What’s the Difference Between Obedience Training and Behavior Training?

Question

What’s the Difference Between Obedience Training and Behavior Training?

Short answer

Obedience teaches skills and responses to cues; behaviour training works on the emotional and environmental causes behind issues such as fear, anxiety, reactivity, or aggression.

Key points

• Obedience: sit, stay, come, heel, loose-leash walking.
• Behaviour: fear, anxiety, aggression, reactivity, guarding, or stress.
• A dog can know cues and still have an emotional problem.
• Behaviour problems require management, desensitisation, and counter-conditioning.
• Many dogs need both.

Verdict

If the dog can learn but does not know what to do, it is obedience; if they are emotionally overwhelmed, it is behaviour.

Sources consulted

• Minnesota Dog Training — https://www.mndogtraining.com/articles/obedience-training-vs-behavioral-training/
• Holistichound — https://holistichound.org/posts/understanding-the-difference-between-obedience-and-behavioral-training-for-dogs-a-holistic-approach/
• Scentsible K9 Training — https://www.scentsiblek9training.com/dog-training-resources/obedience-versus-behavior