Superstitious Association

So I was trying to teach a young collie heard a large inflatable ball. He was getting excited and barking and he nudged the ball back to me, and it soon became clear that he thought the barking was part of the herding. Even when calmed down, he'd bark a few times and nudge the ball.

When a dog creates an incorrect association, which it then repeats with perceived meaning (value and relevance) despite there being no actual connection.

If you are trying to teach your dog a learned association, it is important to have a clear training picture, so that when you give them feedback they are clear about what precisely it is you are reinforcing. This is especially critical in single-learning experiences, where a few (or even a single) learning exposure creates a meaningful association (such as in specific-stimulus avoidance training, and jackpot rewards).

Example: You're teaching your dog to get into the heel position. They do it well so get reinforced, but they do jump into position. You later notice that when you ask your dog to come into the heel position they often jump into it. You have accidently taught your dog that jumping into the position is part of the behaviour.