Classical conditioning is the second of the two most important principles of learning used in dog training. Whereas, operant conditioning is how trainers change outward behavior, classical conditioning is how trainers can change how dogs FEEL about behaviors. With classical conditioning, trainers can actually change what a dog likes and what he doesn’t like.
There are many behaviors that dogs by nature simply don’t like. A dog full of energy will not naturally enjoy sitting still. Most dogs on a walk would rather pull ahead than remain at your side. Many dogs don’t enjoy new sights and sounds because they feel uncomfortable or fearful when around them.
When properly used, classical conditioning can change how a dog feels in all of these situations. A dog can learn to enjoy sitting still. Dogs can learn to value heel position and they can learn to enjoy new places. When taught in the context of a game that takes advantage of classical conditioning, a dog can be taught to enjoy those things that by nature he does not like. It is only by the power of classical conditioning that dogs can be changed from the inside out.
What is Classical Conditioning?
Classical conditioning in simple terms is the act of passing the value of one thing or event to another. It is a process whereby two events are paired together in a particular way that causes a dog (or any animal) to begin to enjoy something that he normally would either ignore or would not care for.
Before giving a definition of classical conditioning, I think an example will make it more clear. Most dogs recognize the sound of clanging bowls as an indicator that it’s meal time. They will get excited before the food is ever brought out. Why? Because the sound of the bowls has been followed by the presentation of the food repeatedly. The sound of the bowls has been classically conditioned to have value and to excite the dog.
Here is a scientific definition for classical conditioning.
Classical conditioning is the pairing of two stimuli or reinforcers where one is neutral and the other has value. The initially neutral stimulus is called the secondary reinforcer. The stimulus that initially has value is called the primary reinforcer. When paired a sufficient number of times, the secondary reinforcer will gain a value of its own.
In our example, the clanging of the bowls was the secondary reinforcer that initially had no value. The presentation of the food has innate value and is therefore the primary reinforcer. Over time, the value of the food began transferring to the value of the sound of the bowls.
One interesting fact about classical conditioning is that the animal has no choice in his response to the secondary reinforcer. He doesn’t stop and think, “I think I’ll get excited over the sound of bowls clanging.” Rather, the sound of the bowls will cause the dog to have an involuntary response of excitement, just the same as if the food itself were presented. The sound will cause the dog to have a dopamine release, which is pleasurable to the dog.
A second interesting fact about classical conditioning is that the secondary reinforcer must come prior to the primary reinforcer. In our example, the clanging of the bowls must precede the presentation of the food. Otherwise, the bowl clanging will be ignored and it will not gain value.
Science gives Ivan Pavlov the credit for discovering the principle of classical conditioning. We refer to this principle as Pavlovian conditioning as well as classical conditioning. Pavlov discovered this principle with an experiment with dogs. Pavlov rang a bell just before feeding every meal. With time, the dogs began to salivate when the bell was rung, whether Pavlov brought food out or not.
Harnessing the Power of Classical Conditioning in Training
We use classical conditioning by training in such a way that the value of food or toy or whatever our dog finds valuable is transferred to a secondary reinforcer called a marker.
In our training system, we will use a verbal “yes” as our marker. The sound of our saying “yes” initially has no value and a dog will ignore it. Our “yes” is our secondary reinforcer and we will build value into it. We will follow the marker with a primary reinforcer (something that has innate value to the dog). The primary reinforcer can be food or toy or anything else the dog finds value in.
Taking Classical Conditioning to the Next Level
Once the marker has been classically conditioned, the marker will have real value to the dog. The sound of the marker, along with the dopamine release in his brain will be fun and exciting. Now guess what can happen?!
Once the marker has been conditioned to have value, it can become the primary reinforcer. Once the marker is valuable enough to become a primary reinforcer, the work itself can become a secondary reinforcer. Eventually the dog will grow to love the work itself. The value of the food can pass from the food to the marker and then ultimately to the work itself.
For this systematic transfer of value, the events must occur in a specific order. In our system, the order of events is always the same. 1. The dog offers behavior until it meets criteria. 2. When criteria is met, we say “yes”. (We will discuss criteria in a later lesson. ) 3. The dog receives his primary reinforcer (food or toy).
Chain reactions of classical conditioning can be powerful. If I can change the very heart of my dog to enjoy those things that may not be naturally enjoyable, my dog and I can become a unified team. I won’t have to have my dog submit his will to mine with corrections. I can to a great extent actually use classical conditioning to change my dog’s will in such a way that he actually WANTS to do those things that I want him to do!
Classical Conditioning Should Only Be Used When Training within the Positive Reinforcement Quadrant of Operant Conditioning
One of the challenges of balanced training is keeping classical conditioning from happening along with corrections. Good balanced trainers will always bring a dog back up into an excited state so that the feeling that goes along with a correction does not get passed from the correction to the work itself. We’ve chosen not to use corrections at all, but if you use corrections, take care that you don’t “poison” the work by accidentally letting bad feelings get passed to the work itself.
