The "Law of Behavior"

The Law of Behavior is: Any behavior that is reinforced will get stronger (Increase/get better). Any behavior not reinforced will go away.

If we can define the behavior we WANT to see from our dogs, set the environment up for them to offer that behavior and reinforce it, our dogs WILL repeat that behavior again.

Many times when we talk about our dog’s behavior we use labels instead of descriptions of the behavior. Labels are adjectives that often tell how we feel about a behavior, but don’t identify the behavior itself.

Special thanks to Susan Friedman for the use of her amazing graphics!

Special thanks to Susan Friedman for the use of her amazing graphics!

Some common labels are:

  • Dominant

  • Stubborn

  • Aggressive

  • Anxious

  • Happy

  • Friendly

  • Excited

When a handler labels their dog “anxious” what I see is a dog with their tail tucked, ears pinned back, mouth closed, teeth clenched, jaw muscles bulging, shaking, whining, or pacing.

This is called, “operationalizing behavior.” Let’s operationalize another behavior! An “excited” dog may be one who is breathing hard, jumping up on me, ears forward and perked, tail wagging fast, pulling to the end of the leash.

Instead of labeling your dog, describe what your dog is doing. Ask yourself, “What does that LOOK like?”

Once you have identified the behavior your dog is doing that you don’t want to see you can identify a replacement behavior you DO want to see. It looks like this:

“My dog jumps on people.” (Operationalized as “Dog puts his front feet on people.”)

Now we ask, “What do I want the dog to do instead?”

“I want my dog to sit.” (Operationalized as puts bottom on floor.)

We have identified an incompatible behavior to jumping. Now we can reinforce that behavior! Thanks to the Law of Behavior, once we are consistently reinforcing the behavior we want from our dogs, they will stop doing the unwanted behavior that no longer works for them and use the behavior that is functional in their life.

Get in the habit of identifying behaviors you WANT to see and you will be surprised how may opportunities for reinforcement there are!

Once you’ve identified behaviors you want to change you are ready for the next steps!

 

A fun informational video introducing the Behavior+ Works Behavior Toolkit, by James Fritzler and Susan Friedman, PhD.

 
Katie Robertson