The idea that you reward desired behaviors is a straightforward concept however can be difficult one to do effectively. It is also a flaw in the human character as it is easy to convince oneself that the dog is stubborn rather than reflect on ones own shortcomings.Ī critical tool in both classical and operant conditioning is the practice of reinforcement. It is one of the reasons why people give up so easily and turn to more punitive interventions. While not difficult concepts, there are nuances involved in the implementation which often mean the difference between success and failure. The concepts are fairly easy to understand.
I have spoken at length about classical and operant conditioning in these blogs.
