Final answer:
The dog's whining behavior that led to being fed is an example of operant conditioning, specifically through positive reinforcement, as the dog learned to repeat the behavior for a reward.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dog's whining behavior is an example of operant conditioning. This is a learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment. In your example, when you fed the dog after it sat at your feet and whined, the dog received a positive reinforcement for its behavior, increasing the likelihood that the behavior would be repeated.
Thus, the next morning, the dog sat at your feet and whined again, expecting this behavior to result in being fed once more. This type of learning is well-documented in psychological studies, including those by B.F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov, who showed how animals, including dogs, learn through the consequences of their actions (Skinner) and the association between stimuli (Pavlov).