Social Reinforcement Training
dog behavior training, dominance - subordination

dog behavior

a little about
behavior theory

a little about reinforcement of behavior

the importance of
communication

behavior problems

classical and operant conditioning

dog aggression, aggressive dog behavior and reactive dogs

Dog Pack Theory

Dominance Subordination Hierarchies

One of these genetically programmed traits is the need to be part of a pack. Nature designed dog packs to operate most efficiently with a dominance subordination hierarchy. A clearly defined leader/follower hierarchy or relationship allows for a more efficient pack or group effort. This behavior pattern had a great deal of survival value for wild dogs and it is one of the things that has made the dog so valuable to humans.

This brings us to the first important element in social reinforcement training; establishing the proper leadership role in relation to the dog. As a working model for this type of training, we will work with the hypothesis that the dog views the people in the family as they would view members of a dog pack.

In general a dog will feel more secure if there is a well defined leader/follower hierarchy in the family pack. To avoid dog behavior problems, people in the family should be the leaders and the dog(s) should be the followers. In a dominance subordination hierarchy there will be high ranking members, middle ranking and low ranking members. The dog must perceive a large ranking gap between the people in the family pack and the dog. Otherwise there can be middle ranking conflict between the higher and lower ranking members

Social reinforcement training involves using the social relationship to control the dog's behavior.

In order to control the dog's behavior with the social bond, one must establish the proper relationship for reinforcement. The term social reinforcement training always brings to mind praise and other overt types of reinforcing social interactions ( touching, talking, or looking in an encouraging way) However, social reinforcement training goes far beyond rewarding the dog's good behavior.

Social reinforcement training involves making the dog feel more secure by being definite and committed, confident, fair, firm, and consistent.

• Social reinforcement training is about establishing a balanced relationship with the dog, not an equal relationship. A balanced relationship involves both a well defined dominance subordination hierarchy, as well as the dog's Total Trust. Since we are the ones with the capacity for high levels of abstract thought, it is our job to learn to control our own behavior and to learn to understand our dogs.

To be in harmony with the dog we must blend in with the dog's genetically programmed behavior. We can call these behaviors fixed action patterns or species specific behaviors.

Things you can do to establish and maintain a leadership role in your dog's life

• People lead, the dog follows
• Don't compromise with your dog
• People initiate interaction and terminate interaction
• Don't always attend to your dog's every desire; make an effort to ignore your dog some of the time
• Make corrections sharp and well defined, like a verbal blast. When the dog responds, it's over. In most situations for a short time after the correction, ignore the dog.

Be aware of and use the spatial relationship between you and your dog. Is your dog away from you, close to you, facing you, avoiding you, pushing you, guiding you, between your feet, sitting, standing, turned to the side, keeping its distance, ect...