Joanne Drysdale BSc Dog Behaviour Clinic & Edinburgh Dog Training

Changing behaviour can be done in many different ways. By understanding why the dog is behaving in a certain way we can learn how to help them. By using methods which reward dogs for what we want them to do they are more likely to repeat that behaviour in future. Using reward based methods is proven to create long term changes and be more effective than using punishment.

Behaviour modification uses learning theory to change behaviour. Classic and operant conditioning are the two main principles which are used. Classical conditioning changes a dogs association with particular things such as people, sounds and objects. It is generally used for behaviour issues based in emotions such as fear or aggression. Operant conditioning is mainly used for teaching new behaviours and pairs a behaviour with a reward or punishment in order to increase or decrease behaviours. The two learning theories often overlap when changing problem behaviour.

Four Quadrants Of Operant Conditioning
Positive reinforcement-adding something desirable e.g. giving a treat when dog sits nicely for attention
Negative reinforcement-removing something desirable e.g. leaving the room when dog jumps up
Positive Punishment-adding something undesirable e.g. shouting or hitting dog for jumping up
Negative Punishment- removing something undesirable e.g. stopping shouting once dog stops jumping up

Initially we want to work out why the dog is acting in a particular way. What do they get out of doing it? For example jumping up on visitors gets them attention (good or bad) and is exciting. Pulling on the lead gets them to the park quicker. Barking at the postman
makes him go away. Biting him on the ankles makes him not come back again! Dogs do more of what they find rewarding and less of what has no benefit. Remember that although some behaviour is undesirable to us the dog has a reason and motivation for doing it.

Firstly we need to specify what we DO want the dog to do and make sure it is realistic. Then we need to use training and behaviour modification techniques to get the new behaviour. The new behaviour must be reinforced (rewarded) highly and consistently to become an ingrained habit. The old behaviour must never be reinforced and the dog must also be managed so that they are less likely to revert back to the old behaviour. Reward good, avoid bad.

Once a behaviour is learnt it can never be completely unlearnt or forgotten. We can however not reinforce it and make another behaviour (that is incompatible with the old behaviour) more rewarding. For example a dog who barks at passersby at the window cannot do this if sitting quietly on their bed. If we prevent them from seeing passersby most of the time (by closing curtains, using a houseline or stopping access to the room) and then teach them that if they do see a passerby it means they get a biscuit in their bed they will not want to bark at them but see them as a cue to go to bed to get a treat.

If we change the underlying motivation and train a different behaviour we can resolve most behaviour issues. More serious issues can require a different tact and often use desensitisation and counter-conditioning. Two big long words which basically mean to make a dog less sensitise to their scary thing or trigger and to also make the trigger into a good fun thing!

In simple terms dogs do more of what they find rewarding and less of anything which has no benefit. We use this to mould their behaviour into what we do want them to do. Dogs have an amazing capacity to learn and can be trained to carry out all sorts of unnatural tasks like doggy dancing, searching for drugs, retrieving live birds and even alerting people with epilepsy that they are about to have a fit. They do this because they find it rewarding not because it is instinctive.

Management is really important for changing behaviour. Quite often we need to control the environment so we don’t create more problems and allow reinforcement. Using a babygate to stop dogs running to the door to greet visitors stops them jumping up. Then we can train them to sit for a pat rather than jumping up. If they do get the chance to jump up it is ignored and the dog goes back behind the babygate. Management can also mean avoiding triggers of unwanted behaviour such as crossing the street to avoid other dogs or using a long line to stop a dog chasing wildlife. Management doesn’t change behaviour but it is usually essential to use it alongside training methods.

As mentioned dogs learn through reward and punishment. Punishment need not be verbal or physical, it may simply mean withholding a treat or even just saying no. However it is well established that dogs learn fastest through reward and that shaping behaviour with rewards has long term effectiveness. Punishment has several drawbacks such as not changing the underlying reason for the behaviour, it can affect the bond between dog and owner, it usually requires a high level to be fully effective plus there are many forms of punishment which are simply cruel and cause pain or discomfort. Aversive tools such as choke chains and spray collars can actually increase some problems, especially aggression issues. It is very hard to get the timing correct so the dog associates the punishment with the bad behaviour. There is no need to use positive punishment (applying something undesirable) anymore in dog training as there are so many better ways to train. Negative punishment means removing something desirable to try and decrease a behaviour. For example putting the tuggy toy away when a puppy grabs your hand instead of the toy. This sort of punishment goes hand in hand with positive reinforcement but should be at low levels and does not have the same risks as positive punishment.

For a really concise list of all the common terms used in training and behaviour take a look at this website by world famous trainer Karen Pryor: http://www.clickertraining.com/glossary