09/02/2026
🐾 DOG TRAINING VOCABULARY — WEEK 23
Extinction • Extinction Burst • Persistence
Have you ever stopped allowing a behavior only to have your dog suddenly try it harder?
Maybe the jumping gets more intense.
The barking gets louder.
The begging lasts longer.
It can feel like training is making things worse.
But there may be a learning process happening underneath it.
This week we're looking at three words that help explain why:
EXTINCTION
Extinction is the gradual weakening of a learned behavior when the consequence that previously maintained it is no longer available.
In simple terms:
“That used to work. Now it doesn't.”
Examples:
🐕 Jumping for attention
If jumping has consistently earned touching, talking or attention, the dog has a reason to keep jumping. When jumping no longer produces that result, the behavior may begin to decrease.
🍗 Begging at the table
If begging has resulted in scraps from someone's plate, the dog has learned that waiting beside the table can pay off. When table food consistently stops coming, begging may eventually decrease.
🚪 Barking at the door
If barking makes someone immediately open the door, barking can become the dog's strategy. We can make barking ineffective while teaching and reinforcing a more appropriate behavior, such as sitting quietly at the door.
Interesting fact:
Extinction doesn't necessarily mean the dog has forgotten the behavior. An old behavior can sometimes reappear after it seemed to be gone, especially in a familiar situation where it used to work.
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EXTINCTION BURST
An extinction burst is a temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, duration or variety of a previously reinforced behavior when the expected result stops occurring.
In simple terms:
“That always worked before. Maybe I need to try harder.”
Think about pressing an elevator button.
You press it once.
Nothing happens.
So what do you do?
You probably press it again.
Maybe harder.
Maybe several times.
Dogs can do something similar.
🐕 Demand barking
One bark used to make someone throw the ball. Now it doesn't. The dog may temporarily bark louder or repeatedly.
🐕 Jumping on visitors
Jumping used to produce attention. When it stops working, the dog may initially jump more often or more enthusiastically.
🐕 Whining for something
If whining has historically produced attention or access to something the dog wants, the whining may temporarily become more persistent when that result disappears.
Interesting fact:
An extinction burst isn't guaranteed to happen. But when it does, owners can mistakenly believe the new training isn't working because the behavior temporarily becomes worse.
And that's exactly when consistency becomes important.
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PERSISTENCE
Persistence is the tendency of a behavior to continue despite obstacles, changes in reinforcement or repeated lack of success.
In this week's lesson, think of it as:
“How long will the dog keep trying something that used to work?”
🍔 Counter surfing
A dog finds one sandwich on the counter. Even if the counter is empty the next twenty times, that successful discovery may keep him checking.
🐕 Pulling toward another dog
If pulling has sometimes resulted in getting closer to another dog, the dog may continue trying that strategy even after the rules change.
👵 Begging from the family
Mom doesn't feed from the table.
Dad doesn't.
The kids don't.
But Grandma occasionally slips the dog a bite.
Guess who's going to keep begging?
Interesting fact:
Behaviors that only work sometimes can become surprisingly persistent.
If the dog never knows which attempt will pay off, there can be a good reason to keep trying.
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SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
Extinction does not simply mean:
“Ignore bad behavior until it goes away.”
Good training gives the dog a clearer path.
My approach is:
Prevent the dog from practicing the unwanted behavior when possible.
Make the old behavior ineffective.
Show the dog what you want instead.
Reinforce the correct choice.
Correct and redirect when appropriate.
Then be consistent.
Imagine a dog who jumps for attention.
He jumps once.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
He tries harder.
Still nothing.
Then, after the tenth attempt, someone finally pets him.
What might the dog learn?
Not necessarily that jumping doesn't work.
He may learn:
“Keep trying. Eventually it works.”
And that brings us to the most important lesson this week:
Dogs don't just learn what works.
They learn how long they have to keep trying before it works.
Consistency isn't about being stubborn with your dog.
It's about making the rules clear enough that your dog doesn't have to keep guessing.
🐾 A New Leash On Life Dog Training
The better you communicate, the less you need to correct.
