The Science of Happy Talk

What exactly is “happy talk?”

“Happy talk” is simply sweet and cheerful chatter that engages your dog.

You probably do this already!

You may not know that happy talk has an important function in dog training.

Happy talk can serve as a bridge between your dog’s doing a behavior (such as “leave it”) and being rewarded for that behavior.

In positive-reinforcement, rewards-based dog training, we motivate dogs with treats, toys, and play – good things that he enjoys.

In the science of animal learning, these good things are known as “primary reinforcers” – your dog doesn’t need to learn that they are good things.

Happy talk is considered a “secondary reinforcer.”

Your dog needs to learn it predicts good things.

Secondary reinforcers predict or bridge the way to a primary reinforcer, because they have been paired together over time.

Remember, dogs are experts at quickly learning that one thing predicts another.

Some examples:

• A crinkling plastic bag during training predicts treats
• Humans picking up the leash predicts a walk
• People in the kitchen predict food

This pairing of events is the psychological science attributed to Ivan Pavlov that came to be known as “classical conditioning.”

Pavlov studied digestive systems in dogs and realized they started salivating whenever his lab assistant approached, because the lab assistant fed the dogs.

Rewards-based dog pros take advantage of this pairing of events — we train “with Pavlov on our shoulder.”

For instance, trainers often use clickers to mark a behavior we want a dog to do. Dogs quickly learn that a click predicts a treat.

Happy Talk is another way to mark a behavior.

It doesn’t matter what you say, but how you say it.

In this video, I asked Daisy to “Leave It” when she was chasing another dog.

As soon as I heard her returning to me, I started with the Happy Talk, since I was too far away to reward her immediately.

Notice the spring in her step and licking her chops.

She knows a treat is coming!

Here, Petey is getting into something naughty on our walk. He can grab things even through his muzzle.

Even dog trainers sometimes fumble treat delivery. I’m using happy talk to bridge the gap between “leave it” and giving Petey his reward.

So next time you give your dog a reward for good behavior or just at treat time, throw in some happy talk.

You may discover that Happy Talking with your dog just plain feels good. It’s behavior that works for you and your dog.

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Janice Zazinski of Daily Zen Dog Training is a graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers. She uses force-free, rewards-based training to create behavior that works for people and their dogs. Based in Medford, Mass., Daily Zen Dog Training currently holds all one-on-one training sessions live and online. Visit Daily Zen Dog Training for more information!