Association power

Most of the dog's brain is used for the senses, and just a small region is reserved for the association of ideas. If the dog associates a determined object (a toy or a ball) or person to experiences he has lived with a high enough intensity, a series of answers will be originated conditioned reflexes that will be related directly with the nearness in time to the origin of the stimulus and its grade of positiveness or negativeness.

As of the kind of conditioning, we would have to distinguish between two models: the classic and the operative.

The classic model is the one obtained through the association by repetition. It deals with the viewing of the situations that cause the exemplar to externalize the conduct that you wish to encourage or hold back. By means of rewards or reprimands, and repetition, this conduct will finally be associated by the dog as something positive or negative.

For example, imagine the dog is walking by our side when we suddenly stop. The dog also stops, but doesn't sit. If we press adequately its hinds with our hands we will get the desired posture. After this, we should reward the dog with a cookie or something he likes. By repeating this same activity as many times as possible the dog will associate sitting down with a double reward. On one hand, he will associate this action to a pet on its back or to a delicious cookie; and on the other hand the satisfaction of having learned something that really pleases his master. After this, we can state that the classic conditioning program is the basis of every lesson you wish to teach your dog.

The operative conditioning technique, or casual reinforcement, is that that you can apply counting with some luck, meaning that this can be done only when the dog spontaneously externalizes a determined behavior. Whenever the dog acts in this spontaneous way you might want to reinforce it positively or negatively.

Dog Behaviorist Choosing a Male or Female Dog Campbell's Test Qualifications The adoption process Dog Adoption Socializing your Dog Dog and Family The acquisition of an adult dog Adult dogs for adoption Breed classification Needs of exercise Need for affection Tolerance to children Tolerance to other dogs Dominant character Territorial character Activity Level Obedience education Dog psychology Association power Conditioning Reflex Family environment Dog's Views Dog's Education Positive conditioning Negative conditioning Training and education Training Program for your Dog Dog Fear How to Overcome Dog Fear Attenuating conditions Dog Aggressiveness Aggressiveness by depredation Aggressiveness by dominance Territorial aggressiveness Self-defense aggressiveness When your dog attacks in self defense Injuries in dog attacks Second case of Injuries in dog attacks Sensibility suppression Dog sensibility issues Territorial Factors Expression canals Complete body language Your Dog's Diet Phobia or fear to the collar or leash Collar and Leash usage Dog understanding Other Strategies Jealousy with Dogs Non traumatic introduction Correct location of the child in the family hierarchy Progressive raise of rank of the child Vehicles: excitement or fear Exercises with your Dog Dogs Fear of Cars Starting your dog with real experiences Not mixing new experiences with meals Vehicles and dogs Dog Hyperactivity Frequent Dog Owner Mistakes Excessive barking Indoor dog rules Controlling your barking dog Anxiety pattern Lack of confidence Socializing with the outside world Excessive dominance Lack of dominance in dogs At home Excessive biting To personal objects, furniture, etc Space the dog is allowed to have Aggressions to other dogs Self-defense aggressions Bossy aggressions Aggressions between two dogs from the same home Aggressions to strangers due to territory Backing out from a dog attack Aggressions to family members First time aggressions Not enough exercise in relation to age and breed Scarce contact with other dogs Punishment to a late response Emphasizing conditions and appeasing to evasive behavior Lack of control over feeding and going out schedules Lack of self-confidence Lack of attention from the owners Marking their territory Coprophagy Ingestion of its own feces Agoraphobia Dog Depression How to prevent depression Psychological pregnancy Pulling the leash excessively Corrective methodology Ingestion of strange substances Destruction of gardens Bathing struggles Practical Guide to Canine Behavior Site Map