The 4 Quadrants of Operant Conditioning. Revised and simplified.

So, here we go. Our spin on the 4 quadrants of "operant conditioning". OC revised and simplified.

Now, whenever we're agreeing or disagreeing with a behavior being exhibited, action being taken, state of mind being practiced, response being given, and/or choice being made, our timing is critical in order to help our dogs best connect the dots. To understand what we want and don't want. They're not born understanding what (we consider to be) "okay" and "appropriate", and "not okay" and "not appropriate" behavior. The onus falls upon us to teach them this since we brought them into our homes to live their lives with us. The thing is, we can't teach them anything unless we understand how to communicate with them clearly and effectively (which goes way above and beyond anything verbal); and most dogs are simply confused given the fact we're bombarding them with mixed signals and messaging. But, back to the quadrants....

Personally, I think positive reinforcement is really the only way to go when dealing with the more task / purpose-oriented, and performance-based styles of training (e.g. obedience, trick training, agility, detection, search and rescue, etc.). When teaching new skillsets, directives, and the like.

Some dogs will excel at some things more than others, but it's not because they're not trying or for lack of effort. Not because they're a "bad dog". Not at all. Dogs will have different drives. Different levels of interest. Different preferences. Different gifts and talents. Some will naturally gravitate towards some things than others, and it's up to us to recognize this and *build upon it*. If something doesn't click...maybe we're not communicating clearly. Maybe the dog has zero interest in this particular thing but would really dig something else. Just. Like. Humans.

Utilizing the 4 quadrants has more to do with the shaping and conditioning of **behavior**. Teaching (our) "rules", boundaries, how to share and navigate the various levels of space, "appropriate" responses, etc. so they can live under our roofs, share our spaces (the 4 different levels of space include: public, social, personal, and intimate), and simply *be included* in our moments and goings on. It's the yin and yang of things. Just. Like. With Children.

I removed the word "punishment" in this graphic because of the stigma (and extremism) attached to it (not sure when this became a dirty word... the 50's and 60's?? when Dr. Spock's work was on the rise?.... but I digress), and am - instead - offering an alternative spin on it for better clarity.

This chart would usually read R+ and R- above the thick line, and P+ and P- at the bottom; "R" meaning "reinforcement" and "P" meaning "punishment". We can't have R- that supports and strengthens behavior, without having P+; and we can't have P- that weakens behavior without R+.

It's all. Connected.

Keep in mind, this is in terms of *behavior* - not teaching directives, skillsets, etc.....

The two quadrants above the thick, black line in the graph strengthen, support, and will reinforce the behavior being exhibited, action being taken, state of mind being practiced, response being given, and/or choice being made.

The two quadrants below the thick, black line weaken and do not support the behavior being exhibited, action being taken, state of mind being practiced, response being given, and/or choice being made.

Again, they're all connected, work together, and complement and support one another.

We can't have any of the "negatives" without the presence and existence of the positives (to strengthen or weaken behavior).

Our dogs must be a part of this conversation. They will be the ones to tell us what's meaningful to them, and what is not.

Our dogs will also vary in levels of sensitivity. The more sensitive dogs are hyper-sensitive to sound, movement, energy, and sensation. A little bit will go a very long way with them.

Remember, some dogs are super sensitive... some not-so-much. Some will fall in the middle. All will have different responses.

Moving on....

Comfort and pleasure = affection, praise, food, favorite toy, favorite game, etc.

Discomfort and displeasure = uncomfortable sound (like a loud clap, blow from an airhorn, sound of compressed air, etc.), firm vocal tone (e.g. "eh-eh!"), uncomfortable sensation (e.g. being sprayed by a water bottle, pop on the leash, etc.), etc.

Dogs will practice what works for them (choices, states of mind, behavior, etc), and whatever we don't disagree with (effectively) translates into consent.

Whenever they're **gaining** anything that's comfortable and pleasurable (e.g. accesses, privileges, getting meals, "treats", affection, attention, getting released from a crate, getting leashed up to go for a walk, moving through the door to the outside world, going through the back door into the yard, going through the car door to wherever, etc.), it will reinforce the state of mind, choice, response, behavior, and action that directly preceded it.

Many problematic states of mind, choices, responses, behaviors, actions, etc. are being reinforced **unknowingly** by us humans. Simply because we don't know what we don't know. We perceive super jacked up, overly aroused dogs as "happy"..... and super calm, balanced dogs as "sad".

I can't tell you how many times we've received a dog so used to constant arousal, stimulation, excitement, etc..... and, when we return said dog to their human a few weeks later and the dog is calm, balanced, mellow, etc.... the human interprets it as "sad", that he misses us, etc. No... the dog is satisfied, happy, content, and **balanced**. His needs were met. He felt understood. There was clarity in communication. There was guidance and support he felt safe and secure following. A calm environment. We were keeping him revved and jazzed up all the time (there's a time and place for this). And so on.

I liken this phenomenon when people go on vacation... and they're speaking to what usually doesn't get spoken to in everyday life. They're relaxing. Hitting up the spa. Reading. Going to the gym. Journaling. Taking in the sunrises and sunsets. Going on hikes and exploring. They return home, and they feel more relaxed and at ease. At peace.

So... pay attention to what you're supporting and reinforcing; especially when it comes to state of mind. Really pay attention not just to what the body is doing, but what the *mind* is doing (N.B. a "sitting" dog doesn't denote a *calm* dog). What level of intensity, what choices, levels of arousal, etc. are we supporting and nurturing?

I'm really big on reinforcing "calm". When my dogs gain their meals, treats, getting leashed up to go for our pack walks, etc.... it's when they're practicing *calm*. Not high levels of arousal, excitement, etc.

Train the body, condition the mind.

Teach not just "what to do", but also "how to be".

Don't try to resolve everything by constant stimulation and engagement (excitement inducing; like treat dispensing gadgets when we're not home. There's a detrimental side to keeping our dogs constantly engaged and "busy").

It's not just a matter of the "on switch" and the "off switch", but a matter of everything in between.

Long and deep, but I sincerely hope this clarifies some things!