Animal Learning & Behavior

Question 1

What 2 questions should you always have in the back of your mind as a practitioner in regard to animal behavior?

Answer 1

1. what is the animal learning from this interaction
2. How can I make this experience better for my clients (human and animal)

Question 2

T/F: over 50% of dogs are stressed in the vet clinic

Answer 2

true

Question 3

T/F: most owners are aware that their pets are stressed, but just do not know how to resolve it.

Answer 3

false – most owners are actually unaware of the level of stress their pet it under.

Question 4

T/F: if you rush things while an animal is stressed, it is better because the experience is over faster.

Answer 4

false – if you take your time and effort, the animal will get better and easier to handle each time it comes in. If you rush, you will have a harder time handling the animal next time.

Question 5

T/F: owners are more likely to seek vet care MORE often and EARLIER when veterinary care is NOT stressful for their pet.

Answer 5

true

Question 6

what are the 2 types of learning and how do they differ?

Answer 6

1. Pavlovian conditioning: reflexive behavior (phytogenetically programmed)
2. Operant conditioning (voluntary behavior)

They occur at the same time.

Question 7

The following are examples of _______________.
Startle response
eye blink
salivation
change in HR and/or BP

Answer 7

pavlovian conditioning
unconditioned stimulus –> unconditioned response

Question 8

T/F: you can train a dog to emit pavlovian behaviors to new stimuli

Answer 8

true
for example: food (unconditioned stimulus) makes dog salivate (unconditioned response), whereas a tuning fork (neutral stimulus) does not elicit salivation
if you condition the dog to seeing the food and tuning fork at the same time, eventually salivation will occur ONLY when the tuning fork is present. This salivation is a conditioned response.

Question 9

T/F: conditioning occurs naturally

Answer 9

true – but we can ensure that our interactions will condition the emotional responses that we desire (conditioned emotional responses).

Question 10

T/F: it is easy to re-condition stimuli that elicit fear responses to elicit happy responses than stimuli that are neutral.

Answer 10

false – its harder to re-condition stimuli that elicit fear responses –> happy responses compared to neutral stimuli.
This is because fear generalizes very quickly. (ex. fear of the SMELL of the animal hospital –> fear of hospital –> fear of vet staff –> aggression)

Question 11

T/F: learning can happen within one trial

Answer 11

true!

Question 12

How do you condition positive emotional responses? (2 things)

Answer 12

1. Pair everything with GOOD things (ex. enter vet clinic = treats, play, petting)
2. Minimize aversives (no poke visits, minimize restraint, etc.)

Question 13

What is important about the sequence of events when considering conditioning?

Answer 13

FIRST the aversive thing must occur (ie. restraint, vet entering, needle)
THEN the reward must occur immediately after (treat, play, petting, praise)

Question 14

What are 2 types of consequences for operant behavior?

Answer 14

1. reinforcers (increase future probability of responses they follow)
2. punishers (reduce future probability of response they follow)

Question 15

what is a positive reinforcer?

Answer 15

if the rate of good/desirable behavior increased, then you ADDED a positive stimulus.

ex. dogs stands at vet to have abdomen palpated, so you give it treats. Next time, dog will be more likely to stand during exam.

Question 16

what is a negative reinforcer?

Answer 16

The rate of good/desirable behavior increases so you removed a negative stimulus.

ex. dog stands still for vet exam, so before the exam is complete you reward the dog by REMOVING restraint. Next time, the dog will be more likely to stand still and allow the exam.

Question 17

what is a positive punisher?

Answer 17

The rate of bad/undesirable behavior decreases and you ADDED a negative stimulus.

Ex. dog barks at vet, you throw shake can of coins near him. In the future, the dog will NOT bark as much at the vet.

Question 18

what is a negative punisher?

Answer 18

The rate of bad/undersirable behavior decreased and you REMOVE a stimulus.

ex. if you dog is a bully at the dog park, the dog gets removed from the park. In the future, the dog is LESS likely to bully at the park.

Question 19

If the consequence of a behavior makes the animal MORE likely to do something in the future, what is this called?

Answer 19

reinforcement

Question 20

If the consequence of a behavior makes the animal LESS likely to do something in the future, what is this called?

Answer 20

punishment

Question 21

If the consequence of a behavior makes the animal MORE likely to do something in the future, and you ADDED a stimulus, what is this called?

Answer 21

positive reinforcement

Question 22

If the consequence of a behavior makes the animal MORE likely to do something in the future, and you REMOVED a stimulus, what is this called?

Answer 22

negative reinforcement

Question 23

If the consequence of a behavior makes the animal LESS likely to do something in the future, and you ADDED a stimulus, what is this called?

Answer 23

positive punishment

Question 24

If the consequence of a behavior makes the animal LESS likely to do something in the future, and you REMOVED a stimulus, what is this called?

Answer 24

negative punishment

Question 25

Reinforcers and punishers are defined by …

Answer 25

their effect on behavior

Question 26

How can you make consequences most effective?

Answer 26

consequences must occur immediately after the behavior.

Question 27

___________ produce avoidance (operant) and fear conditioning (pavlovian).

Answer 27

positive punishers

Question 28

_________ increase rate of behavior (operant) and produce positive conditioned emotional responses.

Answer 28

positive reinforcers.

Question 29

T/F: focusing on the good behavior your dog is exhibiting is the best way to train them in a positive way.

Answer 29

true

Question 30

T/F: if a bad behavior is occuring, there is a reinforcer maintaining that behavior. You can use the reinforcer to train a new behavior.

Answer 30

true

Question 31

how can owners and vets prepare their animals for vet visits?

Answer 31

work on accepting restraint and handling.
muzzle train

Question 32

what is cooperative care?

Answer 32

training animals to participate in their own care
ex. train dogs to present paw for blood draws or nail trims through positive reinforcement

Question 33

what can you do as a vet if the owner has NOT prepared their animal for the visit?

Answer 33

1. enter and ignore animal
2. drop treats or have PB plate
3. give treats or pets immediately after unpleasant procedure to disrupt fear memory formation
4. enter room before client does
5. consider not taking temp or placing hands on animal if not needed.

Question 34

why do animals appear to be calmer in the back without owner present?

Answer 34

they are in a catatonic state because they actually become MORE stressed.
Seperation from owners is aversive.

Question 35

what should behavior advice NOT entail?

Answer 35

1. advocation of shock collar, prong collar, or choke chain usage
2. training based on pack theoary, dominance training, or being alpha
3. guarantee the training will fix the problem

Question 36

what should behavior advice entail?

Answer 36

advocate positive reinforcement
advocate for partnership between dog + owner