5 Flashcards
Is the animal ‘fit for training’?
There are two elements to consider: physical fitness and psychological fitness.
What does physical fitness entail for training?
Physical fitness includes the absence of pain and physical limitations, such as poor hearing or eyesight.
What is psychological fitness in animals?
Psychological fitness refers to the animal’s emotional state, including stress levels and ability to relax.
What factors can contribute to an animal’s psychological unfitness?
Common sources include inconsistent behavior by owners, general disruption in the home, and an imbalance in diet and exercise.
What is the physical end goal of training?
The physical end goal is a clear and precise behavior that the animal must perform, focusing on establishing acceptable behavior.
How should an owner define the physical end goal?
The goal should be specific, such as ‘the dog should sit when greeting people’ rather than vague statements.
What is the best way to get an animal’s attention?
Use novelty or a new sound to capture the animal’s attention, ensuring the intensity is appropriate for the individual.
What should be the cue for the new behavior?
The cue should be a clear signal given when the animal is receptive, not a request that may be missed.
What is used to help the animal make the desired decision?
Reinforcement is key; the behavior should be made desirable, and alternatives should be less appealing.
What feedback should be provided to the animal during training?
Feedback can include conditioned reinforcers and visual signals to indicate progress towards the goal.
Which dimension of behavior is most important?
Focus on the most relevant dimension first, such as topography, error/success rate, frequency, duration, or latency.
What is the best way to build up the behavior?
If the behavior exists, reward it in the right context and shape it towards the end goal; if not, encourage its occurrence.
What level of generalization is required for new behavior?
New behavior should be reliably elicited in various contexts, as performance may dip when the environment changes.
What is encouraged to promote desired behavior?
Encourage the behavior to occur in some form (e.g. respondent counter-conditioning or behavioral luring).
What level of generalization is required for new behavior?
It is often desired that the new behavior be reliably elicited in a range of contexts (stimulus generalization).
What can affect the reliability of a dog’s response to commands?
Changes in the environment, such as the owner’s posture or voice, can affect the reliability of response to novel obedience commands.
What is the importance of generalization in dog training?
It is important for a dog to learn to respond to commands from different individuals, not just the owner.
How does the amount of proofing required vary?
The amount of proofing required varies with both the individual animal and the behavior being established.
What is the effect of training in varied contexts?
Training in a variety of contexts initially helps generalization occur more readily.
What should be done when training in a controlled context?
Identify the need for specific generalization exercises early on and prescribe them once the animal’s response is reliably established.
How should aversive stimuli be introduced during training?
Aversive stimuli should be introduced gradually to help the animal maintain focus and generalize its response.
What dimensions of behavior can be monitored?
The five different dimensions of behavior include topography, error/success rate, frequency, duration, and latency.
What is a useful tool for monitoring training progress?
A homemade diary can be used to assess the response according to given criteria and plot progress over time.
What are two common behavior modification techniques?
Counter-conditioning and systematic desensitization are frequently used in managing behavior problems.
What is counter-conditioning?
Counter-conditioning is the process of training an animal to perform a behavior incompatible with the problem response when presented with the problem-evoking stimulus.
What is the difference between classical and instrumental counter-conditioning?
Classical counter-conditioning uses an unconditioned response, while instrumental counter-conditioning uses a conditioned response as the training goal.
What is systematic desensitization?
Systematic desensitization involves graduated exposure and habituation to an arousing stimulus to raise the threshold at which the animal responds inappropriately.
What should be ensured for effective counter-conditioning?
The motivation to perform the incompatible behavior must be greater than that for the problem behavior.
What is the goal of obedience training?
To establish obedience and teach the animal to wait for instruction from its owner before taking action.
What is the physical goal in training for separation anxiety?
To have the animal lie on a mat when requested to ‘settle down’ and ‘sit’ on command.
What is the primary dimension to monitor in training for firework noise sensitivity?
Topography, aiming to maintain a relaxed posture.
What does the UK Cat Behaviour Working Group’s document provide?
An Ethogram for Behavioural Studies of the Domestic Cat (Felis silvestis catus L.).
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Potters Bar, 1995.
What are some CD extras for dog training?
Down-stay mat exercises, Headcollar training, How to find a good trainer, Ladder of Aggression, ‘Leave it’ exercises, Litterbox training, Muzzle training, ‘Nothing in Life is Free’, Playing with your dog - toys, Playing with your kitten, Puppy socialization: getting used to new people.
What are some recall exercises for dog training?
Sit-stay exercises, Teaching your dog to go to a place on command, Treating a fear of car journeys using desensitization and counter-conditioning, Treating a fear of the veterinary clinic using desensitization and counter-conditioning, Treating a noise fear using desensitization and counter-conditioning, Treating separation anxiety in dogs.
