Training Decoded: A Guide to Canine Science Jargon

Anyone who's spent time in dog training circles knows the deal: people love throwing around science-y words to sound super smart. Maybe they mean well. Maybe they just want to prove they're way ahead of you, the clueless newbie.

So, to make everyone's lives easier, here's a quick and dirty guide to those fancy dog training terms. No jargon, no bragging rights – just simple explanations to help you decipher what everyone's really talking about. Consider it a survival kit for the world of know-it-all dog trainers. Cheers.

* Positive Reinforcement: Adding something desirable to increase the likelihood of a behavior happening again. (Treats, toys, praise)

Real World explanation: You do something cool. Someone gives you something cool back. It's like bribery except you don't go to prison.

* Negative Reinforcement: Removing something undesirable to increase the likelihood of a behavior happening again. (Stopping a leash correction when the dog sits)

Real World explanation: it's like reverse bribery. You remove something they want when they misbehave.

* Positive Punishment: Adding something undesirable to decrease the likelihood of a behavior happening again. (A verbal "no!" when a dog jumps)

Real World Explanation: You forget the password to your IPad. You enter the wrong password and get locked out of your iPad. Congratulations. You're now locked out of your iPad and you've been punished positively. Fun.

* Negative Punishment: Removing something desirable to decrease the likelihood of a behavior happening again. (Taking a toy away when a puppy bites)

Real World Example: You’ve watched too many no no videos on your iPad and your wife takes it away and runs over it with a car. Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.