Learning Theory For Real Life Dogs

Learning Theory For Real Life Dogs

From The Everyday Trainer Podcast by Meghan Dougherty

May 8, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

Meghan Dougherty explains the foundations of learning theory in dog training, focusing on classical and operant conditioning.

You can love your dog and still feel baffled by their choices. Why do they blow off a recall they “know,” pull like a freight train, or lose their mind at another dog the second the stakes go up? We’re going back to the foundation that makes all of it make sense: learning theory, the scientific framework behind how behavior is built and changed. I’m Meg, and I walk through the two big pillars we use in dog training: classical conditioning and operant conditioning. We talk about how associati...

People in this episode

Host: Meghan Dougherty

Topics covered

  • learning theory
  • dog training
  • classical conditioning
  • operant conditioning
  • dog behavior

Keywords

  • dog training
  • learning theory
  • classical conditioning
  • operant conditioning
  • dog behavior
  • recall
  • behavior change

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