Pavlov's dog

English

Alternative forms

• Pavlov dog

Etymology

In reference to the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov's work on classical conditioning: he discovered that dogs could be conditioned to salivate when a bell was rung, if it had previously been rung whenever food was given.

Noun

Pavlov's dog (plural Pavlov's dogs)

1. (often attributive) A person who reacts instinctively to a stimulus, without thought or consideration.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:Pavlov's dog.