Classical and Operant Conditioning Dog Training Differences

Classical and operant conditioning are effective ways to train a dog, but many owners feel baffled by the difference between the two training methods.

Training your dog doesn’t have to be a mystery—it can and should be fun and rewarding once you understand how dogs learn. Whether you’re teaching your pup to sit, stay, or simply feel comfortable in new situations, two key methods come into play: classical and operant conditioning.

Additionally, both methods are excellent for rehabilitating a reactive dog or extinguishing undesired behaviours.

Let’s explore classical vs operant conditioning approaches with real-life examples and discover how they can help you raise a happy, well-behaved dog.

What is Classical Conditioning?

Classical conditioning, first discovered by Ivan Pavlov, is a learning process where a neutral stimulus (like a vacuum) becomes associated with a positive or negative experience.

It’s a method adopted by animal trainers worldwide, including dolphins.

In dog training, classical conditioning often creates positive emotional responses to specific stimuli.

Note: Let’s not confuse classical conditioning with “flooding” when you expose a dog to the thing it is afraid of. Flooding can be seriously traumatic for a dog and cause the undesired behaviour to worsen.

Sarah and Daisy: A Dog Afraid Of The Vacuum

Sarah has a sweet and goofy 2-year-old rescue Labrador named Daisy. Daisy was scared every time Sarah took out the vacuum cleaner. She would run away and hide behind the furniture, shaking uncontrollably and whining.

Before we began a behavioural adjustment program, Sarah tried to soothe Daisy, inadvertently reinforcing the fear. Dog psychology is not the same as human psychology. Where we would comfort a friend who is afraid, when we do the same with a dog, we inadvertently reward the fear.

To help Daisy, Sarah followed these steps:

1. Start with the vacuum switched off: Sarah placed the vacuum in the corner of the room and gave Daisy her favourite treat while it was completely silent and still.
2. Gradual exposure: Over a few days, Sarah moved closer to the vacuum while continuing to give treats, ensuring she and Daisy remained calm.
3. Introduce movement: Sarah began moving the vacuum slightly, rewarding Daisy when she was calm and relaxed.
4. Turn the vacuum on briefly: Sarah turned the vacuum on for a second, immediately giving Daisy a treat and praise if she stayed calm. If Daisy reacted negatively, Sarah returned to step #3.
5. Increase duration: Over time, Sarah increased how long the vacuum was on while rewarding Daisy until she wagged her tail whenever the vacuum came out.

This example is classical conditioning in action! By associating the vacuum (neutral stimulus) with treats (positive experience), Daisy’s fear turned into excitement. Daisy only took a few sessions to overcome her fear and ignore the vacuum when Sarah cleaned the house.

Pros of Classical Conditioning

• Builds positive associations: Classical conditioning reduces fear and anxiety by pairing scary or new experiences with positive outcomes. It helps build a dog’s confidence in his world.
• Foundation for clicker training: Classical conditioning forms the basis of many modern training techniques.

What is Clicker Training?

Clicker training is a popular and effective positive reinforcement method that uses a small device called a clicker to signal to an animal that they’ve done something right. The click sound is a clear and consistent marker, helping the animal understand that their behaviour will be rewarded, typically with a treat or praise.

This technique works well because the click is a quick and precise signal, making it easier for the animal to associate the behaviour with the reward than relying solely on voice cues or slower primary reinforcers like food.

Here are some helpful tips to get started with clicker training:

• Always follow through with a reward: Each click must be paired with a treat or reward, even if you accidentally click at the wrong moment. Consistency is key.
• Practice repetition: Click and reward multiple times to reinforce the connection between the sound and the reward.
• Adapt for special needs: For hearing-impaired pets, consider alternative markers like a gentle tap, a flash of light, or a verbal cue like “Yes” or “Good.”
• Stay patient: It may take a little time and practice for your pet to grasp the concept fully, so keep sessions positive and encouraging. Wait for your dog to work out what you want. Your clever furry friend will offer a behaviour until he gets it right.

Clicker training isn’t limited to dogs—it’s a method used with cats, birds, rabbits, rats, horses, dolphins and more! It’s a versatile approach that strengthens the bond between you and your animal while teaching them new skills.

