Training Without Conflict Podcast Episode Two: Mark Plonsky
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Oct 23, 2020 Mark Plonsky, a retired professor and K9 behavior consultant, dives into the nuances of dog training with Ivan Balabanov, a world champion dog trainer. They discuss the evolution of training methods, highlighting the importance of emotional factors and humane techniques. Plonsky shares fascinating insights from his innovative experiments, including training rats to play basketball. The conversation also tackles the ethical implications of various training methodologies, aiming for a balance that promotes dog welfare while improving communication.
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Classical vs. Operant Conditioning in Dog Training
- Classical conditioning focuses on predicting events and the associated emotions, unlike operant conditioning.
- This is crucial for dog training because it helps understand how dogs anticipate and react to cues.
Teaching Retrieving with Classical Conditioning
- Use classical conditioning to create positive associations with objects.
- If a dumbbell predicts food, the dog will treat it like food, initiating a retrieve.
Rat Basketball
- Dr. Alliston Reed trained rats to play basketball to study shaping behavior.
- The rats struggled to release the ball, treating it like the food reward due to classical conditioning.