OVERVIEW

This professional-focused module takes a deeper dive into the science of learning and behavior, providing the theoretical knowledge and technical language needed to interpret, assess, and design effective training and behavior modification plans. Building on the foundations of Module 1, we will explore respondent and operant conditioning with greater precision, examine reinforcement processes in detail, and introduce key concepts from applied behavior analysis that directly inform practice.

You will learn how to identify and work with setting events and motivating operations, apply stimulus control effectively, and understand when and how extinction may be used ethically. We will also examine reinforcement schedules, methods for measuring behavior, and the critical roles of empowerment, disempowerment, and learned helplessness in canine welfare.

By the end of this module, participants will have the confidence to use scientific terminology correctly, integrate behavioral principles into case analysis, and apply force-free, evidence-based strategies with clarity and purpose.

Learning Objectives

In this module, you will:

• Define learning and behavior using scientific terminology.
• Explain respondent and operant conditioning in depth, including the quadrants and stimulus control.
• Apply desensitization, counterconditioning, and reinforcement processes with advanced precision.
• Identify setting events and motivating operations in case analysis.
• Evaluate the use of extinction and reinforcement schedules in training plans.
• Measure behavior effectively to track progress.
• Recognize the impact of empowerment, disempowerment, and learned helplessness on canine welfare.