Vote for the best verboticism.

'Now be a good boy, and pick up your socks'

DEFINITION: v. To use animal training techniques to improve and direct the behavior of other people. n. A technique which uses the principles of animal training to solve a human behavioral riddle.

Create | Read

Verboticisms

Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...

You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.

Reinforceman

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: re-in-force-man

Sentence: Lia found that Max responded well to positive reinforceman one day by accident when she came home and found the dishes were done. She fussed on him, grilled his favorite steak and bought him a six-pack. Max immediately got up after the meal and did the dishes. Later that night while watching Victoria Stilwell train a Rottweiler on "It's Me or the Dog" she had a revelation. Perhaps she could teach Max to put the toilet seat down if she used a really good reward. She decided to learn some training techniques from Victoria and immediately went to the mall to get a little treat for him from Victoria's Secret.

Etymology: reinforcement + man: in Operant Conditioning reinforcement occurs when an event following a response will increase the likelihood of that response happening again. Animals trained with reinforcement techniques are trained by using treats and praise instead of negative reinforcement. Victoria Stilwell is a dog trainer on Animal Planet who uses reinforcement on ill-mannered dogs.

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Clever word and story.... - mweinmann, 2009-06-30: 08:03:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Toughpavlove

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: tuff pav luv

Sentence: Anna used her psychological training to cure her boyfriend's bad habits. She called it toughpavlove because through conditioned response and a reward/punishment system, she got results and a cleaner house. Her Yorkie, Poopsie, was however, quite immune to the same training and pooped everywhere.

Etymology: Tough Love (The use of strict disciplinary measures and limitations on freedoms or privileges, as by a parent or guardian, as a means of fostering responsibility and expressing care or concern.) & Pavlov (Russian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs)

| Comments and Points

Pavlovegantheory

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: pav/low/veegan/theory

Sentence: The pavlovegantheory explores conditioning the reflexes of patrons to eat only vegetables when the subjects hear a bell ringing. An example would be the huge success of Potaco Bell.

Etymology: Pavolovian theory (dog's salivating when they hear a bell ringing) + vegan

| Comments and Points

Shamuducate

Created by: rikboyee

Pronunciation: sham-oo-dyoo-kayt

Sentence: once she discovered how much he enjoyed being scratched on the back of the head, she found it simple enough to shamuducate her husband

Etymology: shamu, educate

| Comments and Points

Fidoisum

Created by: abrakadeborah

Pronunciation: Fy-dow-is-um

Sentence: Sally always knew how to get her way with Grant all she had to do was offer a "fidoisum" and he jumped! Grant knew the rewards were soon in sight and in just a few moments he would be Sally's lap dawg...

Etymology: Fido;Name for a dog. Isum;To be treated like a dog then to act like a dog, to fetch & roll over and do tricks:)~

| Comments and Points

Pavlovegantheory

Created by: Jabberwocky

Pronunciation: pav/low/veegan/theory

Sentence: The pavlovegantheory explores conditioning the reflexes of patrons to eat only vegetables when the subjects hear a bell ringing. An example would be the huge success of Potaco Bell.

Etymology: Pavolovian theory (dog's salivating when they hear a bell ringing) + vegan

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

couldn't see your verbotomy on my first list; thought I was the first with a Pavlov reference. Nice application. - stache, 2008-05-19: 08:34:00

couldn't see your verbotomy on my first list; thought I was the first with a Pavlov reference. Nice application. - stache, 2008-05-19: 13:11:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Pavloveboat

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: pav love boat

Sentence: When the USS LoveDogs pulled into San Diego Bay, many people came to welcome it. Not many knew that it was actually a PavLoveboat, whose human cargo were people who loved their dogs. Behaviorists used the on-ship experience to train the passengers and their pets to work better together. Poodles could paddle, Chihuahuas could Wow,Terriors could terrorize;Pinschers could pinch;a Beagle was now legal;A Dingo could play Bingo;a Jack Russell could Hustle;A Maltese could Tease;a Pekingnese could peak;and a Shepherd could be heard all over the Poop Deck.

Etymology: pavlov (Russian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs (1849-1936) & Love Boat (is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from 1977 until 1986.)

----------------------------
COMMENTS:

Makes me drool just reading about it. - Mustang, 2009-06-30: 18:41:00

----------------------------

| Comments and Points

Recwagnition

Created by: Rutilus

Pronunciation: rec-wag-nishun

Sentence: Phoebe loved Max. He was the human equivalent of a pet dog. He was loyal, forgiving and subservient. She could get him to do anything as long as she rewarded him, giving him treats and a little recwagnition for his trouble.

Etymology: recognition - noticing someone/something; wag - movement of dog's tail (associated with contentment)

| Comments and Points

Barkcoding

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: bahrk koh ding

Sentence: she was going to train this guy allright. If barkcoding didn't work the rolled up newspaper sure would

Etymology: bark barcoding

| Comments and Points

Schoolafool

Created by: shija

Pronunciation: school-laf-fool

Sentence: Have you tried schoolafooling?

Etymology: A blend of schooling and fooling.

| Comments and Points

Show All or More...

 

Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-05-19: 00:01:00
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's new book "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". where she reminds us that "People are animals too!", and that "Any interaction is training". Now Amy has invented her own word for this and it's "Shamu", so I have added it today's list of verboticisms! Thanks Amy! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-06-29: 00:01:00
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's book "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage", where she reminds us that "People are animals too!", and that "Any interaction is training". Of course, Amy has invented her own word for this -- "Shamu". Let's see what we come up with now... Thanks Amy! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-07-19: 00:41:00
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James