Positive reinforcement versus punishment

English is a fickle language

Many words have different meanings. Recently, in the context of dog training, the word “punishment” has taken on a very negative connotation, depending on whether it is being used by a lay-person, or by an animal behaviourist. As a dog trainer, I try to use the word carefully, making it clear that it denotes something that causes a decrease in an unwanted behaviour.

In dog training, reinforcement and punishment are used to teach your dog what behaviors you want and what behaviors you don’t want. Here’s how the four quadrants work, explained simply:

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1. Positive Reinforcement (Add something to increase a behaviour):

You reward your dog to encourage a behaviour.

Example: When your dog sits, you give them a treat.

Goal: Your dog learns that sitting leads to something nice and will do it more often.

A MAJORITY of behaviours are trained in this quadrant

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2. Negative Reinforcement (Take away something to increase a behaviour):

You remove something when your dog does what you want.

Example: You stop pulling on the leash when your dog stops pulling ahead.

Goal: Your dog learns that stopping the unwanted behavior makes the unpleasant thing go away.

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3. Positive Punishment (Add something to decrease a behaviour):

You add something to discourage a behavior.

Example: Your dog barks, and you spray a little water on them.

Goal: Your dog learns that barking leads to an unpleasant consequence and stops barking.

WARNING: ABUSE MOST OFTEN OCCURS IN THIS QUADRANT.

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4. Negative Punishment (Take away something to decrease a behaviour):

You take away something your dog enjoys to reduce a behavior.

Example: Your dog jumps on you, so you turn your back and stop giving attention.

Goal: Your dog learns that jumping means losing attention, so they stop jumping. (DOES THAT SOUND SO TERRIBLE?)

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Depending on the nature of the training challenges, any of the 4 quadrants could have a role in ethical force free dog training.