Everything animals do is affected by learning. This includes unhealthy or maladaptive behavior such as aggression and anxiety as well as simple, everyday behavior such as interactions with family members, strangers, and other dogs. In addition, learning is affected by everything we do and experience. Things like trauma and success, as well as feeling excited or scared after a particular experience, all affect how animals learn. As dog trainers, we need to have a very strong foundation in learning theory if we want to effectively establish new behaviors and modify old ones. This class is an excellent way to establish that knowledge. Introduction to Learning covers the biology of learning, instrumental conditioning, classical conditioning, the role of emotion in learning as well as the application and integration of these topics. Throughout the class, students will have multiple opportunities to use in-class activities to further their understanding of the material and to receive feedback regarding their progress in the course.

Sponsor:Smart Dog Training and Behavior LLC
Speaker(s):Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB

Contact: Kristina Spaulding
 Email: info@smartdogtrainingandbehavior.com
 Web: http://smartdogtrainingandbehavior.com/introduction-to-learning/