How Dogs Learn

Howell reference books

by Mary R. Burch, Jon S. Bailey

This book explores the fascinating science of operant conditioning, where science and dog training meet. How Dogs Learn discusses the basic principles of behavior and how they can be used to teach your dog new skills, diagnose problems, and eliminate unwanted behaviors. It's for anyone who wants to better understand the learning process in dogs. Every concept is laid out clearly and precisely, and its relevance to your dog and how you train is explained.

Genres: Dogs, Nonfiction, Animals, Reference, Audiobook, Science, Education

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 4, 1999

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books for dog owners available today. I only recommend a few books to my clients as MUST READS and this is one of them. (I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer & Behaviorist - Author of the DVD series "Language of Dogs" & "Am I Safe") Both the content and the readability are top notch.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reflecting on changes in dog training approaches since the 1960s, authors Mary Burch and Jon Bailey write in their epilogue, "While most people once wanted a dog that would comply with requests because it was afraid to do otherwise, training has changed dramatically. Now most people want a dog that will work because it wants to" (167). I'm not sure about "most people" (although it's certainly true for me), but the statement is typical of the hopeful picture of training and trainers (especially the future of training) that the authors paint throughout _How Dogs Learn_. This book offers a quick history of operant conditioning and its influence on the development dog training in this century. The authors avoid over-simplifying complex issues--and figures (like Bill Koehler)--while providing useful explanations of key concepts and terms. This book does offer advice for the average dog owner, but is aimed primarily at the trainers who will be translating that advice for their clients. (New dog owners might benefit more from something like _The Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training_ by Pam Dennison.) I'm not a trainer, of course, so I guess it's fair to say that this book invites a wider audience too. I understood this book *better* because I'd already read (and put to very good use the methods espoused in) popular books by positive trainers like Pat Miller and Sophia Yin.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent and nuanced book that provides a comprehensive overview of principles of behavior analysis as they relate to dog training. It is also clearly written, and would be accessible and engaging to a wide array of audiences. However, I have two points of criticism. One, the authors are somewhat lenient on the acceptability of using punishment and negative reinforcement as training tools. Since the book was published in 1999, we have a preponderance of research showing that even mild aversives, such as verbal corrections, can negatively affect the learning process and the physical and emotional wellbeing of animals. Second, the authors' assessment of exclusively positive and force-free training approaches is not always accurate and betrays some bias. Here are some examples: positive trainers are not against using leashes (!) and you can absolutely quickly and easily teach new behaviors without the use of physical prompts. As the world of dog training has evolved, so has our understanding of the importance of learner autonomy (physical and emotional) and empathy in the training process. Keeping these issues in mind, I think this is a great introductory text for anyone looking to learn more about the science of how animals learn.

[Nan Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a simple means of understanding how behavior works, (not just for dogs), this is a good read.
Also, if you are taking the CCPDT certification, or others, this is a must.

[Mom2triplets04 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this on audio. It is written like a text book. I didn’t learn anything except for the history of how dogs get trained. I was hoping it would help with training my puppy. It did not help with that.

[Kizz Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important scientific behavioral concepts broken down so even a layperson like myself can digest them. Very well done. I do think that the information on punishment is sparse and wishy washy. Wish it was clearer and definitions better set out.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Highly recommended for anyone interested in dog training. Learn how dog training has evolved over the years, and become familiar with the vocabulary. Not for the average pet owner, but anyone geeky about dog training will get a lot out of this short read.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for anyone who wants to understand the theory and science behind Positive Reinforcement Training. Also a great review of the Operant Conditioning section of Psych 101.

[Shawna Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for dog trainers

Very well written and a must read for anyone wanting to understand dog behaviors. Great reference book for dog training.

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost textbook like, this is a comprehensive guide to modern dog training concepts. Extremely interesting.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book that explains scientific terms in easy understandable language that is accessible to the layman.

[Tububa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard this as an audiobook on Hoopla, and it's an odd experience. The book "reads" (listens?) like a textbook. I can practically see the definitions with underlines--"is this gonna be on the test?", and imagine highlighting from the dim-witted undergrad who owned the book before.

I confess that most of what was in the book was not new to me. But it was nice to see it laid out clearly, and to get a refresher on the importance of things like analyzing reinforcers. As an owner of an intelligent, tricky dog, I have to stand back every now and then and ask why I am expecting certain things to work, or why my dog is misunderstanding me. This book, as any good book on dog training and behavior, will force you to analyze yourself, not just your animal.

But it's not a how-to book, and it should not be approached this way. It is clear and fair. I liked the nuance it exhibited in the coverage of tricky issues like punishment, and in explaining negative reinforcement (which, as any good behaviorist will tell you, are not the same thing). For punishment, the book raises questions that it doesn't always answer, like "would you use punishment on a dog who has taken to herding deer, if the alternative is the dog accidentally getting shot by a hunter?" I mean, yes, I guess I would, but you also just told me that punishment is slow to work and not nearly as effective as positive reinforcement, so why even ask? Or how would you deal with this situation if you had to?

