Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The life of a dog is full of training and learning moments, something that shapes the dog. It is
therefore important to choose a training method that gives you a healthy, happy, and enjoyable dog.
It is also important to consider how certain factors affect learning in dogs. This study aims to find
information on how motivation, breed, emotional state, and age in dogs can affect the ability to
learn. The purpose is also to explain what operant conditioning is and what kind of consequences it
has.
The literature compilation show that motivation is an important factor since it is motivation that
can encourage the dog to participate in the training. For example, if you reward a dog with an
unlikable treat, the training may be less effective than if the dog is rewarded with a preferable treat.
Breeds show difference in learning but not because there is any difference in learning as a cognitive
ability, but because there are differences in breed specific behavior, physics, and genetics. Anxiety,
fear, and nervousness are emotional states that affects the learning ability and makes it harder for
dogs to learn. With age comes a decline in the brain, which negatively affects the part of the brain
that handles learning.
Operant conditioning is a learning theory that can be categorized into four different methods:
positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.
Positive means that something is given or added and negative means that something is removed.
Reinforcement is when a behavior is encouraged and punishment is when a behavior is discouraged.
The use of positive reinforcement comes with pros like a more obedient dog, a dog-owner
relationship that appears healthier and more secure. Aversive based methods like negative
reinforcement, positive punishment and negative punishment have been shown to have negative
consequences where problem behaviors are an example, and it can affect the dog-owner relationship
negatively. It is recommended that the use of these methods should be avoided.
Keywords: operant conditioning, dog, punishment, reinforcement, positive, negative, animal
welfare, relationship, learning, motivation, breed, emotional state, age.