Episode 64: Variable Reinforcement is a LIE

Training Without Conflict Podcast

TWC Podcast #64 Slot Machines Don’t Train Dogs!What if everything you’ve been told about variable reinforcement is only half the story?Dog trainers and psychologists love to say, “Switch to variable reinforcement, it’s like a slot machine, that’s how behaviors stick.” But here’s the truth: that analogy is flawed, incomplete, and in training, often misleading.In this episode, Ivan Balabanov breaks down:-Why the slot machine comparison fails in dog training.-When is Continuous Reinforcement actually more powerful?-How to use extinction bursts as a tool to sharpen behaviors.-Why barking, whining, and nipping aren’t “disobedience” but feedback.-The difference between keeping behaviors alive vs. making them bulletproof.Dogs aren’t pigeons in Skinner boxes. They aren’t gamblers at slot machines. Real training is about clarity, joy, precision, and connection — not random paychecks.If you’re serious about dog training, this episode will challenge what you’ve been told and show you how to think beyond the textbook.Subscribe to the Training Without Conflict® Podcast for more episodes