How Dogs Learn (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

by Mary R. Burch (Author), Jon S. Bailey PhD. (Author) "Beginning in the 1800s, behavioral scientist were in their labs discovering the principles that laid the groundwork for the 1938 arrival of operant conditioning..." (more)
Key Phrases: aversive punishers, fixed duration schedules, stimulus discrimination training, Border Collie, Bob Bailey, Karen Pryor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
"...this book should be on every animal trainer's bookshelf for future reference. How Dogs Learn covers the content of an undergraduate course in learning and behavior, but the examples are taken from dog training…it is practical and very useful without sacrificing scientific and technical accuracy." —Jack Michael, PhD, Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University

How Dogs Learn explore the fascinating science of operant conditioning, where science and dog training meet. How Dogs Learn explains the basic principles of behavior and how they can be used to teach your dog new skills, diagnose problems and eliminate unwanted behaviors. It's for anyone who wants to better understand the learning process in dogs. Every concept is laid out clearly and precisely, and its relevance to your dog and how you train is explained.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

From the Inside Flap
How Dogs Learn explains the fascinating science of operant conditioning. The authors, recognized experts in this field, are also experienced dog trainers, and they explain each operant conditioning principle using dog training examples. For the first time, behavioral procedures that are used with humans, such as Behavioral Diagnostics and Functional Analysis, have been translated for applications with dogs. How Dogs Learn will help all dog owners solve canine behavior problems and improve their proficiency as trainers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (May 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876053711
• ISBN-13: 978-0876053713
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,732 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #53 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology
  #56 in	Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Dogs > Breeds
  #73 in	Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Animal Husbandry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last an authoritative book on the science of dog training, July 21, 1999

By	Steve Lindsay ([e-mail]) (Canine Behavioral Services, Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Drs. Burch and Bailey have brought together their considerable talents to produce an important book for both dog owners and professional trainers. Dog owners will find the book to be a valuable resource for understanding how dogs learn, making their training efforts more positive and rewarding--both for themselves and for their dogs. The professional trainer will find the book to be an informative introduction to basic learning concepts and techniques; they will also appreciate the authors' balanced approach to explaining operant technology. Overall, the authors have done an excellent job of introducing operant methods (such as clicker training) and explaining how they can be used to improve the dog's behavior. Finally, the book is written in a lucid and accessible style, but be forewarned, there is not much in the way of entertaining fluff here, although the book is nicely illustrated with many wonderful anecdotes and examples that both the novice and expert will appreciate. Dr. Burch is a highly respected Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, whose efforts to improve dog training and to develop humane methods for treating behavior problems are well-known within the dog world. Dr. Bailey is a Professor of Psychology at Florida State University. Among his impressive credentials, he is past editor of the Journal for Applied Behavior Analysis. If you are serious about dogs and training, you should read this book!

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Professional Trainer, July 4, 1999

By	[e-mail] (United States) - See all my reviews

As a professional police dog trainer this book is the only dog training book that I have read that addresses the heart of in my field training. Late in life I decided to learn about the science behind training and now a student of behavior science. This book should be a must read for every trainer. Information here goes directly to applied behavior modification something every trainer should have at very least a working understanding of.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An In Depth View of a Dog's Reasoning, May 30, 2001

By	Scott Robinson (Woodland Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

A very good book for the more technical reader. Ever since Pavlov got dogs to salivate when he rang a bell, man has studied dogs and associated their behavior with ours. This book uses all that great dog data (60-100 years)to tell us more about dogs instead of humans. Novel idea. I liked it. A little dry. I read most books and hope to get something good I can use. This book more than met my expectations. "Behavior Problems In Dogs" I think Bill Cambell was as good or better. Both must reads for the serious trainer.