What are reinforcers that become important to the dog by association with primary reinforcers?

The concept of secondary reinforcers refers to stimuli that acquire their reinforcing properties through their association with primary reinforcers, which are naturally satisfying or rewarding, such as food or comfort. For instance, if a dog learns that a clicker sound is followed by receiving treats (the primary reinforcer), the clicker itself begins to hold value as a secondary reinforcer. This means that the dog will respond to the clicker in anticipation of receiving the treat, demonstrating how the learning process works through associative conditioning.

In contrast, tertiary reinforcers are not commonly recognized in operant conditioning terminology and may confuse learners. Intrinsic rewards pertain to natural satisfaction derived from the behavior itself rather than external rewards. Primary motivators often refer to fundamental needs or drives, such as hunger or thirst, which are closely linked to primary reinforcers but do not address the associative aspect that characterizes secondary reinforcers. Thus, recognizing secondary reinforcers is key in dog training, as they can effectively enhance behavior modification strategies.