Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning Explained

Here’s some information about the science behind how dogs learn.

Understanding the basic principles of classical conditioning and operant conditioning can be very helpful when learning to train dogs or analyzing behavior and applying context for troubleshooting. I encourage you to research the topic learning theory on your own, when time permits.

Classical Conditioning

An unconditioned stimulus (US), such as food, produces an unconditioned response (UR), such as salivation.

The US is paired with a conditioned stimulus (CS), such as a clicker or saying “Good!”, so that the CS now produces a conditioned response (CR), such as salivation.

Examples

What occurs when you rustle your dog’s food bag and they come running to eat.

When you ‘click and treat’ repeatedly to prime a clicker for starting out with clicker training.

Operant Conditioning

There are two types of consequences in learning: Reinforcement and punishment.

Reinforcement: Increases the likelihood that a behavior will recur.
Punishment: Decreases the likelihood that a behavior will recur.

For each type of consequence, you can add or subtract an event.

Positive: Addition of something.
Negative: Removal of something.

Here’s what the four types of operant conditioning principles look like:

Positive Reinforcement: Adding something to increase the likelihood of a
behavior (such as treats).

Negative Reinforcement: Removing something to increase the likelihood of a
behavior (removing pressure from a dog’s collar when they sit).

Positive Punishment: Adding something to decrease the likelihood of a behavior (using a correction when a dog breaks the sit position).

Negative Punishment: Removing something to decrease the likelihood of a
behavior (removing your attention when a dog jumps on you or removing
access to other dogs when they jump on another dog).

Please note that it is unethical in the field of dog training to use or promote any methods which hurt, force, scare or intimidate due to the unwanted behavioral side effects that may accompany the use of such methods.

Positive, humane animal trainers use positive reinforcement and negative punishment only. Positive, humane animal trainers DO NOT use positive punishment or negative reinforcement.

Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning Together:

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About Me: I am a professional dog trainer with over 10 years of experience in the pet industry. I am also the founder and CEO of Clicker Plus LLC, a pet product startup. I help dog lovers get the confidence, education and tools they need to succeed in dog training.