Animal Behaviour Flashcards
Applied Behaviour analysis
Assumes that all behaviours have a trigger and are maintained by consequences
Antecedents lead to behaviors lead to consequences
* Behaviour modification must occur at one of these points
Antecedent Arrangement
The environment or triggering event can be modified to change the behaviour
Make changes before the behaviour occurs to set the dog up to behave differently
* Could be very small or big changes
* Note: Sometimes we can’t change the antecedent
How can you change the behaviour?
Applied behaviour analysis
- Train alternative behaviours
- Actively cue alternative behaviour
- Ensure the problematic behaviour doesn’t get practiced
How can you change the consequences
Applied behaivour analysis
- Prevent/remove reinforcement of problematic behaviour
- Ensure reinforcement of alternative behaviours
- Be careful to properly interpret the reinforcing consequences
What are the drawbacks of appied behaviour analysis?
Applied behaviour analysis is not as simple as it seems
* Requires accurate assessment of the antecedents, behaviours, and consequences
* Most people are not good at this
Behavioural Medicine Approach
Animal Behaviour
“Abnormal” or problematic behaviour is considered a result of a disorder or disease to be treated with medication
* Behaviours considered a direct result of dysfunction of neurotransmitters
* Dogs with hyperarousal, anxiety, fearfulness, phobias
This does not address the environmental factors of behaviour
Psychobiological Approach
Animal Behaviour
A modern scientific framework that considers all aspects of the animal including their physiological and psychological functioning
* Behaviours have a function (not necessarily related to reward or punishment) related to evolutionary goals
* Social, behavioural needs, survival, etc.
* Biological factors influence behaviour: health can influence behaviour and learning
* Animals have emotions that influence observed behaviours
Requires thorough history taking and assessment
* Consideration for the underlying emotions
* Integration of the physiologic and psychological contributions of behaviour
* You need a solid background in biology and psychology
Panskepp’s 7 primary emotions
Animal Behaviour
- Seeking (expectancy/anticipation)
- fear
- rage
- lust
- care
- panic/greif (sadness/depression)
- play (social joy, not always joyful in some animals)
Different learning occurs based on emotional state
How do emotions influence behaviour
Animal Behaviour
Animals want to experience positive things and avoid negative ones: They use behaviour and learning to do this
* Failure to do so is related to depressive states caused by trauma, poor socialization, punishment, etc
* Negative cognitive bias: the dog always expects poor outcomes, low resilience for stressors (Being a pessimist)
Emotions are motivators for behaviours
* Behaviours performed are an outward sign of what is going on inside
* frustration, impulsivity, fear, anxiety, and aggression lead to negative behaviours
Is an animal’s history an important factor into their behaviour?
Yes
Brains are designed to protect us and ensure survival
* Evidence that the brain uses multiple sources of information (past and present) to make predictions about what may happen in scenarios even if we have never actually encountered them
* This is also related to temperament
This is why ALL of an animal’s life experiences are important
Desensitization
Gradually increasing exposure to the stimuli at a level that doesn’t elicit a negative response
* Need to observe behaviour accurately and advance at the animal’s pace
Habituation
Exposure to stimuli until the animal stops responding
* Stick ‘em in a situation and wait for them to stop responding
* Need to be very careful not to cause unnecessary stress that increases sensitivity or causes learned helplessness
How to address behaviour in practice
Animal Behaviour
- Ask Questions
* Consider life history beyond just the problem (Don’t use lengthy forms)
* Ask broad open questions, then narrow it down
* Avoid judgment (Trusting clients will trust you more)
* Ask about goals/needs/limitations
* Ultimately its the human that needs to put in the effort - Observe Behaviour
* Species you’re working with will determine what is important to observe
* Prey animals: are they showing signs of hyperarousal, freezing, flight (avoidance
* Cats: Pupils, vocalizations, posture
* Proximity and comfort with humans
* Triggers for unwanted behaviour (Ie. Treats?)
* Exploratory? - Application of learning theory/behavioural approaches to yuor exam
* Counter Conditioning and shaping can be quickly and effectively applied when done skillfully
* Consider animal’s emotional state
* Have excellent timing: reward AFTER behaviour/procedure
* Utilize something the animal likes
* DON’T USE FORCE
What are the 5 domains of animal health
Nutrition
Environment
Health
Behavior
Mental state