The Disadvantage of Clicker Training

The biggest issue I encountered when teaching owners to use a clicker is they feel overwhelmed. With classical conditioning, timing is everything. Otherwise, the dog cannot learn whether he’s doing the right thing.

Over the last few years, I stopped using a clicker and started teaching owners to say an excited “Yes!” when the dog gets it right. There is no fiddling with a clicker in their hands, and they find it easier to train on the spot.

Cons of Classical Conditioning

• Limited scope: Focuses on emotional and reflexive responses rather than teaching new actions.
• Dependence on consistency: The association can weaken if not consistently reinforced. When training a dog to learn new things or trying to extinguish a negative behaviour, consistency is critical to creating new neural pathways and subsequent behavioural changes.

What is Operant Conditioning?

B.F. Skinner introduced operant conditioning. It involves learning through consequences. Dogs understand that their behaviour has outcomes—either rewards or corrections—which influence whether they’ll repeat the behaviour.

Let’s talk about Emily and her energetic Border Collie, Max.

Max loved to jump on guests the moment they walked through the door. One of the most common behavioural issues I get asked about is dogs that jump up. It is so preventable and curable.

Emily used to shout at Max or remove him from the room. The problem here was Max was not learning what Emily expected of him.

Remember, you cannot teach a dog what NOT to do. It is more effective to teach your dog WHAT TO DO.

Emily addressed this by following these steps:

1. Teach guests what to do: Before the guests arrived, Emily advised them to ignore Max. They must not use an excited voice or even talk to Max until he is calm.
2. Ignore excitable behaviour: Turn away from Max and ignore him.
3. Reward calm behaviour: As soon as Max stopped jumping and had all four paws on the ground, Emily gave him a treat and praised him calmly.
4. Repeat consistently: Emily repeated this process every time a guest arrived, ensuring Max understood the pattern.
5. Teach an alternative behaviour: Ideally, a sit command is an excellent alternative to jumping up.
6. Add a command: Once Max reliably stayed calm, Emily introduced the command “sit” before rewarding him, reinforcing good behaviour.
7. Educate Visitors: Now Emily advises visitors to ask Max to sit.

Through operant conditioning, Max learned that staying calm and polite around guests led to treats and attention. When he jumped up, guests ignored him.

The Four Components of Operant Conditioning

1. Positive reinforcement: Adding something pleasant (e.g., giving a treat) increases behaviour.
2. Negative reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant (e.g., stopping leash pressure) to increase a behaviour.
3. Positive punishment: Adding something unpleasant (e.g., a verbal “no”) to decrease a behaviour.
4. Negative punishment: Taking away something pleasant (e.g., stopping play) to decrease a behaviour.

Pros of Operant Conditioning

• Versatile: Great for teaching new behaviours or eliminating unwanted ones.
• Empowers the dog: Encourages problem-solving and engagement.

Cons of Operant Conditioning

• Risk of misuse: Poor application of punishment can lead to fear and anxiety.
• Time-intensive: Operant conditioning requires patience and consistency to shape desired behaviours effectively.

There is no place for impatience in dog training. The quicker you try to cure a problem, the longer it takes. In addition, a calm approach always wins the day.

Key Differences Between Operant & Classical Conditioning

Aspect	Classical Conditioning	Operant Conditioning
Focus	Emotional and reflexive responses	Voluntary behaviours
Learning mechanism	Association between stimuli	Consequences of behaviour
Outcome	Emotional state or reaction	New or modified behaviours
Trainer’s role	Presents stimuli to create associations	Provides rewards or consequences

Which Dog Training Method is Better?

There is no argument for classical vs operant conditioning. Neither method is inherently better; the choice depends on your training goals. Classical conditioning is perfect for shaping emotional responses and reducing fears, while operant conditioning shines when teaching specific actions and behaviours.

In reality, most trainers use a mix of both to cover all bases and ensure your dog is happy and well-adjusted.

Conclusion

Dog training doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Indeed, it is surprisingly simple once you know what to do and what not to do.

Understanding and applying classical and operant conditioning helps you tackle challenges, teach new skills, and build a strong bond with your furry friend.

Remember, the key is patience, consistency, and lots of love. Whether helping Daisy overcome her fear or teaching Max to be polite, these positive methods can make training enjoyable for you and your dog.

Read: Separation Anxiety: How to Help Your Worried Dog