Pavlov's dogs

Cultural  

1. The dogs used in conditioned response experiments by a Russian scientist of the late nineteenth century, Ivan Pavlov. In these experiments, Pavlov sounded a bell while presenting food to a dog, thereby stimulating the natural flow of saliva in the dog's mouth. After the procedure was repeated several times, the dog would salivate at the sound of the bell, even when no food was presented.

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Someone who reacts instinctively rather than reflectively to a situation is said to be engaging in a Pavlovian reaction.

Example Sentences

Instead of producing a reflex like Pavlov's dogs, the turtles respond with an energetic "dance."

From Science Daily • Nov. 22, 2025

“I’m like one of Pavlov’s dogs when I see a pink box,” said Vilsack, 29, outside Rose Donuts & Cafe.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2017

I can’t imagine the therapy costs Pavlov’s dogs ran up.

From Washington Post • Feb. 8, 2015

Pavlov's dogs had more self control than the media on this.

From New York Times • Sep. 22, 2014

The first bell rang, meaning five minutes to class, and like Pavlov’s dogs, people started rushing around, filling up the hallways.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green