Don't shoot the dog!
the new art of teaching and training
by Karen Pryor · first published 1984
23mentions
19recommended by
20HN commenters
2010–2026first – last mentioned
95% recommend5% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Fun, informative guide to operant conditioning and positive reinforcement that applies beyond dogs to cats, horses, people, managers, and habit change; suits animal trainers and anyone shaping behavior.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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When it comes to training humans and animals, positive punishment is far less effective than most other training techniques like positive reinforcement. Don't Shoot the Dog[1]! [1] https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Teaching-Training/dp/0...
on “Zoom lied to users about end-to-end encryption for years, FTC says” ↗Fantastic, I love reading about canine learning. Seeing Patricia McConnell's (of "The Other End of the Leash" fame) adornment of it is a huge reason for me to buy this book. Training my dog with that book (and Don't Shoot the Dog, by Pryor) framing how I interpret what my dog tells me has been hugely beneficial for both my sanity, and I'm sure my dog's as well.
on ““The Domestic Dog”, featuring two decades of new evidence” ↗A great book about this is Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. Even if you don't own a dog (I don't), it's a great guide to how animals--including humans--learn behaviors and can be trained best with positive reinforcement.
on “To Change Habits, Try Replacement Instead” ↗Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. While a lot of people treat it as a dog training book, her work in behavioral psychology and training has much broader applications. It can really change the way you approach interpersonal…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗…animal training); but I hope at least the connection of corporate policy to empirical behavioral science and psychology isn't the cause of the downvoting... anyway if you're interested, a great book is "Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor. And on the business side, W. Edwards Deming's seminal work "Out of the Crisis." Essentially both show a proven way of dealing with any living thing that's based on positive behavior and…
on ““Warning” signs at historical sites tell visitors to relax and enjoy themselves” ↗But Don't Shoot the Dog! ;-) http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Teaching-Training/dp/05... This is actually a very fun read about conditioning - no matter if you have a cat or dog. I've read it quite a while ago, and I remember…
on “Monkey the Cat Hunts for Dinner” ↗…that moment, but for example, you can say "yes!" or use a clicker at that moment, and give the reward later, and it will be clear what caused it. For anyone training any animal, I recommend the book: Don't Shoot the Dog! The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor (not affiliated in any way)
on “When employees feel slighted, they work less” ↗…https://github.com/pdfernhout/High-Performance-Organizations... Books on using positive reinforcement to shape behavior as is done with dolphins (and profoundly autistic children) might also be of interest (e.g. Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training"). A variation of that idea is changing your behavior when your wife does something to avoid reinforcing your wife's behaviors -- kind of like discussed in "Bullies…
on “Beware of Being “Right”” ↗…into trouble with and I speak from experience. Most people probably don't have enough experience to gauge the effort or different ways to undertake a dog training program. I recommend Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog" for people interested in training philosophy. Be aware, there are rabid (sorry, couldn't resist) advocates for various dog training approaches online and they take great pleasure in destroying forums,…
on “Dogs improve office productivity” ↗Don't shoot the dog, by Karen Pryor, about operand conditioning, the effects of positive and negative reinforcement. This is a fun book, and very informative.
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗Indeed, it will not. Operant conditioning theory says that punishing someone almost always leads to more negative behavior. Every leader and manager should read “Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor, as it clearly explains this and many other common mistakes that such people make when trying to influence or direct employee behavior.
on “Gender Pay Gap Bot calls out brands tweeting about International Women's Day” ↗Read “Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor. Use operant conditioning to change their behavior. Make them your bitch.
on “Ask HN: How to deal with an asshole colleague?” ↗…lists and to closer to the source. A few recommendations: Self Help Without the Hype (R. Epstein) Tiny Habits (BJ Fogg) Self-Directed Behavior: Self-Modification for Personal Adjustment (Watson/Tharp) Don't Shoot the Dog (Pryor) Really, just the first one will likely be enough.
on “Why 'Atomic Habits' may not be working for you” ↗…commenter The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business http://www.amzn.com/1400069289 > [using the habit loop] cycle to structure habits in your own life > > - HN commenter Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training http://www.amzn.com/1860542387 > a manual and a philosophy for solving the problems in your life caused by > other's behavior, whether it is your husband,…
on “How to Train Your Spouse Like an Animal” ↗The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) has a decent reading list too https://apdt.com/trainers/career/resources/ "Don't Shoot the Dog" is on it, because its classic :)
on “Book Summary: Don't Shoot the Dog” ↗