Skinner And Pavlov in modern dressage (following)
Restoring classical conditioning to its place or when emotion becomes the reward.
In our previous article, we distinguished Skinner's operant conditioning—now widely used in modern methods—from Pavlov's classical conditioning, often relegated to the status of a mere historical anecdote. However, the latter systematically acts in the background; far from being outdated, it is, on the contrary, at the heart of the emotional relationship between the dog and its owner.
As we increasingly talk about "motivation" in training, it is urgent to remember that motivation is not always a trade for a toy or a treat, at the risk of the latter becoming the source of classical/Pavlovian conditioning. As a reminder, it is through repetition that the dog associates a sound, a place, an action with a physiological response. (The dog salivates when it hears the bell).
If the dog is happy, excited, motivated every time he sees the ball, the sausage, the costume, the treat, it is normal and positive, a source of motivation for operant conditioning, (reinforcement action +- or punishment action +-).
But it can and should also emerge from the almost invisible affective association between a behavior and an emotion generated by the presence and integration with its master.
When pleasure becomes Pavlovian
Classical conditioning, by its very nature, works without the dog having to "do" anything. It links two elements: a neutral stimulus (voice, attitude, situation) and an emotional or physiological response (pleasure, relaxation, security, etc.). This process is automatic, not voluntary, and that's precisely what makes it so powerful.
Let's take a simple example: a master who praises his dog every time he returns to the recall. If his intonation and the associated gesture are consistent and repeated, the action (in this case, the recall) ends up evoking a pleasant sensation in the dog. Returning to the master is no longer just an action to "gain something": it has become a positively emotionally charged moment.
In other words, through Pavlovian conditioning, the teacher's praise acquires a positive emotional value which then allows it to function as a true positive reinforcer in learning.
From Conditioning to Bonding: The Chemistry of Attachment
Animal neuroscience has confirmed what many intuitive trainers already knew: pleasant social interactions trigger the release of oxytocin in dogs, just as they do in humans. This hormone is involved in bonding, trust, and cooperation.
In other words, a dog can learn to associate the presence, voice, or even the gaze of its owner with a feeling of deep well-being—without the need to add a relay object like a ball or a treat.
Artificialities or natural interactions?
This is not to denounce classic reinforcers, nor to say that they have no place. They are extremely useful in learning specific behaviors, in motivating effort, or in managing energy levels. (To learn more about operant conditioning you can also read our page here)
We too often forget that the dog is also a sensitive and social being, deeply receptive to the emotions of its master and that this type of reinforcement, built on the bond, should be the cornerstone of the educational relationship.
By trying to "professionalize" training, we risk reducing all interactions to transactions: you do this, you get that. However, just as with humans, the joy of cooperating, of giving pleasure, of feeling a sincere connection should be a powerful source of motivation in itself.
Consciously practicing classical conditioning
How can this mechanism be integrated into daily practice? Here are some concrete ideas:
Systematically combine intonation and physical contact: a warm voice coupled with a constant caress in its form becomes a marker of security and pleasure.
Maintain emotional stability: a calm, consistent, predictable master becomes an essential emotional reference point for the dog.
Value human presence as a source of pleasure: not to let reward objects monopolize attention. The teacher, through his attitude, can and must become rewarding in itself.
A motivation that lasts
The greatest advantage of classical conditioning is its stability over time. A dog motivated solely by objects may eventually become bored or distracted by a more stimulating environment (typically a cat vs. a ball). In contrast, a dog emotionally engaged in the relationship with its owner finds this connection a more consistent, deeper motivator.
Towards a new ethology of dressage
Revaluing Pavlovian mechanisms in training means returning to a more refined relational ethology. It means recognizing that the dog can find its reward in the quality of the bond, beyond objects or routines. The dog is not simply an executor seeking reinforcement: it is a sensitive partner, capable of integrating social interactions into its emotional memory.
We often talk about techniques, plans, and protocols. But it's also time to consider what's at play on a more subtle level: the influence of our gestures, our voices, our presence on the dog's internal chemistry.
Because emotion is not an abstraction: it is neurobiology, secretion of oxytocin, activation of dopaminergic circuits.
And it is here that Pavlov, well beyond the bell, opens up for us a concrete path of access to this invisible territory where the link becomes an endogenous, lasting and deeply rooted reward.
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