Balanced Training

Executive Summary

Balanced Training is the practical application of Operant Conditioning (click here to learn more) in relation to dog training and behavior modification. In other words, this means that trainers may use reinforcement and/or punishment to build and/or extinguish behaviors.

Balanced Training, however is a misnomer. It does not mean that reinforcement and punishment are present in equal amounts. It simply means that trainers can chose which method is the most appropriate for the situation.

The Operant Conditioning relies on the basic assumption that there are four categories that shape our behavior:

1. Positive Reinforcement (R+):

The presence of a positive stimulus immediately following a behavior, which increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future.
Example – Giving a treat to a dog immediately after it sits when asked. The treat serves as a positive stimulus and reinforces the sitting behavior.

2. Negative Reinforcement (R-):

The removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus immediately following a behavior, which increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future.
Example – If a dog is trained to sit, and you stop pulling on its leash as soon as it sits, the removal of pressure serves as negative reinforcement for sitting.

3. Positive Punishment (P+):

The presence of an aversive stimulus immediately following a behavior, which decreases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future.
Example – Giving a verbal correction or a leash correction when a dog jumps on a person. The aversive stimulus is intended to decrease the jumping behavior.

4. Negative Punishment (P-):

The removal of a positive stimulus immediately following a behavior, which decreases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future.
Example – If a dog is playing with a toy and becomes too rough, removing the toy for a short period can serve as negative punishment. This is meant to decrease the behavior.

Important note – many professionals that proclaim to be “balanced trainers” are not properly educated in the application of adverse techniques. Instead, they are simply opposed to Positive-Reinforcement Training. Thus, it is paramount that clients identify educated trainers. As a general rule of thumb, Balanced Trainers trainers that have done their research will be communicative, transparent, and willing to teach the why before the how.

Example Case: Ryan

Imagine that you are working with a client named Ryan and his dog, Rosie.

Ryan, his wife, and Rosie frequently go on hikes. They are often in areas where it is legal for dogs to be off-leash, however Sadie is a big goof-ball off leash and Ryan understands that she needs some additional training.

However, there is a second reason that Ryan reached out: on the last hike, Sadie got excited by something behind a rock. Much to their surprise, it was a rattlesnake. Thankfully Sadie didn’t get bit, but they had a hard time pulling her away.

You, being a competent Balanced Trainer, assure him that Sadie can learn to be off leash, and avoid snakes. The journey begins.

Pre-Session

Before the first training session, you advise that Ryan must use an e-collar for off-leash training.

Ryan has his reservations regarding e-collars, and has made it a point to avoid them. You reassure Ryan that you will be using each and every tool ethically, and that you will explain exactly how to use them, in detail.

You recommend an e-collar that has a GPS, and functions such as vibrate, tone, and shock – all of these can be useful under the right circumstances.

You explain: a shock is the last resort. While Sadie will receive proper off-leash training, there is always the possibility that something could go wrong – at the worst possible moment.

For example: she could start running towards a street or a cliff (during the hike), and no matter than you do (yell, vibrate, tone) she doesn’t listen. In this situation, an electric shock is more human than getting hit by a car or running off a cliff – context is everything.

Positive Reinforcement

During your first few sessions, you choose positive reinforcement techniques to teach Ryan how to conduct a strong recall:

1. Commands

The recall command should be bright, exciting, and loud (it should cut through all the other noises in the area). Follow these rules:

Tone – Should be high pitched, fun, exciting.
Loudness – If you think it’s loud, go louder.
Consistent – Say your dog’s name, then the command.
Timely – Give your dog some time to react to the command, before repeating it.

2. High-Value Reward

In the beginning, Sadie needs incentive to perform the recall, especially if you are asking her to break away from something enticing. This could be a long-lasting chew, or her favorite toy.

3. Timing and Reward

Rewards should given immediately after the target behavior is complete. This should be accompanied by a reward-cue such as “yes!” or “good!”.

As the week progress, you and Ryan grow more confident in Sadie’s ability to recall. You eventually progress to the point where you can begin practicing off-leash and, also, it’s time for the e-collar.

You instruct Ryan to desensitize Sadie to the e-collar by leaving it on her for a few days before the next training session.

