Episode 053 - What Is a Behavior Chain in Dog Training? (Tricks vs. Behavior Science Explained)

Season #1 June 02, 2026

Show Notes

Quick Answer

A behavior chain in dog training is a sequence of behaviors linked together to produce a final outcome. In behavior science, each step in the sequence becomes the cue for the next behavior. However, in trick dog training organizations, a behavior chain usually refers to two or more separate tricks performed in sequence on a single cue, which can lead to confusion between the scientific and trick-training definitions.

Episode Overview

One of the most common questions in trick dog training is: “What exactly is a behavior chain?”

The confusion comes from the fact that behavior scientists and trick training organizations use the term differently. In behavior science, a behavior chain refers to a sequence of connected actions that lead to a final behavior. In trick training, the term typically describes multiple unrelated tricks performed in order from a single cue.

In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility Podcast, Lorrie explains the scientific definition of a behavior chain, how trick training organizations interpret the concept, and why understanding the difference matters if you're working toward trick dog titles.

Key Points From This Episode

The Behavior Science Definition of a Behavior Chain

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a behavior chain is defined as:

A sequence of individual behaviors that, when linked together, produce a final behavior.

Each behavior becomes a cue for the next step in the sequence.

For example, a 2-on/2-off contact performance in dog agility can be viewed as a behavior chain:

The dog approaches the contact obstacle
Runs up the ramp
Travels across the top
Decelerates down the ramp
Moves into the 2-on/2-off position
Waits for a release cue

Each step leads naturally to the next, forming the complete performance.

This type of sequence is often trained using back chaining, where the final behavior is taught first and earlier steps are gradually added.

How Trick Training Organizations Define Behavior Chains

In trick dog training organizations, a behavior chain typically means something different.

Instead of a sequence of related behaviors, trick training chains usually involve:

Two or more separate and unrelated tricks performed on a single cue.

The important distinction is that the behaviors must be independent tricks, not just steps required to complete one trick.

Examples of Behaviors That Are NOT Trick Behavior Chains

Some behaviors might look like chains but are not considered behavior chains in trick training.

For example:

A dog jumps onto a bench and taps a light.

Even though two actions occur, the trick is still simply tap the light. The dog only jumps onto the bench to reach the light.

The location of the object doesn’t change the trick itself, so it is still considered a single behavior.

Another example occurs in agility.

If you send your dog to a tunnel from a distance and they jump over obstacles along the way, this is not considered a behavior chain in trick training. The dog is simply navigating obstacles that happen to be in the path to the tunnel.

Similarly, when a dog performs sit pretty (or beg), the dog must sit before lifting the front paws. Because the sit is required to reach the final position, it is not considered a separate behavior chain step.

Examples of Trick Behavior Chains

Trick trainers consider these examples behavior chains when performed on a single cue:

• Open a mailbox and retrieve the mail
• Fetch a ball and drop it through a hoop
• Pick up a toy and place it in a toy box
• Roll out a yoga mat and take a bow
• Open a crate, go inside, and close the door
• Open a suitcase, get in, and lie down
• Close a door and wipe your paws
• Tap a light and then go to bed

Each of these sequences includes two or more distinct tricks combined together.

Training Tip

If you’re working toward trick dog titles, make sure you understand how the organization you are working with defines a behavior chain.

Different trick training organizations may interpret chains slightly differently, so it’s always best to confirm the requirements before submitting tricks for titles.

Listener Challenge

Choose two tricks your dog already knows and experiment with combining them into a simple chain.

For example:

Pick up a toy → place it in the toy box.

Start by cueing each behavior separately. Once your dog understands the sequence, try combining them under a single cue.

Related Episodes

You may also enjoy these episodes of the Maximum Fun Agility Podcast:

• Episode 049 – Dog Agility Training Criteria: Plan Performance Criteria Before You Train
• Episode 055 – 5 Reasons to Start Your Dog Training Session With a Known Behavior
• Episode 056 – 7 Reasons to Record Your Dog Agility Training Sessions

These episodes explore training mechanics, reinforcement, and building reliable behaviors.

Resources Mentioned

If you want to learn more about advanced trick dog titles, read the article:

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Do More With Your Dog Advanced Titles

https://www.maximumfundogs.com

Get More Dog Agility Training Tips

If you want to build a confident agility dog and improve communication with your dog on course, join The Agility Playground.

The Agility Playground is a training membership that helps agility teams improve independence, communication, and performance through structured exercises and monthly challenges.

Learn more and join here:

https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/2025-bb-tap1-7D

Additional Resources:

Website: https://www.maximumfundogs.com
Email: [email protected]
Articles: https://www.maximumfundogs.com/articles
The Agility Playground: https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/2025-bb-tap1-7D

Episode Transcript

Lorrie Reynolds:
One of the most common questions in trick training is: what exactly is a behavior chain? The confusion around this concept happens because behavior scientists and trick trainers actually use the term differently. Welcome to the Maximum Fun Agility Podcast. I'm Lorrie Reynolds, owner of Maximum Fun Dog Sports. We help your agility team build your relationship, communication, confidence, and fun in training so that you can enjoy success on any course. In this episode, we'll talk about what a behavior chain means in behavior science, how trick training organizations define it, and why the two definitions don't always match. Let's start with the scientific definition of a behavior chain, the definition used in behavior science. In applied behavior analysis, or ABA, a behavior chain is defined as a sequence of individual behaviors that when linked together produce a final behavior. In other words, several smaller behaviors are connected together to create a larger outcome.

