Category: Theory, Terms & Abbreviations ¤
  Author: Dani Weinberg ¤
   Title: A-B-C Model ¤

>Who thought that completely and utterly changing the way you think about and
>train dogs and convincing the rest of society of same would be so difficult?

Kelly,

You're a courageous woman - taking on the retraining of both Mike (the 
dog) and John (the husband)!  I see no reason why you should have to do 
it all yourself, so I've been thinking of what might work.

Is John at all interested in the "why's" of things - you know, what makes 
machines work, how come some buildings can withstand earthquakes, etc.?  
If so, then you might engage his interest by describing to him how OC is 
different from (but very comparable to) the way we used to train dogs - 
specifically, Basil, in your case.

Here's a simple explanation I like to use with confirmed "traditional" 
trainers.  Both OC and traditional training are based on knowing how all 
animals learn:  the A-B-C model.  What we're all interested in is the "B" 
which stands for behavior, and we can influence it by either A - the 
Antecedent (or what comes before, or the "command" in dog-training terms) 
- or by C - the Consequences (what comes after the behavior, or the 
reinforcement/punishment in terms of OC). 

 Traditional, or "command-based" trainers focus on the A part of the 
model and train their dogs to associate a certain sound ("command") or 
motion (hand signal) with a specific behavior which the trainer 
physically assists the dog in performing.  A good example is teaching the 
dog to sit by placing it physically in position while uttering the word 
"Sit."  Command-based trainers expect that, given sufficient repetition 
of this process (which is actually classical, or respondent 
conditioning), the dog will "get it."  And, of course, most dogs *do* get 
it most of the time.  If the model didn't work, it would have died out a 
long time ago.

OC/clicker trainers, OTOH, focus on the C part of the model and teach the 
dog that his/her behavior can generate desirable or undesirable 
consequences.  What we're after is not so much automatic, mindless 
response but creative, mindful choices.  We're interested in teaching our 
dogs how to learn by encouraging them to experiment and, if necessary, 
make mistakes.

For some behaviors, command-based respondent conditioning is fine.  For 
others, though, it results in a mechanical and spiritless dog.  Learning 
theorists agree that learning is quicker and retained longer when the 
animal figures it out for him/herself.  Our job as trainers is to give 
the dog the information that s/he needs to figure it out.  Praise and 
food are both useful in this regard, in the same way that an employee who 
gets a pat on the back, or extra time off, or a plaque, or a raise will 
get the message that they're doing a good job.

Lots of people have idealized memories of The Family Dog they knew as 
children.  That was the perfect dog in their eyes - oblivious as they 
were to all the work, energy, and intelligence that someone (probably 
Mom) was putting into the care and education of the dog.  Maybe Basil was 
one of those easy dogs, and John believes that all dogs should be like 
Basil.  It doesn't really matter.  What does matter is that *you* use 
your knowledge and competence to continue doing a good job with this 
situation.

Dani


Dani Weinberg
Albuquerque, NM and
Crested Butte, CO
71044.3715@compuserve.com