This page is part of the Classical Conditioning portion of the Auxiliary Section
of the D.S. Dog Training Workshop, and an element of the Dog Science Network
Comprehensive Behavioral Conditioning for Dogs
Making the Most of Your Use of Classical Conditioning
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Classical Conditioning Continued
Classically Conditioning Joy in Humans
Places can also take on the emotional properties of any strong physiologically-based experience with which they are paired.
The Pairing: You were the hometown football star. Every time you played a game in your hometown stadium, the crowd cheered wildly. All the guys wanted to shake your hand and all the girls wanted to kiss you. The dense schedule of reinforcement caused your body to flood with hormones that filled you with bliss. For many years the stadium consistently proved to be a place of great joy for you.
The Result: Now, even though it has been years since your glory days, every time you go back to the stadium, you feel happy.
How to Make No an Upsetting Experience
Through classical conditioning, words and phrases can be imbued with the power to make your dog feel distressed when he hears them spoken.
The Pairing: Over time, every time you screech at, spritz, smack, or do anything else to upset your dog, you repeat the word no.
The Result: You will eventually reach the point where you can upset your dog almost as much by speaking the word no to him as you can by presenting him with one of the three recommended primary punishers.
When you punish your dog by combining the word no with a primary punisher, like the three recommended on this website, it will allow you to bring an immediate halt to whatever your dog is doing at the moment, while you further the process of classical conditioning, so that, eventually, your dog will reach the point where hearing you speak the word no will be almost as upsetting to him as the punishment procedures with which the word has come to be associated. That is because, over time, the repeated pairing of the word with the presentation of primary punishers will transform the word into a conditioned punisher.
That is the reason why, whenever you dispense an aversive to your dog in a bid to upset him, it is essential that you say the word no. When you are punishing your dog, never say anything other than that to him - not ever.
Every time you find that your dog's behavior dictates that you must be unpleasant, then, make it a point to repeat the word as you upset him with your abrasive manner.
Make sure you recite no as you spray your dog. Repeat it again when you smack your dog, and make it a point to master the art of speaking the word in an unsettling tone so sharp and piercing that your dog will be willing to go well out of his way to avoid having you speak to him in that manner.
It should be the rare instance in which you dispense any of the three recommended primary punishers without also speaking the word no.
How to Make Good Dog a Joyful Phrase
Just as you can classically condition your dog to become upset at the sound of the word no, you can also use that same general pairing procedure to condition him to feel elated when he hears you tell him that he is a good dog.
The Pairing: Over time, whenever you feed your dog, massage your dog, take him outdoors, or do anything else that fills him with pleasure and joy, repeat the words, Good dog.
The Result: You will eventually reach the point where you can improve your dog's mood, simply by speaking those words to him.
After you reach the point that your dog enjoys hearing them, you can then employ the words as reinforcers you can use to encourage correct behavior.
Using Classical Conditioning to Make Your Dog Love His Training
With its endlessly diverse array of sights and smells, being out in nature is an innately exhilarating experience for a dog. That makes it a great location for you to teach your dog obedience skills.
The Pairing: Obedience work and the exhilaration of a natural setting
The Result: Your dog will eventually learn to love doing obedience work, almost as much as he loves being out in nature.
Please note that a park, or an empty field or schoolyard can often be made to do when the wonders of the pristine wilderness are not readily available.
The Wisdom of Pairing Your Walks With Obedience Training
The Pairing: Obedience training and the chance to exercise
The Result: Your dog will soon start looking forward to receiving commands with the same sort of joy with which he anticipates going for a walk.