One Of The Biggest Fallacies In Dog Training—Extinction

Send us Fan MailYou don't need to be a dog trainer to be familiar with this term. If you've ever done a cursory internet search on stopping jumping (or anything else), you've probably seen this as the recommended course of action. "Extinction" is the elimination of a behavior caused by a lack of reinforcement. Sounds logical right? Or does it? Do you stop running races because you don't win? Do you stop flipping the light switch when the power goes out? Does the dog stop chasing squirrels even though he never catches them?No.What if you got a static shock when you flipped the light switch? So now there are no lights (no reinforcement) but there's also a stronger negative consequence? That behavior, that habit, will fade faster.The fact is old habits die hard. Even if you KNOW it won't be reinforced, you'll still do it out of habit for a while. And even once the habit dies down, you'll likely try "just to see".  There are also things we do simply because we are wired to do them. They just come naturally. They aren't for any type of "reward". So what then? You can't remove a reward that doesn't exist..So called "extinction" can even work against you and build more drive in the dog when they become adrenalized and frustrated trying to attain something. Think of a dog behind a fence trying to chase the neighbor's cat. The chasing behavior isn't going away...it's getting stronger.For this reason it's important to attach contingent negative consequences to the behavior. This facilitates the fastest results as the brain will inhibit the old neural pathways and this provides a catalyst for it to begin forming new ones. The new ones can then be positively reinforced and built up and cemented. The negative consequence isn't about showing the dog who's boss. It's science. The strongest modifications to behavior are usually made by implementing a combination of punishment and positive reinforcement appropriately.Support the showLove the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers. Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show! Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/supportI want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the [email protected] our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.https://www.diamondcanine.comVisit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining...