Hi everyone, I just want to share the links to some of Pippa's newest training articles. These ones live over on our sister site, Dogsnet.com - they're all about modern training methods, how they work, and why we love them. What Matters Most When Choosing A Dog Trainer The Changing Face Of Dog Training Operant Conditioning In A Nutshell Clicker Training: A Promise To Your Dog We hope you enjoy them. Let us know if they raise any questions, or if you have any suggestions for new article topics! Sammie
Just skimmed through the trainer article. It's so important to choose the right person to help with training. Had a bad experience once with a trainer who used harsh methods - never again! These guidelines are spot on.
Hi I've read through the piece on operant conditioning. I think the use of the definite article in sentences such as "Operant conditioning is the process by which animals, including dogs, learn to change and modify their behavior" (my emphasis) colours the discussion in a biased way. Dogs learn and change their behaviour as a result of classical conditioning. And non-associative learning can change behaviour too. Second, while negative reinforcement can be something to avoid such as in the case of force fetch training, it need not draconian measures to be of value. Mild pressure on a harness, which is released when the dog stops pulling constitutes negative reinforcement.
Hi again I would add to the piece on clicker training, that a click also ends a behaviour--the sound of the click also acts as a terminal stimulus. That aspect of a click is used to great advantage in clicker retrieve.
Hi Michael - thanks for sharing your thoughts. Perhaps it would be clearer to say operant conditioning is the process by which they learn to change voluntary behaviour - which is where the bulk of our focus as trainers lies We completely agree that negative reinforcement doesn't have to be extreme, or painful, to be effective in changing behavior. However, it does have to be unpleasant - and the use of aversives of any kind, including no pull harnesses, has been associated with poorer outcomes for dogs - including an increase in aggression, and a decrease in willingness to offer new behaviors. So we advocate for positive only training approaches, wherever possible.
This is an interesting point! The advantages and disadvantages of using a clicker to end a behavior with duration are really worthy of a whole article of their own - I'll pop that on the end of Pippa's giant List Of Article Ideas!
Thanks Sammie for the interesting comment. I think I know why you have emphasized voluntary choice in your definition of operant conditioning. Under classical conditioning, and forms of non-associative learning the notion of voluntary choice on the part of the dog does not seem to be apt. Up until recently I would have been inclined to agree with your novel definition of operant conditioning. I am now not so sure. Robert Sapolsky's book Determined casts serious doubt on the notion of free will (voluntary choice). I would be inclined to define operant conditioning in terms of its emphasis on the consequences the animal gets from various behaviours, which is how I understand the Skinnerians to define the term. I agree with you that positive reinforcement trumps negative reinforcement: If one can achieve a result with R+, then it is preferred to all the other quadrants. Can you point to any evidence that harnesses result in the dangers you speak of associated with R-? I'd be interested in reading the papers.
Hmmm. It's a good idea. But I don't think I was suggesting that Pippa needs to write another article, which could be seen as an aversive!!!!!
LOL! This series (links to each part lower down this page) https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2012/07/positive-reinforcement-and-dog-training.html links to a range of studies on punishment in training, including some that had leash pulling in the aversives studied.
