Classical Conditioning is when a living being (be it dog, cat or even human) learns to associate one thing (called a stimulus) with another thing (a different stimulus.) As an example, researcher Pavlov discovered that if he rang a bell every time he fed his dog, the dog would salivate at the sound of the bell even if there was no sign of food.
This is a conditioned response. Before the dog learned the bell meant food, they didn’t salivate when they heard it. They learned that something delicious was on its way to them when they heard the bell. You know this as a “Pavlovian Response.”
Today, classical conditioning is a big part of dog training. Trainers frequently use a training tool called a clicker to help them train dogs more effectively. The clicker makes a unique sound that the dog learns means a tasty treat is coming. Much like Pavlov’s dog learned a bell meant food, the dog being trained learns the click sound means a reward.
When a dog understands that the click of a clicker means a tasty treat, they have been classically conditioned.
How is Classical Conditioning Used in Training?
Dogs are often afraid of nail trims. They are taken to a strange place, are handled by unfamiliar people who immobilize them and sometimes hurt them. It’s very natural to be afraid.
Classical conditioning can be used to change the dog’s feelings about nail trims at a subconscious level. A trainer might pair looking at the nail clippers with something pleasurable such as eating treats, until the dog connects seeing the nail clippers with getting treats.
By changing their emotional state for each part of the nail trimming process, you can change their feelings about having their nails clipped. It’s possible to make a dog that hated nail trims in the past love them through classical conditioning.
Classical Conditioning vs. Operant Conditioning
Another common vocabulary word you will see flying around the dog training world is Operant Conditioning. Operant conditioning is different from classical conditioning and focuses on rewarding actions a dog performs to reinforce the habit.
Imagine your dog sitting in response to a command, and you rewarding their obedience with a treat. The dog’s feelings weren’t changed here, but his actions were encouraged through a reward. This is operant conditioning.
Both operant conditioning and classical conditioning are useful in dog training but have their own jobs.
Similar Posts:
- Dog Vocabulary: Operant Conditioning
- Alfie and the Clippers of Doom
- How To Load A Clicker
- Dog Vocabulary: Counter Conditioning
- Dog Vocabulary: Capturing
