Training vs. Practice – What’s the Difference?

Merriam-Webster provides us with the following definitions:

Train - An orderly succession. A series of parts or elements that together constitute a system for producing a result and especially for carrying on a process automatically.

Practice - To do or perform often, customarily, or habitually. To perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient.

Training - Introduction to Performance

When we first introduce a cue such as "park," we break it down into smaller behaviors that we can mark with a "yes" and reward. We don't expect that the dog will be able to perform this more complicated task with proficiency until we have accurately reinforced the smaller behaviors that make up the cue. When we are at this stage, we are actively training the behavior.

Gaining Proficiency

Once the dog has a clear understanding of how to move its body and get into the "park" position on cue, we move on to proofing its understanding of the cue. We might ask the dog to "park" in a new location or near novel distractions. This will begin as training, but this is also where the lines between training and practicing may start to blur. The dog may gain proficiency in different situations at different rates. Your rate of reinforcement will remain high to allow the dog to fully grasp that your expectations of the cue stay the same under all situations.

Proficiency Is Key - But the Process is Fluid

Once the dog is proficient at performing a "park" in a variety of different locations and with a variety of distractions, you have made the transition from training to practice. Practice keeps a dog's skills sharp. We may begin to reduce our rate of reinforcement as the skill has clearly been learned. However, you may still encounter times when the dog struggles to perform the cue. Maybe a new distraction is nearby, and you will need to switch from practice mode to training mode - providing the dog with more information through additional reinforcement.

Many dogs that are Puppy Raised in our prison programs come out being able to perform many skills but are still in need of working on those skills in the presence of distractions and in a variety of new places.

Let the Dog be your Guide

Dogs are master communicators if we take the time to observe and listen. When you find yourself saying, "What the heck, I KNOW you know how to do this!" the dog is trying to tell you that under the current set of circumstances, it is not able to perform without some additional assistance from you. They are not being "bad" dogs, but rather, are trying to let us know that we need to move from a mindset of practice to one of training.

Need help determining where the dog in your care fits when performing a specific cue or skill? Have questions about today's topic or want more information? Reach out to Puppy Program staff. Our Instructors are all training nerds by nature and welcome the opportunity to discuss things further.