The procedure of course requires considerable patience and skill, as the reward, at least initially, must follow the desired behavior very rapidly indeed, otherwise one is rewarding not the desired but some other piece of behavior. Research with other animals has suggested that the timing of reward or reinforcement and the schedule of it, how many trials are rewarded and how many are not rewarded, is very important in establishing stable patterns of learned behavior. We could not leave learning theory without mentioning negative reinforcement or punishment. Just as animals learn to continue behavior which is rewarded, so they learn to inhibit behavior that is punished. Note however, that punished behavior is not lost, it is only inhibited.
Every dog trainer knows that some punishment is needed in the training of dogs.
Watching a mother dog, one tends to see variable signals of punishment and reward, with an undesirable act such as a too sharp nip on the ear being followed by hasty punishment and then comfort such as licking. With the use of punishment even more than with the use of positive reward, it is most essential that the punishment be attached to the undesirable behavior. If the dog is punished five minutes later for a misdemeanor, only confusion and bewilderment and possibly generalized fear can follow. In general, punishment is best used judiciously, sparingly, and in a context of reward for desired behavior. The domestic dog can, and does, learn a variety of behaviors, some of which we desire, some not.