One interesting aspect of the book is that it strives for the golden middle. Trainers who use only punishment and "break the dog" in order to get obedience are portrayed as extremists, but so are trainers who refuse to use anything but positive reinforcement are portrayed as extremists, although the criticism of the latter is more veiled.

There was one howler, early on, having to do with the evolution of dogs. The idea that "cavemen" domesticated dogs by bringing wolf cubs in and using behaviorist tricks on them has been thoroughly debunked and is frankly idiotic. If you read that passage and did not bat an eye, you need to read some books by Raymond and Lorna Coppinger.

[Jarda Kubalik · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am beginning to see a bit of a pattern, if the author makes sure his/her PhD appears on the cover, the book usually sucks. At least it indicates they take themselves a bit too seriously at the expense of the work. The issue I had with this book was the unshattered belief in behaviorism, which did so much harm in school across the world and may be displaced from animal training as well in the future. No reflection on that. The authors even celebrated the 'great' experiments of pain and punishment in the past, well, fine, it is for animal training, but still. Apart from that, the book defines a few behaviorist terms and what provided examples from dog training. For me and my dog, little use I think.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great book about dog psychology. It reminds us or tells us about how dogs learn and how what we think we are communicating may actually be misunderstood.
One thing I really like about this book is that the psychology does not change. No matter what current training thoughts are dogs interpret and behave as they always have. This book also promotes a gentle approach to training with positive reinforcement. Well written by an expert in the dog world and her husband, both PHDs. This book stands the test of time and is a solid groundwork for all methods of dog training.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I already have a pretty good grasp of conditioning principles so there wasn't much in this book that I didn't already know. But there were a few things I did learn, and this is an excellent book for those who want to learn to train their dogs using reinforcement rather than punishment.

My only suggestion is to read a hard copy or digital copy. The audio book was really hard to listen to. The narrator is fine but the book itself is written too much like a textbook to come across well in audio.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic place to start for anyone looking to really dive deep into the nuances of dog training. Not for the average or first time pet owner, this book goes into applied behavior analysis with detailed descriptions of common phrases with examples. However, with the copywriter c.1999, this book should not be considered the most up to date, and it should be recognized that, while many of these principles are still considered best practice, the field of dog training (like any scientific field) is constantly evolving.

[Dr. Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly focused on Skinnerian Behaviorism than on instructing dog owners on how to train their dogs. The book was too abstract for my needs. Plus I studied Skinner and behaviorism back in the 1970s in psychology classes in college. Wasn't behaviorism like psychoanalysis largely debunked years later by the APA?

[Benji · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a technical, academic text on how animal behavior sciences apply to dogs. It examines things like operant and classical conditioning, stimulus control, functional analysis, reinforcement schedules, etc. Very dense but a good deep dive into a lot of these more advanced concepts. This was a good refresher on the important concepts underpinning how I train

[Chriss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sure it’s a helpful book. Just not to me. It was filled with info that I, frankly, had no interest in. I was looking for a simple dog training manual, this wasn’t it. I would imagine to Dog Trainers this reference book contains lots of valuable info, but I found myself skimming way too much and don’t even feel qualified to write a decent review.

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive book on dog (and child/human) behavior and psychology. It reads like a text book, but the information is very well researched and presented. I wish that I would have read it when my own dog was younger. I think he's too old now to unlearn some of the habits and bad behaviors I've allowed and promoted.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this reads like a textbook I had in college on children's behaviors for Special Education, and the concepts are quite similar. This is an excellent source that I will keep on my shelf just for my pet... don't want to mistakenly reinforce bad behaviors!

[eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was great, provided a good history of dog training and different methods. it was super informative and helped me understand more the methods available and what I need to do with my crazy loving Collie/Husky mix.

[Natasha Chilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly suggest for every dog trainer or just anyone wanting to learn more about dogs! This book helped me learn how to train dogs, so much information about how dogs actually learn, not how people THINK they learn. This book was so full of information!

[Michael Eldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a how to train your dog book, but instead gives insight into the overall idea of operant conditioning, and the ways dogs do learn so you can incorporate that into your dogs training program. Definitely most useful to a dog trainer or to someone struggling to understand their dog trainer

[Hypsypops · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a great book with solid science. The issue is it’s not the best to learn from. It’s a great way to review a bunch of stuff I already know, but I don’t think I would have gotten as much out of it if I wasn’t already familiar with the material.

[Gabi Goyette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very surface level information with overly simplified case studies. I found the brief history of dog training interesting, but this was mostly filled with definitions of dog training techniques without adding more compelling use cases or additional context.

[Donna Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad to find this on Audio book from Hoopla/Chesapeake Public Library (their dog-training books are pretty sparse).

[Ryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Operant conditioning yes! Inspiring, clear, and funny at times. The best dog training book I have read by far. I love behavior analysis.

[Gonçalo Oliveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most cientific and objective book for someone who is entering the dog training world.

[Ohheyyitscourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot to log this read. It was very informative and interesting