Just Talk to Them!
Learning theory is incredibly valuable to dog training, but since it was largely developed in a laboratory, there are limits to it’s applicability. We can learn a lot from experiments in which computers trained animals using quantum binary feedback, but that’s not how we, as humans, should train. We couldn’t if we tried, and by embracing our human nature we can be much more effective trainers. As people we can make instantaneous qualitative judgments and provide non-aversive, instructive, continuous, differential binary feedback that transcends anything a computer can do in a laboratory. All we have to do is talk to our dogs.