When your friends visit, you want your dog to sit quietly rather than jumping on them as she does now. How would you accomplish this?
A) First, reward the dog with treats when she obeys your "Down!" command. Then reward her only when she is standing near your friends but not jumping on them. Finally, reward her only when she is sitting quietly.
B) Extinguish the bad behavior by closing the dog in a bathroom when she jumps on your friends.
C) Teach the dog to associate the sound of the doorbell with the acquisition of food so she will be distracted and not bother your friends.
D) Withhold food for several hours after the dog jumps on someone.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This approach uses positive reinforcement to gradually train the dog to sit quietly when friends visit. By rewarding the desired behavior (sitting quietly) in a step-by-step process, the dog will learn what is expected of her and be more likely to repeat the behavior in the future. Punishing the dog (such as by withholding food or locking her in a bathroom) may temporarily stop the bad behavior, but does not teach the desired behavior and can harm the bond between the dog and owner. Distracting the dog with food when the doorbell rings may also be helpful, but should be used in conjunction with training rather than as the sole method of addressing the issue.

When Your Friends Visit, You Want Your Dog to Sit