Dogs might not go to school, but that doesn’t mean they don’t learn!

In fact, canines are one of the smartest animals on the planet. The American Psychological Association has found that most dogs are just as intelligent as a two-year-old human child. Not to mention, certain working dog breeds have mental abilities that far surpass that of other pets, such as cats, small mammals, horses, and even birds.

But how exactly do dogs learn?

What goes on inside their brains that allows them to associate verbal commands and cues with desired behaviors and actions?

Let’s find out.

What are the benefits of understanding how dogs learn?

First, we must acknowledge the many benefits that come with knowing how dogs learn and process information. For example, say your family just brought home a new puppy. It’s up to you to teach this fluffy addition about the house rules to avoid accidents and injuries.

Understanding how dogs learn will make training faster, easier, and more fun for everyone involved.

The same goes for adult dogs, too. Knowing how to effectively teach your dog will set them up for a lifetime of success instead of frustration and failure.

Operant Conditioning vs. Classical Conditioning

Dogs aren’t born with infinite wisdom. Just like us, they accumulate knowledge as they grow. An eight-week-old puppy or rescue dog who was once a stray won’t automatically know how to:

·         Recognize their name

·         Come when called

·         Sit / Stay

·         Drop it

·         Walk on a leash

Rather, it’s up to you to teach these basic skills.

How do we do that? By using what’s known as “operant” and “classical” conditioning.

To start, operant conditioning is consequence-based. That means your pup learns to repeat behaviors that always end with the same result – both good and bad.

For instance, if you practice feeding your dog a yummy treat when he goes inside his crate at bedtime or give positive praise when she waits patiently for dinner, then over time they will come to learn that these rewards happen for a reason. As such, they will repeat the behaviors in hopes of getting more positive reinforcement.

On the other hand, classical conditioning is more response-based. This could be a physical or emotional response.

Ever heard of Ivan Pavlov?

He became famous for propagating the idea that dogs can be made to drool at the sound of a buzzer after teaching his dogs to associate buzzers with food.

In this way, dogs can learn to see meaningless objects as indicators of future events. For instance, if you saunter to the front door and pull out a leash, does your dog start wagging his tail excitedly? Probably, right? This is a sign that he has been classically conditioned to associate the leash (an inanimate object) with fun outside time. 

In summary, dogs learn through both operant and classical conditioning. As a dog parent, you can use both!  

Final thoughts on how dogs learn

Remember, even old dogs can learn new tricks.

It’s never too late to discover how dogs learn and use this newfound knowledge to better the life of your own pet. Puppies and senior pooches alike will appreciate your effort to teach them how to be “paw-some” fur family members!