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What every animal owner should know about the science of learning.

by Cara Williams MA - Animal Behaviourist

Positive Reinforcement:
As soon as your animal companion performs the behaviour you want, add/give him something nice to increase the frequency of that behaviour. For example, giving your dog a food reward for going into a 'sit' when you request it.

Negative Reinforcement:
As soon as your animal companion performs the behaviour you want, remove/take away something nasty to increase the frequency of that behaviour. For example, removing the flicking/chasing of your horse with a lunge whip when he starts to turn in and follow you.

Both positive and negative reinforcement lead to an increase in behaviour. However, each technique leads to very different feelings on the inside. Imagine two scenarios for yourself:

• Being asked to vacuum the house in return for a meal at your favourite restaurant (positive reinforcement)
• Being nagged and nagged to vacuum the house until you do (negative reinforcement)

Both techniques get you to perform the same behaviour, but can you see how differently they make you feel? With positive reinforcement we perform behaviours enthusiastically.

Positive Punishment:
As soon as your animal companion performs behaviour you dislike, add/give him something nasty to decrease the frequency of that behaviour. For example, spraying your cat with a water pistol when he claws the couch.

Negative Punishment:
As soon as your animal companion performs behaviour you dislike, remove/take away something nice to decrease the frequency of that behaviour. For example, taking away your dog's food bowl when he growls at you when he is eating.

All of the above techniques have the potential to work in training our animal companions, but we have an ethical responsibility to encourage behaviour change in a manner that will not instil fear. Remaining in the positive reinforcement box is the only way to ensure this.   If we do not, we negatively affect our relationship with our companion animal and can even contribute to health problems in him caused by chronic stress.

Using positive reinforcement is the only way to encourage a relationship with your animal companion where he really wants to be with you. Other techniques do little to gain the trust and confidence in animal companions that most people want.

Read on for further information on the consequences of using positive reinforcement and punishment:

• Benefits of Positive Reinforcement

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