The goal of dog training might seem simple: helping your dog learn how to be a good canine citizen. It might come as a surprise that training your dog isn’t just about instilling manners to produce a polite, happy, confident companion. Sure, knowing how to sit, stay, and come when called are vital, but it’s far more important to preserve your growing bond with your dog by using dog-friendly, science-backed techniques. So, what’s the right way to train your new puppy or rescue dog? The experience of training can vary dramatically depending on who’s on the other end of the leash and the method they’re using. It’s no wonder if you’re confused, since there’s no shortage of advice when it comes to dog training methodologies. First, we need to understand the four types of operant conditioning and what people mean when they say “positive” or “negative” reinforcement. Then we can talk about balanced training and how it compares to positive reinforcement. The Four Types of Operant Conditioning Learning something new begins with the idea that behavior has consequences, both good and bad. With dog training, the learning process involves a form of operant conditioning, where you either reinforce a behavior to increase the likelihood that your dog will repeat it or punish the behavior so your dog won’t do it again. But the terminology associated with operant conditioning, like “positive punishment” and “negative punishment,” can be very misleading. “Punishment” carries negative associations, but in the operant conditioning quadrant, it simply means a behavior will become less likely to happen. The four types of operant conditioning are: Positive reinforcement: A good consequence happens when your dog performs a behavior, which increases the likelihood that they will repeat it. For example, you ask your dog to sit; they do it, then you give them a treat. Negative reinforcement: A bad consequence is removed when a behavior is performed, which also increases the likelihood that a dog will repeat it. For example, a trainer using a shock collar on a dog that jumps will turn off the shock mode when the dog keeps four paws on the ground. Positive punishment: A bad consequence is introduced when a behavior is performed, which will reduce the likelihood that a dog will repeat it. For example, a trainer tells a dog to sit; the dog goes into a down position; and the trainer uses a choke collar to jerk the dog into a seated position. Negative punishment: A good consequence is removed when your dog performs a behavior, which will decrease the likelihood that they’ll do it again. For example, your dog paws at your arm to get you to pet them, and you ignore them instead of giving them attention.