even before it was ever defined.
Colonel Konrad Most, who published "Training Dogs: A Manual" in 1910, was using many of the same principles
that Skinner studied, decades before he described them. Col. Most's training methods seem somewhat harsh by
today's standards, but he is considered by many to be the father of modern dog training. Most, and other trainers
used both rewards and punishers to shape and reinforce desired behavior.
Next, we'll look at how reinforcers are used in animal training.
with rats and pigeons, Skinner showed how animals could learn to press a lever to get a food reward. When the
animals were first introduced to the test box they moved around randomly. When they accidentally depressed the
lever, a food pellet was dispensed. They quickly learned to depress the lever on purpose to get a pellet. He also
shaped behaviors that are more complicated by reinforcing them step by step. Skinner called his approach
"operant conditioning" because the animal's behavior actually operated on the environment (pressing the lever)
in response to the anticipated outcome (getting a food reward).
Rewarding to encourage good behavior and punishing to discourage bad is something most of us do instinctively;
it's common sense. Operant conditioning had a long history in animal training even before it was ever defined.
Colonel Konrad Most, who published "Training Dogs: A Manual" in 1910, was using many of the same principles
that Skinner studied, decades before he described them. Col. Most's training methods seem somewhat harsh by
today's standards, but he is considered by many to be the father of modern dog training. Most, and other trainers
used both rewards and punishers to shape and reinforce desired behavior.
Next, we'll look at how reinforcers are used in animal training.
How Dog Training Works Topics 1. Introduction to How Dog Training Works 2. Reinforcers 3. Markers 4. Clicker Training: Introducing Commands 5. See all Dogs articles |
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