Animal Quote by Jean Donaldson
““Because behavior is under the control of its consequences, obedience training is about providing consequences to the dog. Life is a never-ending series of:"If you do this, this happens, if you do that, another thing happens." There are two kinds of things that happen in life, good things and bad things, so there are four kinds of consequences: good stuff can 1) start and 2) end; bad stuff can 1) start and 2) end. Your dog is constantly trying to start the good stuff, end the bad stuff, avoid ending the good stuff, and avoid starting the bad stuff. He's playing his entire environment, including you, this way. If you can recognize this and exploit it, *voila!* Control of the dog.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Clicker Training for Dogs by Jean Donaldson, 1997
Behavior is shaped by consequences; training leverages this by providing clear outcomes to guide actions.
In simple terms: Training uses cause and effect to shape dog behavior.
Key Takeaway
Use consistent consequences to guide behavior.
Themes
training
behavior
consequences
learning
Mood
focused
analytical
Type
instructional
practical
When to use this quote
- dog obedience
- pet training
- behavior modification
Key Concepts
Operant conditioning
reinforcement schedules
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance positive and negative reinforcement?
- What signs show a dog understands the consequence?
A Different Perspective
Good and bad outcomes can be ambiguous; over‑reliance on punishment may cause fear.
