Have you ever wondered how really good dog trainers come with the techniques used to solve behavior problems in dogs as excessive barking, destruction, chewing, toileting in the house and jumping on visitors? Or the dog trainers on how to get up with ways to train dogs in obedience competitions and top job? Apart from a few "naturals", most dog trainers well have a very good Understanding how dogs learn. They have adapted theory from the world of behavioral science and turned that knowledge into real life skills, practical training for dogs. This article explains in plain English some of the science and theory behind dog training, these really are secrets of dog training professionals!
Operant Conditioning is the term scientists use to describe what coaches dogs call a "training consequencesÂ. That is, any training that involves a consequence that either reinforces or punishes behavior. There are 4 types of the potential used in operant conditioning, and 1 non-consequence. These are:
1. Positive Reinforcement: when we get a prize and behavior increased or maintained as a result, we call this positive reinforcement (+ R). eg dog sits when asked, we give a treat. Dog learns to sit when asked in the future.
Negative reinforcement 2.: When we take away something unpleasant and increases behavior or is maintained as a result, We call this negative reinforcement (-R). For example, we ask dog to sit, pulling on the neck, the dog sits, that release neck pressure. Dog learns to sit when asked in the future.
3. Positive Punishment: when we do something unpleasant and behavior has been reduced or eliminated as a result, we call this positive punishment (+ P). dog for example, goes to investigate kitchen bench in the food, we make a snapping sound. Dog learns not to investigate kitchen benches for food in the future.
Negative punishment 4.: When they take away something the dog wants or enjoys and the behavior has been reduced or eliminated as a result, we call this negative punishment (-P). eg dog plays too rough with another dog more timid, the strap raw dog and eliminate the opportunity to play. Dog learns not to play too closely in the future.
Extinction 5.: If the response is no longer reinforced and eventually goes away, we call this extinction. dog for example, used to be allowed out when he complains in the door, but suddenly no longer allowed to leave when he complains. Dog learns not to complain to the door. Extinction sometimes causing the target behavior worse before it gets better, sometimes significantly. This is known as one burst  "extinction" and is usually a sign that the behavior is about to diminish rapidly. In the present example, the dog might complain more often, harder, and longer before knowing that the work does not whine about it anymore.
Leta examine the terms more closely. Besides extinction, you will notice four words that can be used in four different combinations. These are  "positiveÂ" a "negativeÂ" a "reinforcement" and "punishment", and are technical terms that scientists use when speaks of operant conditioning.
 "PositiveÂ" means adding something. Add the reward, or add the punishment. By contrast, a "NegativeÂ" means taking something away. We remove the reward, or remove the unpleasant stimulus.
 "Reinforcement" is when to increase or maintain behavior. The behavior happens more often with more intensity, longer periods, or continues to occur without reducing the frequency, intensity or duration. By contrast, a "Punishment" is when lower or eliminate the usage behavior of the consequences. We can reduce the frequency, intensity or duration of behavior.
A common mistake is to assume that we reinforce or punish behavior, when in fact the future is found that the behavior has not really been changed! Many dog trainers believe that praise is a reinforcement effective. Maybe, for some dogs in some circumstances. The truth is that Dona't know unless we see the behavior that earned the praise increase or keep happening in the future. The same applies to punishment. Yelling at a dog that can stop going through your garbage can, while you are there, but let your dog through the garbage, while youÂ're not there? Probably not. A more effective approach is to use a more secure trash, or put trash in one place that is inaccessible to the dog.
For more information, please visit http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/traininglevels/ for a free e-book that shows you how to train your own dog, step by step, with the help of thousands of people using the same program to train their own dogs.
Aidan Bindoff is Editor of http://www.PositivePetzine.com, a free ezine for people training their own dogs. Each edition has easy to use training advice based on positive reinforcement methods. Subscribers have access to a large archive of back-issues they can consult for just about any behavior or behavior problem.
Barking- Episode 3 – barking on a walk -dog training
