What training technique involves teaching a sequence of behaviors where each leads to the next?

Chaining is the training technique that involves teaching a sequence of behaviors where each behavior triggers the next one in the sequence. This method is particularly effective for teaching complex tasks, as each behavior becomes a cue for the next action. By reinforcing each individual behavior first, the trainer provides a foundation that allows the dog to successfully link the behaviors together to complete the entire sequence.

For example, in a chain where a dog is taught to retrieve a ball, sit, and then give it back, each action serves as a prompt for the next. This way, the dog learns not only to perform these actions independently but also how they connect together in a flow. This technique is integral in developing more complicated skills and is commonly used in obedience training, competitive dog sports, and trick training.

In contrast, other techniques like shaping focus on gradually teaching a single behavior through successive approximations, while flooding involves exposing a dog to a stimulus to change its reaction. Conditioning refers to the broader concept of associating a stimulus with a response, which doesn’t specifically involve sequences of behaviors.