Leerburg Dog Training Podcast What is Superstitious Association in Dog Training?
Jun 3, 2025
Explore the intriguing concept of superstitious associations in dog training, especially regarding remote collars. Learn how dogs can mistakenly link stimulation to unrelated stimuli, leading to irrational fears. A fascinating case study of a Belgian Malinois illustrates the importance of correct conditioning. The discussion emphasizes careful training techniques to ensure effective and humane use of remote collars.
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Superstitious Association Story
- Ed Frawley shares a story about conditioning a Belgian Malinois incorrectly with a remote collar near a white bucket.
- The dog developed a lifelong aversion to buckets, avoiding them entirely regardless of context.
Proper Conditioning Is Crucial
- Condition your dog properly to a remote collar to avoid superstitious associations with random objects.
- Use the correct level of stimulation tailored to your dog and environment.
Dogs Generalize Associations
- Ed explains how dogs can generalize superstitious association to all similar objects like buckets.
- This generalization makes dogs avoid those objects completely, which can be problematic.