Which of the following statements about learning is false?

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Learning in dogs is shown when there’s a lasting, reliable change in behavior that is guided by cues or consequences, not just by the trainer’s presence. When a dog consistently responds to the owner's cues, it shows that the dog has formed clear cue–response associations and can perform those behaviors on cue across different times and environments. A change in behavior during training is a sign of learning, especially if it persists beyond the moment and can be demonstrated when the dog is not under direct pressure.

Deferring to the owner, while it may seem cooperative in some situations, isn’t a dependable indicator of learning. It can reflect social appeasement, submission, or context-specific compliance rather than understanding of a specific cue or the ability to perform a learned behavior reliably in varied settings. Because of that, framing deferral as evidence of learning is not accurate.