Which training method is used when a handler physically repositions the dog into a sit after it stands up?

The training method described, where a handler physically repositions the dog into a sit after it stands up, exemplifies positive punishment. In this context, positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant consequence or action to discourage an undesired behavior—in this case, the dog standing when it should be sitting. By physically guiding the dog back to the sitting position, the handler is attempting to correct the behavior of standing, effectively making it less likely to happen in the future.

Positive punishment relies on the principle that by adding something aversive (in this instance, the physical correction), the dog will learn to avoid the unwanted behavior. This strategy contrasts with positive reinforcement, where a reward would be given to encourage a desired behavior, or negative reinforcement, where an aversive stimulus is removed to strengthen a behavior. Extinction involves the removal of a reinforcement that was previously maintaining a behavior, leading to a decrease in that behavior over time. In this scenario, the physical action taken to place the dog back into a sit directly aligns with the concepts of positive punishment.