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I sometimes receive comments that some dogs need all 4 quadrants of dog training. But what does that mean, why does it matter for your dog, and what does science tell us? We all need to be aware of the blurred lines between quadrants, so I'm discussing each. Plus, I'm sharing experiences and insights on what unintentional punishment can be for dogs and how to avoid it, what reinforcement really is, and how it's possible to reinforce a dog for behavior you don't want. 

 

In this episode, you’ll hear:

 

• How the four quadrants of operant conditioning apply to everyday dog training. • An explanation of Positive Reinforcement, Positive Punishment, Negative Punishment and Negative Reinforcement - +R, +P, -P, -R • How to recognize what quadrant you are training in and my experiences. • The importance of reinforcers and using what’s reinforcing for your dog. • How I built value for my dog Swagger to watch other dogs work. • Control and lessons from B.F. Skinner. • How negative reinforcement works. • The blurred lines between the quadrants. • Debunking the “we must be alpha” narrative in dog training.

 

Resources:

 

1. Podcast Episode 297: Why In 2025 We Still Have Dog Trainers Who Believe “Reinforcement Dog Training Doesn’t Work”- https://dogsthat.com/podcast/297/ 2. Podcast Episode 146: Balanced Dog Training: Does It Really Exist? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/146/ 3. Podcast Episode 95:  How Playing with Your Dog Like a Puppy Can Reduce Fear - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/95/ 4. Podcast Episode 107: Pedicure Please: 3 Steps To Dog Nail Trimming Or Grooming Success At Home! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/107/ 5. Podcast Episode 34: Time Outs for Dogs: Does Your Dog Need One? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/34/ 6. Podcast Episode 251:  Should We All Stop Using Non-Reward Markers In Dog Training? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/251/ 7. Podcast Episode 181: Training Multiple Dogs To Wait Turns And Relax - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/181/ 8. Paper: B.F. Skinner's Theory of Performance Excellence: A Radical Behavioral Perspective - https://digitalcommons.du.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1333&context=capstone_masters 9. YouTube Short: Do We Really Need All Of The Quadrants? - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MTwuelH2sX4 10. Podcast Episode 40: Using A Head Halter On A Dog, Why My Approach Is So Different - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/40/ 11. Podcast Episode 153: Dog Muzzles: Everything You Need To Know And How To Muzzle Train Dogs - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/153/ 12. Shaping Success Book by Susan Garrett - https://dogsthat.com/product/shaping-success-2/ 13. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/k1wcwfeUBFc