Canine Behaviour (Cram 3/3)

Describe operant conditioning

A method of learning through reinforcement and punishment. Desired behaviours have desired consequences, Undesired behaviours have undesired consequences

What are the four subtypes of operant conditioning?

1. Reinforcement – increase a behaviour

2. Punishment – decrease a behaviour

3. Positive – adding something

4. Negative – taking something away

When a dog sits when asked and the trainer gives the dog a treat, what kind of operant conditioning is being used?

Positive reinforcement (adding something, increase of a behaviour)

When a dog pulls on a choke collar and the pressure is released when the dog stops pulling, what kind of operant conditioning is being used?

Negative reinforcement (taking something away, increase of a behaviour)

When a dog has a bone taken away for growling when anyone gets near it, what kind of operant conditioning is being used?

Negative punishment (taking something away, decrease a behaviour)

When a dog barks and a shock is delivered by its shock collar, what kind of operant conditioning is being used?

Positive punishment (adding something, decrease a behaviour)

What two kinds of operant conditioning are recommended to be part of a dog's training?

1. Positive reinforcement

2. Negative punishment

When a trainer holds a treat over a dog's head, and moves it back so the dog sits, what type of learning technique is being used?

Luring

When dogs are conditioned to expect food at the sound of a bell, what kind of learning technique is being used?

Classical conditioning

If a dog is scared of a new boyfriend, so the boyfriend starts feeding the dog treats to change the fear to a pleasant emotion, what kind of learning technique is being used?

Counterconditioning

When you first move into a house with a train nearby, and your dog is scared of the train noises at first and eventually stops reacting, what kind of learning technique is being used?

Habituation

When a dog with separation anxiety is repeatedly exposed to your departure routine without you leaving, what kind of learning technique is being used?

Desensitization

What makes flooding different from habituation?

With flooding no escape from the fearful stimulus is offered

When a dog is restrained during a nail trim until he stops struggling, what kind of learning technique is being used?

Flooding

When teaching four on the mat, and the dog first puts only one paw on the mat and the trainer still gives a treat, what kind of learning technique is being used?

Shaping

When training sit, and a good response is rewarded every 1, 10, or 20 times, what reward ratio is being used?

Fixed ratio

When training sit, and a good response is rewarded every minute, what reward ratio is being used?

Fixed interval

When training sit, and a good response is rewarded randomly, what reward ratio is being used?

Variable ratio schedule

When a dog jumps and the trainer ignores the behaviour, what learning technique is being used?

Extinction

When a pup follows its mother to the yard, and defecates in the same area, what learning technique is being used?

Imitation

When a bottle fed puppy treats its owner like its mother, what kind of learning technique is being used?

Imprinting

When a farmer injects a chicken with apomorphine, and the farm dog eats it, gets sick, and stops chasing and eating chickens, what learning technique is being used?

Taste aversion

When a dog wears a shock collar and is not taught the appropriate behaviour in order to avoid shocks, what learning technique is being used?

Learned helplessness

When a dog is taught to touch the end of a stick to receive a reward, what learning technique is being used?

Target training

True of false: More dogs are euthanized due to behavioral problems than due to medical concerns

True

What percent of behaviour problems are due to health problems?

20%

What is the first thing that should be done before starting a behaviour modification program?

A medical evaluation

What are the six things that should be included in a full behavioural history

1. Age, age when altered

2. At what age acquired, from where, for how long

3. Exercise per day/week

4. Training methods used

5. Undesirable behaviours

6. Goals

What are five changes in lifestyle that can effect a dog's behaviour

1. New person in house

2. New animal in house

3. New bed/furniture

4. New litter

5. New food