What does an intermittent reinforcement schedule entail?

An intermittent reinforcement schedule involves rewarding a behavior after certain responses have been completed, rather than providing a reward after every instance of the behavior. This method is particularly effective for maintaining a behavior over time because it creates an unpredictable pattern, which can increase the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.

When rewards are given after specific occurrences of a response, dogs may remain motivated to engage in the behavior, anticipating a reward at some point, even if it's not guaranteed after each attempt. This inconsistency is often more engaging than continuous reinforcement, making it a powerful tool in training.

In contrast, rewarding every response leads to a behavior becoming dependent on constant reinforcement, which might diminish once that reinforcement is removed. Other options, such as never rewarding responses, do not align with the concept of reinforcement, as they wouldn't promote the desired behavior at all, while rewarding at random intervals is a different method known as variable reinforcement, which can also create strong behavior but is distinct from the structured pattern implied in the correct answer.