Jargon. That secretive language particular to a trade or profession and we're all at it; doctors, lawyers, hairdressers and of course, dog trainers.

It's actually quite addictive, I mean it can give us power and confidence, but the sneaky bugger can also take it away. For struggling dog owners Jargon can be a devastating barrier to the very doggy relationship we're trying to build.

To help you get along with dog training speak, here are 10 commonly used jargon descriptions in dog training:

1. Conditioning

This is simply just learning. Commonly by way of association. It can be voluntary behaviours and consequences like performing a sit and getting a treat (operant conditioning) or through involuntary behaviours and emotions such cutting a dogs nails and pairing that with tasty cheese so there is a positive emotional association (classical conditioning).

2. Criteria

What a behavioural response looks like and how hard or easy it is. Usually, if we raise criteria, we are asking for more and if we lower criteria, we are asking for less.

3. Reinforcement

Anything a dog wants and will work to get access to (praise, food, squirrels). I will often call it a reinforcer or a reward.

4. Jackpot

A reinforcer that is of a higher quality, quantity or value to a dog.

5. Marker

A signal to a dog that a behaviour we wanted has been completed (a click from a clicker).

6. Lure / luring

Guiding your dog through a behaviour using something like food or a target that they follow.

7. Shape / shaping

Reinforcing small approximations of a behaviour until we get the desired response.

8. Reward placement

How and where you deliver rewards to your dog.

9. Stimulus

A thing, event or change in the environment that the dog can see, hear, smell or otherwise perceive and respond to.

10. Cue

People often call this a command but it’s just a stimulus that provokes a response. A cue could be verbal (the word sit elicits a bum down action), physical (Hand signals) or environmental (speed bumps at the park car evokes excitement).

If your currently taking part in one of our classes, being coached in a 1:1 session or looking to book anything in with us and you have a question on any of concepts, words or type of training we do at JCDT then please let me know | jasoncortis.dt@gmail.com

Happy training everyone.

*Spider pup created by the very kind and talented Kaleid