What is transfer of learning in canine training?

• A. The dog forgets old tasks when learning new ones.
• B. The effect of prior learning on acquiring a new skill.
• C. A training method to punish competing behaviors.
• D. A technique for teaching new tricks quickly.

Answer: (B)

Transfer of learning is how a dog’s previous training influences its ability to learn something new. If prior experiences provide similar cues, responses, or reinforcement, learning the new task can be faster and smoother—positive transfer. If old learning clashes with the new task, performance can suffer—negative transfer. In canine training, you might see positive transfer when a scent-searching routine from one context helps a new search task, or negative transfer when a cue from an old task interferes with the new behavior. So the idea is that prior learning affects how a new skill is acquired.