Training Tips From Susan: Matching Law In Dog Training: Why Your Dog Chooses One Behavior Over Another

Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

DogsThat

Education, Puppy, Recallers, Animalbehaviour, Dogs, Kids & Family, Pets, Dogtraining, Dogsthat, Petmanners, Susangarrett, Pets & Animals

4.8 • 679 Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Message From Susan

Hey everyone, it’s Susan, and you’re about to hear one of my training tips and tidbits. These are quick, actionable strategies to help you and your dog in everyday life or for dog sport. Often our short videos with tips are created from your most popular segments of podcast episodes. So, let’s dive in!

Matching Law in Dog Training: Why Your Dog Chooses One Behavior Over Another

I’m sharing the science behind Matching Law and why your dog chooses one behavior over another. Understanding this can transform how you train and connect with your dog and help you grow the behaviors you do want so you can set your dog up for success.

Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZSCQFapIww&t=779s

Transcript

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0:00.0	Do you ever wonder why a dog might listen 100% perfectly to you at certain times,
0:12.0	but other times like completely tunes you out as if he can't hear you at all? You may be surprised
0:19.6	to learn there is actually a scientific reason for that
0:22.8	happening and that scientific principle is called matching law. And I'm going to read you the
0:29.3	description of what exactly matching law is. And matching law states the probability of your dog choosing one behavior over another is all
0:41.7	dependent upon the reinforcement history of each of those behaviors. So, you might think, okay,
0:49.1	if my WIPP has had the chance to chase a bunny out in the field five times. Matching law then states,
0:58.5	I just need to give them a cookie six times to overcome that, right? No. It sounds like a reasonable
1:05.8	explanation based on what I just said matching law is. But today we need to dig deeper into what matching law
1:14.7	is really talking about because all reinforcement is not equal to our dogs. And so you really
1:21.0	have to keep this principle like close to your heart. If you want to be a trainer like me who
1:27.2	chooses to never use physical
1:30.2	corrections or verbal intimidation in order to have a dog fit into your world, into your life,
1:36.2	regardless if you choose to do sports or you just want a really well-behaved family pet,
1:42.4	matching law will help you so you don't need to turn to punishment.
1:47.2	And so you need to consider matching law says the probability for a dog to choose one behavior over
1:53.1	another all comes down to the reinforcement history of each behavior. But let's consider what
1:58.7	reinforcement is. It has to do with the value of each reinforcement.
2:04.9	So, we need to consider, does the value of a dog, and I use the example of a whipet who loves to
2:11.0	chase, does a value of a dog chasing a rabbit equal the value of a dog getting a yummy treat?
2:21.8	Highly, highly improbable for dogs who have high prey drive. Now, it might very well be probable for some dogs who really have no interest
2:28.7	in chasing other animals. Those are few and far between, quite honestly. So, it comes down to
	...

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