Your evidence-based guide to understanding how dogs learn and building a stronger bond through positive training
Understand classical & operant conditioning, reinforcement, and the science behind canine cognition.
Explore luring, shaping, capturing, and learn about markers, desensitisation & counter-conditioning.
Step-by-step guides for essential cues: Sit, Stay, Recall, Middle, Spin, and more!
All information is based on peer-reviewed research and resources from certified professionals including:
Understanding the science behind canine learning
"Dogs are trying to be the alpha and dominate their owners. You need to show them who's boss by using force and intimidation."
Dogs do NOT have "dominance hierarchies" with humans. Domesticated dogs don't think this way. Here's what research actually shows:
The dog training and behaviour industry is NOT regulated. This means:
Look for these credentials:
Classical conditioning is learning through association. A neutral stimulus becomes associated with something that naturally causes a response.
Bell (neutral) + Food (causes salivation) → Eventually, Bell alone causes salivation
Operant conditioning is NOT a training method — it is how learning happens.
Every behaviour your dog learns, whether good or bad, happens through operant conditioning. It's a description of the learning mechanism, not a prescription for what's "good" or "bad" training.
Operant conditioning describes the relationship between behaviour and its consequences. Behaviours that have consequences become more or less likely to occur in the future.
These describe what happens after a behaviour occurs. They are neutral descriptors of cause-and-effect in learning:
Add something the dog wants
Behaviour INCREASES
Example: Dog sits → gets treat → sits more often
Add something the dog dislikes
Behaviour DECREASES (unpredictably)
Example: Dog jumps → gets sprayed → may stop, may become anxious
Remove something the dog dislikes
Behaviour INCREASES
Example: Leash pressure stops when dog walks nicely
Remove something the dog wants
Behaviour DECREASES
Example: Dog jumps → you turn away (remove attention)
Many dog trainers and owners misuse these terms to claim:
This is incorrect. The four quadrants are simply descriptors of what physically happens. They are morally and ethically neutral biological concepts.
What matters for ethical training is: Is the consequence humane? Does it cause fear, pain, or anxiety? Does it damage trust? These are separate ethical questions, not built into the quadrants themselves.
Research shows aversive methods (P+ and certain uses of R-) can lead to fear, defensive aggression, and behavioural problems (AVSAB, 2016; Hiby et al., 2004).
Operant conditioning is how ALL dogs learn — whether you're intentionally training or not. Your job as a dog owner is to understand these mechanics and use them ethically and effectively to shape the behaviours you want to see.
Not all rewards are equal! The value of reinforcement must match the difficulty of the task and environment.
*This varies by individual dog - test to find YOUR dog's hierarchy!
Extinction occurs when a behaviour that was previously reinforced no longer produces that reinforcement, causing the behaviour to decrease over time.
Before a behaviour disappears, it often intensifies dramatically. The dog tries harder because "this always worked before!"
Example: Dog used to get attention for barking. You ignore barking. Dog barks LOUDER and LONGER before eventually giving up.
If you give in during an extinction burst, you've just taught your dog that persistence pays off and the behaviour will become even stronger!
The tools in your positive training toolbox
A marker is a signal that tells your dog exactly when they did the right thing. It "marks" the correct behaviour and predicts a reward is coming.
Pros:
Cons:
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Using food to guide your dog into position.
Example: Hold treat above nose, move it back over head → dog sits
Reinforcing small steps toward the final behaviour.
Example: Teaching "go to bed": Look at bed → click. Step toward bed → click. One paw on bed → click... etc.
Marking and rewarding naturally occurring behaviours.
Example: Dog happens to lie down → "YES!" + treat. Eventually add cue "down."
These techniques help change a dog's emotional response to something they fear or dislike. They're essential tools for addressing reactivity, fear, and anxiety.
Gradually exposing the dog to a trigger at very low intensity, slowly increasing over time.
Key: Dog must stay under threshold (not reacting) throughout. Too fast = sensitisation (making it worse)!
Pairing the scary thing with something wonderful to change the emotional association.
Example: Dog sees other dog in distance → Gets chicken. Eventually: Other dog = chicken!
A release cue signals to your dog that they can stop holding a position (like sit or stay) and are free to move.
Avoid "OK" as it's said too often in everyday speech!
Step-by-step guides for essential cues
Ensure your dog is healthy, pain-free, not anxious, and on a non-slip surface. Keep sessions short (5-10 min) and fun!
Some dogs do better if you lure under your bent knee or under a chair - this prevents them from standing up!
Duration, Distance, Distraction - only increase ONE at a time!
⚠️ Important: Only practice on non-slip surfaces. Ensure your dog is comfortable passing under/between legs. Not suitable for dogs with hip/back issues.
⚠️ Important: Practice on non-slip surfaces only. Not recommended for dogs with spinal issues or dizziness. Keep sessions short - spinning can be tiring!
NEVER let them get the "leave it" item. They always get paid with something else. The thing they leave stays left!
Pulling = walk stops. Loose leash = walk continues (and treats!)