Lorrie Reynolds:
Each step in the sequence becomes the cue for the next step. A great example of a behavior chain from agility is a 2-on, 2-off contact behavior. From a behavior science perspective, that performance is actually a behavior chain. Here's what happens in the ideal performance: the dog approaches the contact obstacle, runs up the ramp at speed, travels over the top, decelerates down the ramp shifting his weight to the rear, stops in the 2-on, 2-off position, and waits for a release cue. Each of those actions is a separate behavior, but together they create the final performance. The dog learns that reaching the up ramp of the contact becomes the cue for moving across, and that becomes the cue for decelerating down the ramp and that becomes the cue for moving into position at the end after completing all of the steps in between. This type of behavior sequence is often trained using back chaining, which we'll talk about in a future episode. The confusion starts when we move into the trick training world.

Lorrie Reynolds:
Trick training organizations usually define a behavior chain very differently than behaviorists. In trick training, a behavior chain typically means two or more completely separate tricks performed on a single cue. The important words here are separate tricks and unrelated behaviors performed on one cue. Let's look at some examples. Here's an example of something that is not a trick behavior chain. Imagine your dog is cued to put their paw on a tap light and press it to turn it on. If the light is on the bench, your dog might jump up onto the bench and then tap the light. That is not considered a behavior chain in trick training.

Lorrie Reynolds:
Why? Because the trick is simply tap the light. Where the dog has to move to to perform that trick doesn't matter. The dog would do the same thing whether the light was on a bench, on the floor, in a crate, or across the room. The movement is just how the dog gets to the tap light to turn it on. The trick itself is still the same behavior. Here's when it becomes a behavior chain from the trick organization's perspective. Imagine the sequence is reversed. You use a single cue to tell the dog to tap the light and then go to the bench.

Lorrie Reynolds:
Now the dog is performing two unrelated tricks in a sequence: Go tap the light and then jump onto the bench. Because those behaviors are separate and unrelated, this would be considered a behavior chain in trick training. Agility provides another interesting example that would NOT be considered a behavior chain in the trick training world. If you send your dog to a tunnel from a distance and the dog performs obstacles along the way, that is not considered a behavior chain from a trick standpoint. For example, if there are 2 jumps between your dog and the tunnel, but your cue was simply "go tunnel," the other obstacles are just considered to be part of the path to get to the tunnel. The dog is solving the environmental challenge of going over the jumps rather than performing a chain of tricks. Another common example is the trick sit pretty, which is sometimes called beg.

Lorrie Reynolds:
If the dog starts in a standing position and then sits before lifting their front paws, this is still not considered a behavior chain in the trick training world. The dog has to sit in order to perform the trick, so the sit is simply part of the movement required to reach the final position. Here are some examples that trick trainers DO consider behavior chains when they are performed on a single cue: open a mailbox and fetch the mail, fetch a ball and drop it through a hoop, pick up a toy and place it in a toy box. Roll out a yoga mat and take a bow. Open the crate, go inside, and close the crate door. Open a suitcase, get in, and lie down. Close a door and wipe your paws. Tap a light and then get into your crate.

Lorrie Reynolds:
Each of these includes 2 or more completely separate tricks performed in a sequence. It is completely understandable that trainers get confused by the term behavior chain. Behavior scientists and trick training organizations are talking about very different things using the same words. In some ways, it might actually be easier if trick trainers called them trick combinations instead of behavior chains. When in doubt, the best approach is simply to check with the organization whose rules you are following. If you are working with a Certified Trick Dog Instructor like me, they will be able to help you understand the difference. Here is my tip for you today: if you're working toward trick dog titles, make sure you understand how that specific organization defines a behavior chain. Different organizations may interpret chains slightly differently, so it's always best to confirm before submitting your tricks to get a title.

Lorrie Reynolds:
Behavior chains are one of the requirements for the Do More With Your Dog Trick Dog Champion title. If you'd like to learn more about those advanced titles, I explain them in detail in my blog post, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Do More With Your Dog Advanced Titles. This week, take 2 tricks your dog already knows and experiment with combining them into a simple chain. For example, Pick up a toy, place it in the toy box. Start by cueing each behavior separately, and once your dog understands the sequence, try combining them under one cue. It's often easiest to cue the last behavior and see if your dog will understand that he needs to perform the first behavior before he can complete the second. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility Podcast. If you want to build a successful agility team where runs with your partner feel flowing and in sync, join us in The Agility Playground.

Lorrie Reynolds:
The Agility Playground is a fun and informative membership that meets you where you are on your dog agility journey and helps you propel your team to new heights. You can learn more and join our community at www.maximumfundogs.com. See you next time!