Effective Behavior Change
Effective, Humane, Least Intrusive Behavior Change!
To change behavior, all techniques must follow the ‘rules’ of learning theory in order to be effective. Learning theory is rooted in science and functions like gravity; it surrounds us and effects us whether we learn about it or not. Both punishment and reinforcement compose this learning theory and both work to change behavior. The message behind punishment is to stop a behavior and reinforcement informs the animal what to do. We can then add or remove things to get these behaviors. There is a plethora of information on the web about this learning theory quadrant if you want to know more. No matter what method you are using, realize it is the animal that decides if it is a punishment or a reinforcer. For example, kneeing dog in the chest for jumping may create fear in one and play in another.
Behavior exists because of feedback we get by acting in that way. That feedback is a consequence, and is either something pleasant that we work to get or something unpleasant that we work to avoid. We are experts at shaping behaviors that we don’t like in our dogs (and our children) because we tend to give attention when they are behaving poorly and ignore them when they are behaving good. Saying no does not give the dog enough information for behavior change. Your success is rooted in saying yes; defining what you want and reinforcing that instead. Your dog jumps on people at the door? Rather than holding him by the collar and telling him no, teach him that reinforcement ONLY comes when his body is under his own control.
Historically, we have always used punishment based training to get animals to obey us. We used a whip to train tigers, spurs for horses, prong collars for dogs, we even created “shock backpacks” for children in the 60’s who misbehaved. The goal with punishment is to use pain or discomfort to stop behaviors.
Perhaps it was that way simply because we did not know enough about the mind, learning, or animal emotions to know any better. Dolphin training in the 60’s forced us to be more creative and use reinforcing methods mostly because we couldn’t lasso marine mammals into submission. Karen Pryor among others lead positive reinforcement training into the canine world and now it widely used worldwide on every species. We have come a long way in the past 30 years. We don’t use shock for our children anymore. Many countries are outlawing prong collars and shock collars due to the detrimental effects now widely known. Punishment techniques have fallen out of favor by professionals and have been replaced by methods that are still effective but do not create fear or aggression. It might appear more popular because it is now being channeled into your living room, but be assured, this is not what is being presented in the journals and at the annual conferences.
The profession of animal behavior has created more humane ways to treat our companions. This model is from the Hierarchy of Behavior Change Procedures for Humane and Effective Practice (see image). This model was initially created for the behavioral treatment of children to help stop abuse and mistreatment. The process is to start at the top and work down through the levels until the behavior is modified. Punishment is on the list, but it is the very last option. First try all other techniques that are both effective and humane and you will find that behavior change occurs in the upper levels. You will rarely find yourself moving all the way to the bottom. This model ensures that that we as professionals are remaining ethical in our practice and that above all, we do no harm by the animal.
