what is the difference between training and behaviour?
Welcome back, I missed you!
This blog centres upon my thoughts on the difference between training and behaviour.
Bobby light chaser Dandie Dinmont, had generalised anxiety and needed lots of behaviour support
What is the difference then Katie?
Great question! But you knew I would say that. So for me here is the thing...training is about teaching an animal or person something they didn't know how to do when asked to do it by you, or to improve it. Behaviour in terms of what I do, is essentially changing an existing unwanted behaviour that is causing problems to yourself, the animal or the environment at large and modifying it. But here is the rub, if it is alive an animal is always behaving. Behaviour is something measurable and observable.
You see, even when you are asleep you are DOING something that can be measured or observed. Think about it, you are breathing so your chest would rise and fall, there may even be eye movements or muscle twitches. One of my mentors in the past was Dr Susan Friedman, and she wrote this:
“behavior is part of a reciprocal interaction between an individuals’ genetics, behavior history and the environmental context in which the behavior is performed”
So next time you are making your head hurt wondering if this is training or behaviour, consider if this is a problem behaviour that needs changing or a new behaviour that needs learning.
Eric learned that the tap had water and trained his humans to turn it on for him on demand
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