Positive Punishment

As you begin the session, you explain the basics of averse techniques to Ryan:

1. Positive Punishment: the Use of Averse Stimuli

Averse techniques invoke a negative, physical or emotional response in the animal. This is called conditioning.
The most common response is fear, thus averse techniques must be wised wisely and ethically.
For example, instilling a fear running off of a cliff could be a good idea (for a hiker). However, instilling a fear of running, might not be as useful, or ethical.

2. Single Trial Learning

A strong fear-response can be learned (and put into long-term memory) after a single negative event (think about a child touching a hot stove).
To avoid creating a traumatically-disabling fear-response (PTSD), exposure to the negative stimulus must be graded or stair-stepped.

In addition to this information, you show Ryan how to use the e-collar:

1. Vibrate

Similar to the vocal signal “come”, vibration is the physical signal that she will receive for every recall, alongside the appropriate hand signal.

2. Tone

This is called a warning-cue. Before punishment is administered, the warning cue must be played. Once the she has associated the warning cue with an electrical shock, it is rare that you need to escalate further.

3. Shock

The shock should not be intense (remember PTSD). You will always start at the lowest setting, and continue upwards if needed.
It is also important to remember that the unit runs of off a watch battery – which is the size of a nickel. While this is enough to administer a painful shock, it is designed to be user-friendly and error-tolerant.
You must try it on yourself first, no exceptions.

In the first training session, there were plenty of oppotunities to use the vibrate function, but not the tone or the shock – Rosie listened perfectly (which is good!). Over the next few sessions, there were only a few times that Ryan needed to use any averse technique:

The First Time – Rosie chased after a squirrel and did not respond to the recall command. The lowest setting didn’t even seem to phase her.
The Second Time – She ignored two recall commands because she was sniffing where another dog had marked. This time, her ears perked up and she looked around, confused, as Ryan hit the shock button.
The Third Time – Rosie looked around when the tone was played, but ignored the recall (again). After the shock, she recalled back to Ryan.
The Fourth Time – She decided to chase a squirrel again, but the tone interrupted her moment of chase-and-catch. No shock was needed.

Conclusion

Over the next few months, Ryan continued his training sessions and was surprised at how little that he needed to use the shock function. On hikes, the GPS gave Ryan some peace of mind, and the vibrate function was just plain useful.

A few things were clear:

Rosie received enough training to set her up for success nearly 100% of the time.
Ryan was properly educated on both positive reward and positive punishment techniques.
The e-collar was used as a failsafe, and not as the primary training tool.
The GPS and vibrate functions proved to be highly valuable.
Rosie maintained her happy, aloof disposition – the training worked: she was lifted up, not broken down.

All in all, this was a success!

Balanced Training

As stated in the Executive Summary, Balanced Training is the application of Operant Conditioning in regard to dog training. While we won’t repeat ourselves, it is important to understand where Balanced Training fits into the grand picture.

1. Definition

Balanced Training is a methodology that seeks to teach animals through the presence or absence of positive or negative stimuli.
Is not the exclusive use of averse technique, such as punishment without reward.

2. Usage

Must be used under the careful guidance of ethics.
Ethical use can result in strong conditioning, which may prevent injury or death.
Unethical use of this method can result in traumatic disorders such as generalized anxiety, or PTSD.

3. Context

Averse techniques can build fear
Averse techniques can build rage
However, context matters. It is unacceptable to view these as simply “good” and “bad”

Controversy

Unfortunately, it has become commonplace for trainers to disparage and discredit one another. Because of this, it is hard to find a consistent answer – no matter what technique you research, there is a cohort of pet professionals (veterinarians, behaviorists, trainers, groomers) that will tell you how “that method” is complete and utter garbage. It isn’t helpful!

It is very important to understand that there are many routes to success. Balanced Training, is simply one route you can take – a single tool in your toolbox. Use it when you deem it necessary.

In addition there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the context highly influences the tools you will need. Our advice? Learn them all; deep dive into every single one. There is something useful to be gleaned in every training philosophy.

Resources

We highly suggest heading over to our article on Operant Conditioning, to learn more about each quadrant and how to apply them.

While we do not recommend any book that focuses solely on Balanced Training, Steven Lindsay’s textbook series called Applied Dog Behavior and Training, and Dogs For Dummies are a good place to start. A link to these books can be found in the recommended reading section.