100 Words Every Dog Trainer Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	Acclimation	Gradual adjustment to new stimuli.
2.	Arousal	Dog’s activation level; excitement or alertness.
3.	Attention	Focus on handler or task.
4.	Avoidance	Moving away from unpleasant stimulus.
5.	Backchaining	Teach last step first.
6.	Bait bag	Pouch for treats during training.
7.	BAT	Behavior Adjustment Training method.
8.	Behavior chain	Sequence of linked behaviors.
9.	Behavior modification	Changing behavior using learning principles.
10.	Biddability	Willingness to cooperate and learn.
11.	Body language	Nonverbal signals: posture, tail, face.
12.	Boundary training	Teach dog to stay within limits.
13.	Bridging stimulus	Signal marking correct behavior.
14.	Calming signals	Appeasement gestures reducing conflict.
15.	Capture	Reinforce behavior when it occurs naturally.
16.	Classical conditioning	Learning by association of stimuli.
17.	Clicker	Device making marker sound.
18.	Counterconditioning	Change emotional response via new pairing.
19.	Criterion	Standard required for reinforcement.
20.	Cue	Signal that prompts a behavior.
21.	Desensitization	Gradual exposure below reaction threshold.
22.	Distance increase	Move farther to reduce stress.
23.	Distraction	Competing stimulus reducing focus.
24.	Drive	Motivation to pursue specific rewards.
25.	Duration	How long behavior is maintained.
26.	E-collar	Remote training collar; delivers stimulation.
27.	Engagement	Active interest in handler.
28.	Enrichment	Activities meeting behavioral needs.
29.	Errorless learning	Prevent mistakes by easy setups.
30.	Escape behavior	Action that ends aversive stimulus.
31.	Extinction	Behavior decreases when reinforcement stops.
32.	Extinction burst	Temporary increase when reinforcement ends.
33.	Fading	Gradually remove prompts or aids.
34.	Fear period	Developmental stage of heightened fear.
35.	Fixed interval	Reinforce after set time passes.
36.	Fixed ratio	Reinforce after set number responses.
37.	Flooding	Intense exposure until reaction stops.
38.	Food lure	Treat used to guide movement.
39.	Free shaping	Reinforce successive approximations without luring.
40.	Frustration	Arousal from blocked access to reward.
41.	Generalization	Behavior occurs in new contexts.
42.	Handler mechanics	Trainer’s timing, posture, leash skills.
43.	Head halter	Nose-loop tool for control.
44.	High-value reward	Especially motivating reinforcer.
45.	House training	Teach elimination in appropriate place.
46.	Impulse control	Resist urges; wait for permission.
47.	Incompatible behavior	Behavior preventing unwanted behavior.
48.	Intermittent reinforcement	Reinforce some, not all, responses.
49.	Jackpot	Large reward for excellent response.
50.	Latency	Time from cue to response.
51.	Learned helplessness	Shut down after inescapable aversives.
52.	Leash pressure	Tension used as information or control.
53.	LIMA	Least intrusive, minimally aversive approach.
54.	Loose-leash walking	Walk without leash tension.
55.	Luring	Guide behavior using visible reward.
56.	Management	Prevent rehearsal of unwanted behavior.
57.	Marker	Signal that pinpoints desired behavior.
58.	Muzzle training	Condition dog to wear muzzle comfortably.
59.	Negative punishment	Remove desired thing to reduce behavior.
60.	Negative reinforcement	Remove aversive to increase behavior.
61.	Neutral stimulus	Stimulus with no learned meaning.
62.	No-reward marker	Signal that reward won’t come.
63.	Observation	Watch behavior objectively and consistently.
64.	Off-leash reliability	Responds to cues without leash.
65.	Operant conditioning	Learning via consequences of behavior.
66.	Overthreshold	Too aroused to learn effectively.
67.	Pattern games	Predictable routines building focus and calm.
68.	Premack principle	High-probability behavior reinforces low-probability.
69.	Prompt	Help that increases correct response.
70.	Proofing	Train for distractions, distance, duration.
71.	Punisher	Consequence that decreases behavior.
72.	Rate of reinforcement	How often rewards are delivered.
73.	Reactivity	Overresponse to triggers like dogs or people.
74.	Recall	Come when called.
75.	Reinforcement schedule	Rule for when rewards occur.
76.	Reinforcer	Consequence that increases behavior.
77.	Replacement behavior	Desired alternative to problem behavior.
78.	Response prevention	Block access to perform unwanted behavior.
79.	Reward placement	Deliver reward to influence position.
80.	Safe space	Area where dog can decompress.
81.	Scavenging	Searching for and eating found items.
82.	Shaping	Reinforce small steps toward goal behavior.
83.	Socialization	Positive exposure to people, dogs, environments.
84.	SOP	Standard procedure for consistent training.
85.	Stimulus control	Behavior occurs only on cue.
86.	Stress signals	Signs of discomfort or anxiety.
87.	Successive approximations	Gradual steps toward final behavior.
88.	Targeting	Touch target with nose or paw.
89.	Threshold	Point where dog reacts to trigger.
90.	Time-out	Brief removal from reinforcement access.
91.	Timing	Deliver marker and reward precisely.
92.	Trigger	Stimulus that elicits strong reaction.
93.	Two-week shutdown	Decompression period for new dog.
94.	Variable interval	Reinforce after varying time intervals.
95.	Variable ratio	Reinforce after varying number responses.
96.	Veterinary behaviorist	Vet specializing in behavior medicine.
97.	Welfare	Overall physical and emotional well-being.
98.	Whiplash turn	Fast turn to reorient to handler.
99.	Working distance	Distance where dog can learn calmly.
100.	X-pen	Exercise pen for containment.