Part of the WIMBA Behavior Skill-Up Series: How Classical Conditioning for Dogs and consistent cues help patients stay calm and cooperative during handling, scanning, and wound-care routines.
Classical conditioning for dogs is the foundation of how animals learn from experience. By understanding how learning works, you can make medical procedures smoother, rehabilitation exercises more effective, and orthotic use stress-free.
Written by:
Dr. Emily Hall DVM, CCRT, CPAT-KA
What Is Learning?
Learning is the lasting change in behavior that arises from experience, practice, or training. In veterinary medicine, it supports everything from helping a dog use an orthosis to making medical procedures less stressful or rehab exercises more effective.
Classical Conditioning for Dogs: Why It Matters
Precise Communication
A clear marker allows you to signal the exact moment your dog performs the behavior you want more of. More efficient communication causes less frustration for all and best outcomes! This is especially important when teaching targeted movements during canine rehab therapy.
Positive Emotional Associations
You can pair unfamiliar clinical stimuli, such as the sound of certain equipment or wearing a new orthosis, with treats to create a calm, confident patient.
Ongoing Influence
Learning is always happening. Be aware of the associations your canine companion is forming with handling, locations, tools, or people. Remember, intentionally or unintentionally, any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to happen again!
Classical Conditioning for Dogs: Choosing a Marker
Common Options
- Clicker- one click (do not click more than once!)
- Single-syllable word like “Yes,” “Right,” “Done,” or “Thanks”
- Avoid using “Good boy” or “Good girl” as your marker. Save those as secondary reinforcers, since they carry emotional value and praise.
Consistency Matters
Use the same word, tone, and timing. In many fields, this tool is called a “marker” rather than a “bridge,” so we’ll stick with that term going forward.
Timing Practice
(No Dog Needed Yet- Do not participate when pet is in the same area)
This exercise builds precision and timing awareness before you begin training your dog.
- Watch TV. Mark at the exact moment a new person begins speaking.
- Mark at the start of each commercial.
- Toss a soft object in the air. Mark when it hits the highest point.
- Drop a ball. Mark when it touches the ground.
Classical Conditioning for Dogs: The Positive Reinforcement
The Positive Reinforcement isn’t just a tool. It sets the emotional tone for learning. When paired with operant conditioning, markers become a powerful aid in teaching both physical and behavioral skills.
This is how you communicate more clearly with your pet while training and can use it to help them have a positive association with something. It can be a communication tool to mark and reward the exact moment they did a behavior you would like to see again (like taking a step in their WIMBA brace or staying still for donning/doffing).
You can use a clicker or a one-word syllable like “Yes” or “Thanks,” said in the same tone each time. This is not the same as praise like “good boy/girl,” that is a type of reinforcement, and you can use it in that way.
🔗 Download the FULL Positive Reinforcement sheet HERE.
Nerd Alert – The Science Behind Classical Conditioning
For those who want to understand the “why” behind the practice, here’s what’s really happening under the surface of marker training. (If you’re a parent, student, or clinician curious about the science, this section is for you.)
From Cues to Reinforcement
We can create a communication bridge using classical conditioning—a link between the moment your dog performs the behavior you want to encourage and the moment you deliver the primary reinforcement (like a treat or toy). This bridge makes your timing and communication clearer and becomes the foundation for operant conditioning, which follows next.
Classical Conditioning for Dogs: The Four Building Blocks
| Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) | A stimulus that naturally elicits a response (for example, a tasty treat). |
| Unconditioned Response (UCR) | The animal’s innate reaction to the UCS (for example, salivation or an eager approach). |
| Conditioned Stimulus (CS) | A neutral cue (clicker, whistle, or a single-syllable word) that initially provokes no response. |
| Conditioned Response (CR) | The learned, involuntary reaction to the CS alone after repeated pairings with the UCS. It is usually identical to the UCR. |
Also known as: Pavlovian conditioning, associative learning, respondent conditioning, or reflexive conditioning.
How it works
🔗 This section goes with the WIMBA Behavior Tool Sheet.
- Initial Prep-Work
CS (click) → no reaction.
Follow CS immediately with UCS (treat) → UCR (happy, expectant dog). - Repetition
CS paired with UCS several times → the animal begins to anticipate. - Conditioned Response, CS alone → CR (the dog responds positively even before seeing the treat).
Eventually, CS alone → CR (the dog responds positively even before seeing the treat).
