What is it called when a dog stops a behavior due to a consistent lack of reinforcement for that behavior?

When a dog stops a behavior due to a consistent lack of reinforcement for that behavior, it is referred to as extinction. In the context of operant conditioning, extinction occurs when a previously reinforced behavior is no longer followed by the reinforcement that strengthened it. Over time, if the behavior does not result in the expected outcome (such as treats or praise), the dog learns that the behavior is no longer rewarding and will gradually stop performing it.

This process is an important concept in dog training because understanding extinction helps trainers modify undesirable behaviors by withholding reinforcement. For example, if a dog has been barking to get attention, and the owner consistently ignores the barking, the dog may eventually stop barking as it learns that this behavior no longer results in the desired outcome.