This page is a component of the Glossary of the Dog Science, CBC
Dog Training Workshop, and an element of the Dog Science Network
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Stimulus, Stimuli, and Stimulation
When we speak of a stimulus we are referring to any external thing, located in the world around your subject, that causes him to react, thereby, possibly serving as a catalyst for learning.
Higher levels of just exactly the right kind of stimulation, especially during the critical stage of development, result in a more intelligent animal. In fact, dogs and people who grow to master any given domain in adulthood, almost always received high levels of high quality stimulation, relevant to that domain, during their critical stage and beyond.