Temporary Criteria describes the beginning steps of an exercise toward performing a command that is new to the dog.

• A. Temporary Criteria
• B. Discriminative Stimulus
• C. Generalization
• D. Habit Formation

Answer: (A)

Temporary Criteria focuses on easing a dog into a new command by lowering the requirements at the start and rewarding early, correct approximations. This approach is used when introducing a behavior that isn't yet fully mastered, so you set modest targets that the dog can achieve reliably, then gradually raise the standard as performance improves. By rewarding these initial steps, you build confidence and momentum, which makes it more likely the dog will learn the final, full behavior.

For example, when teaching a dog to go to a mat, you might first reward the dog for approaching the mat or placing a paw on it, then for lying on it, and only later require the exact final position. This is different from a discriminative stimulus, which is a cue indicating reinforcement is available, or from generalization, which concerns performing the behavior in new contexts, or from habit formation, which is about making the behavior automatic through repetition.