Episode 9: If you think you are working on emotions you are wrong
Welcome to the ninth episode of the AGA podcast! I know catchy title! But it was all on purpose, to draw your attention to this important topic. Too often we use superficial references to the brain, neurobiology. As trainers, we have little knowledge on this topic. When we talk about emotions we make assumptions and risk errors. To change sensation first focus on changing the contingency that is facilitating it. Always operationalize what you mean when you say “he is angry”. otherwise “angry” is just another label. It’s not debatable that animals experience sensations, emotions, and present emotional behaviors. But the meaning of these sensations is what we, humans, are adding into it. Always operationalize what you mean when you say “he is angry”. otherwise “angry” is just another label. Labels won’t help you solve problems. They are just muddying the waters. I hope that this episode will you “emotional about emotions” and help you look into his topic from the perspective of how we can use this knowledge to help our animals! See you in two weeks! In the meantime… BEHAVE yourself!
See also other posts:
August 4, 2026
Why Your Dog Starts Offering Every Familiar Behavior During Shaping
Your dog sits, paws, spins, lies down, and offers every familiar behavior during shaping. Trace reinforcement history and the changed contingency before labeling the learner.
August 4, 2026
Creating Behavior, Not Fixing It: Shaping Through Component Skills
Treat complex behavior as a structure: teach useful component skills separately, plan the joins, and assemble them without asking the learner to guess the whole answer.
June 30, 2023
Get Your Lost Dog Back Home Quickly: Follow These 12 Tips for Success
Vacations favor more frequent and longer walks with our furry friends. We travel, visit new places. Summer makes us loosen our brakes and allow our…