Final answer:
Dr. Pavlov relies on the process of acquisition in classical conditioning when he pairs the unconditioned stimulus (food) with a conditioned stimulus (bell), which leads to a conditioned response (salivation).
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Pavlov is using classical conditioning to train his dogs, relying on the process known as acquisition. Acquisition is the period of initial learning in classical conditioning where an organism learns to connect a neutral stimulus (like a bell) with an unconditioned stimulus (like food), so that the neutral stimulus begins to elicit a conditioned response (like salivation). Over time, through repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus capable of eliciting the conditioned response on its own. This is the fundamental process that Dr. Pavlov is depending upon when he pairs the ringing of a bell with the presentation of food to dogs, eventually leading to the dogs salivating at the sound of the bell even when no food is presented.