Behavior Modification

The techniques most commonly used in our behavior modification include classical conditioning, desensitization, counterconditioning, response substitution, and shaping. WE NEVER USE PUNISHMENT! While it is claimed that punishment is frequently used with varying degrees of success, few people use punishment correctly. "Dominance" training techniques that encourage owners to assert leadership through physical confrontations are also not used or recommended. Multiple studies have shown that training based on punishments or confrontations are more likely to lead to fear, avoidance, and increased aggression. Dogs trained with rewards have fewer behavioral problems and are less fearful.

We address the emotions not just suppress them!

Behavior Modification Techniques

Most of the techniques involved in behavior modification are not hard to learn and can be successfully used as preventive techniques. They do require regular investment of time and effort, however. The following is a short review of the basic principles involved in these techniques.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning refers to a learning process where learning occurs by association. You condition your dog’s innate reflexes to react to subtle signals. Over time, your dog learns to associate the signal with the event. Mastering the concept of classical conditioning will help you understand how your dog understands, relates to and interprets information.

This form of learning is also known as Pavlovian or associative learning. Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist who discovered that dogs automatically salivated when presented with food. He trained his dogs to associated the ringing of a bell with the presentation of food, and eventually was able to make the dogs salivate with only the ringing of a bell.

Counter Conditioning

Counter means to change. Conditioning refers to the word train. As you guessed it, counter conditioning means to change your dog’s negative feeling or behavior toward something. This is done by training your dog to react differently (i.e. positively) when he sees, smells, hears or feels something that makes him uncomfortable.

When referring to a negative feeling, this is the feeling that comes as second nature to your dog. It’s instinctive and it’s something your dog can’t control when seeing an object, person or animal that makes him uncomfortable.

Counter conditioning is used in dog training to correct a negative reaction, such as barking at another dog, being destructive, fear growling and yelping, to a desired behavior (e.g. not barking at a dog, staying calm and sitting patiently).

Desensitization

Desensitization means very gradually exposing your dog to the thing that triggers their discomfort. The process usually involves counter-conditioning — the pairing of positive reinforcement with the trigger stimulus. The idea is to eliminate the unwanted behavior by creating a new, positive association around the trigger.

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Behavior Modification

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