Clicker trainers have learned that there are four basic types of consequences. By using consequences to their advantage, clicker trainers can improve the chance of a behavior happening again or lessen the chance of it happening again.

The first type of consequence is Positive Reinforcement. This is when something good (Positive=something that is given) happens after a behavior. This should cause the behavior to be more likely to happen again (reinforce it). Here are a few examples of Positive Reinforcement.

1. The phone rings (antecedent) and you answer it (behavior). The person calling is a long lost friend (consequence).
   
2. You ask a child to sit down (antecedent). The child sits (behavior). You give the child a piece of candy (consequence).
   
3. You say sit (antecedent). Your dog sits (behavior). You give your dog a treat(consequence).

The next type of consequence is Negative Reinforcement. This is when something bad is taken away (Negative=taken away) to make the behavior more likely to happen again (reinforce it). Here are a few examples of Negative Reinforcement.

1. You answer the phone and an obnoxious sales person is on the other end (antecedent). You hang up the phone (behavior). The persons voice disappears (consequence).
   
2. You yell and scream at a child to sit down (antecedent). The child sits (behavior). The yelling stops (consequence).
   
3. You jerk on the choke chain (antecedent). The dog sits (behavior). The choking stops (consequence).
   
   

It is important to understand that in behavioral terms positive is not "good" it is the giving of something. Negative is not "bad" it is the taking away of something.

The third type of consequence is Positive Punishment. This is when something bad is given (remember Positive means something that is given, not good) to make a behavior less likely to happen again (punishment--the behavior is not likely to be repeated). Some examples are:

1. You see the red light (antecedent). You step on the gas and run the light (behavior). The cop gives you a $100 ticket (consequence).
   
2. The phone rings (antecedent). You answer it (behavior). You listen to an obscene phone call (consequence).
   
3. You ask a child to sit (antecedent). The child continues to run around the room (behavior). The child gets a detention (consequence).
   
4. You say sit (antecedent). Your dog stands (behavior). You hit your dog on the rear end (consequence).
   

And finally you have Negative Punishment. This is the taking away (Negative) of something good so that a behavior is less likely to happen, (punishment). For example:

1. You hear the phone ring (antecedent) and you answer it (behavior). You talk so long that you miss your date with someone you like (consequence).
   
2. You ask a child to sit down (antecedent). The child continues to run around the room (behavior). You take away the child's recess time (consequence).
   
3. You say sit and hold a treat in front of your dogs nose (antecedent). Your dog runs around the room (behavior). You put the treat back in your pocket (consequence).
   

These examples are simplified. Nothing in our lives or the dogs' lives happens with only one antecedent or one consequence. For example: You are on the way to the hospital because your wife is in labor and you are really worried about not getting there in time. The light turns red and even though you know you should stop or you could get a ticket or be hurt, it is 2:30 in the morning and no one else is on the quiet back street and so you run the light in hopes of getting to the hospital before the baby arrives.

The important thing to think about, and what good clicker trainers think about all the time, is what behavior do I want the dog to do and how can I change the consequences so that the chances are she will (or won't) do that behavior again.

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