What is a common effect of variable reinforcement schedules on dog behavior?

• A. They increase persistence in seeking rewards
• B. They reduce motivation
• C. They speed up learning rate
• D. They produce rapid extinction

Answer: (A)

Variable reinforcement schedules make rewards unpredictable, so the dog continues to seek rewards and perform the behavior in hopes of getting reinforced. This unpredictability builds persistence and makes the behavior resistant to extinction, which is a common outcome in training when rewards are not given after every trial. In practice, you’ll see dogs maintain the response even when reinforcement becomes less frequent. This differs from a fixed, predictable schedule, which can lead to quicker extinction once rewards stop. The other options don’t fit because variable reinforcement doesn’t inherently reduce motivation, it doesn’t automatically speed up learning rate, and it actually slows rapid extinction rather than causing it.