Which of the following best describes Discrimination in dog training?

Discrimination in dog training refers to a dog's ability to recognize and respond to different cues or stimuli in specific ways. When a dog discriminates effectively, it can distinguish between various signals or commands and understand that each cue is associated with a distinct action or behavior. For instance, if a dog is trained to sit when commanded and lay down when given a different command, it demonstrates discrimination by responding appropriately to each unique cue.

In contrast, responding to all stimuli equally would indicate a lack of discrimination, as the dog would not be able to differentiate between cues. Ignoring all stimuli unless food is presented suggests a very limited response framework focused only on reinforcement rather than cues. Finally, only responding when the trainer is present does not encompass the concept of discrimination, which involves recognizing cues irrespective of the trainer's presence. Understanding this distinction is essential for effective training, as it lays the groundwork for teaching dogs complex tasks and commands based on their responses to specific cues.