CCPDT Policies, Practices, and Ethics

Question 1

What is the Humane Hierarchy?

Answer 1

An order of procedures for humane and effective practices to guide decision-making during dog training and behavior modification.

A cautionary tool to reduce both dogmatic rule following and practice by familiarity or convenience. It offers an ethical checkpoint to carefully consider the process by which effective outcomes can be most humanely achieved on a case-by-case basis. (LIMA policy)

Question 2

Steps of Humane Hierarchy

Answer 2

1. Wellness (health, nutrition, and physical environment)
2. Manage antecedents
3. Positive reinforcement and classical conditioning
4. Management of unwanted behavior, consult another professional
5. Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior
6. Extinction, negative punishment, or negative reinforcement
7. Start over or positive punishment

(combined steps from LIMA policy and Application of the Humane Hierarchy Position Statement)

Question 3

Health, nutritional, and physical factors

Answer 3

Refer potential medical, nutritional, or health factors to a vet. Be ready and willing to discuss your observations with their vet, but do not attempt to diagnose.

Address dog’s physical environment and any potential impacts on health, nutrition and physical condition.

Question 4

Arranging antecedents

Answer 4

Manipulate the environment to prevent an unwanted behavior. Redesign setting events, change motivations, and add or remove discriminative stimuli (cues) for the problem behavior. (LIMA policy)

Don’t let learners practice bad habits. This also makes it easier to teach wanted behavior in the future. Set up the dog and handler for success!

Question 5

Positive reinforcement

R+

Answer 5

Deliver reinforcement for a desirable behavior and making the right choice.

Such reward must be of a higher value to the dog than the reinforcement the dog has received for unwanted behavior.

Question 6

Classical conditioning

Answer 6

Changes the dog’s association with an aversive stimulus while presenting the aversive stimulus at a sub-threshold intensity.

***This is classical counter-conditioning.

Question 7

Manage or live with behavior

Answer 7

Cease modification techniques and implement a management plan.

Question 8

Consult another professional

Answer 8

Consult another professional such as a dog trainer, veterinarian or behaviorist for additional advice.

Question 9

Negative punishment

P-

Answer 9

Withdraw a positive reinforcer when the undesirable behavior occurs to reduce the probability that the behavior will occur in the future.

Question 10

Extinction

Answer 10

Withhold reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior with the goal of extinguishing the behavior or reduce it to baseline levels. (LIMA policy)

Question 11

Negative reinforcement

R-

Answer 11

Withdraw an aversive stimulus when the desired behavior occurs in order to increase the probability that the behavior will occur in the future.

Take away something they don’t like in order to get behavior that you want more.

Question 12

Positive punishment

P+

Answer 12

The last resort.

Deliver an aversive consequence in response to the undesirable behavior in order to reduce the probability that the behavior will occur in the future.

Examples include spritz or spray with water, standing on a leash for self-administered collar corrections. Return to R+ at the first opportunity.

Question 13

Dog Training and Behavior Intervention Practices (CCPDT Public Policy Statement)

Answer 13

Aversive practices that can in no way be considered humane or sound by scientific standards.

Question 14

Electronic training collar

aka e-collar

Answer 14

A collar that is used in a mode that causes electrical stimulation to pass through any part of the dog’s body.

Question 15

Helicoptering

Answer 15

The act of lifting the dog off the ground and, either holding it off the ground OR swinging the dog off the ground by the collar or leash for any period of time.

Helicoptering, hanging a dog, or otherwise restricting the airway of the dog in any manner is never okay. Report any certificant or candidate to CCPDT.

Question 16

Pinch

Answer 16

Applying a pinching pressure either with the hand or with a tool of any sort, including but not limited to a cord or wire, to a toe, ear, or any other body part of the dog with the intention of causing the dog to perform or to cease a behavior.

Don’t ever do this.

Question 17

Drowning

Answer 17

The submersion of a dog’s head in water for any period of time. This is never acceptable, and is a reportable offense.

Question 18

Pulling up on collar, leash, or scruff

Answer 18

CPDTs are prohibited from purposely lifting a dog by the collar, leash, or scruff such that two or fewer of the dog’s legs remain on the ground.

Question 19

When does the CCPDT allow for the use of e-collars?

Answer 19

Only after exhausting alternative intervention strategies per LIMA practices. This is deep within the last resort step of positive punishment in the Humane Hierarchy.

Question 20

What are ways that an e-collar should never be used, under any circumstances?

Answer 20

Applying more than one electronic training collar to a dog at the same time, or applying it to the genital region or abdomen area of the dog.

Question 21

Is the use of a cattle prod approved for behavior modification?

Answer 21

WTF? No.

Question 22

LIMA

Answer 22

Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive

A set of humane and effective tactics likely to succeed in changing behavior. Requires the trainer to acquire and maintain both the knowledge and skills needed to ensure that the LIMA practice is used.

Question 23

LIMA competency-based requirements

Answer 23

1. increase the use of R+
2. eliminate the use of P+ with both human and animal learners
3. continuing education in animal behavior and training
4. hands-on experience
5. recognize the boundaries of your own competencies and experience, and do not advise beyond them

Question 24

What learner behaviors are reduced by consistently applied R+ training methods?

Answer 24

Positive reinforcement is associated with the lowest incidence of aggression, attention seeking, avoidance, and fear in learners.

Question 25

Determining a reinforcer

Answer 25

Only the learner determines what may be reinforcing.

Trainer or handler’s bias must not determine the learner’s experience. The measure of each stimulus is whether the learner’s target behavior is strengthening or weakening, not the consultant’s intent or preference.

Question 26

How often should a reinforcer be assessed?

Answer 26

Only the learner determines what may be reinforcing. It is crucial that the consultant understands and has the ability to appropriately apply this principle. This fact may mean that the consultant assesses any handling, petting, food, tool, and environment each time the learner experiences them.

Question 27

Steps for successful R+ training

Answer 27

The trainer/consultant is responsible for ensuring learner success through a consistent, systematic approach
that identifies:

1. identify a specific target behavior
2. the purpose of that behavior
3. the consequences that maintain the behavior

Question 28

Trainer abilities needed for R+

Answer 28

1. adequate problem solving skills
2. understand the impact of each action on the learner
3. sensitivity toward the learner’s experience

Question 29

Potential repercussions of punishment

Answer 29

1. aggression or counter-aggression
2. suppressed behavior (preventing adequate reading of the animal)
3. increased anxiety and fear
4. physical harm
5. a negative association with the owner or handler
6. increased unwanted behavior
7. new unwanted behaviors

Question 30

LIMA: Choice and control

Answer 30

LIMA guidelines require that trainer/consultants always offer the learner as much control and choice as possible to achieve the desired behavior.

Trainers/consultants must treat each individual of any species with respect and awareness of the learner’s individual nature, preferences, abilities, and needs.

Question 31

Basis of LIMA and R+ methodology

Answer 31

“What do you want the animal TO do?”

Question 32

Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior

Answer 32

Reinforce an acceptable replacement behavior, and remove the maintaining reinforcer for the problem behavior.

Question 33

Intrusive

Answer 33

Intrusiveness refers to the degree to which a procedure affects the learner’s control. LIMA calls for the least intrusive effective intervention which will effectively address the target behavior.

A relatively more intrusive procedure may be necessary for an effective outcome. In such a case, a procedure that reduces the learner’s control may be the least intrusive, effective choice.

Question 34

Breed specific legislation

Answer 34

It is in the opinion of the CCPDT that the solution to preventing dog bites is education of owners, breeders, and the general public about aggression prevention and responsible dog ownership, not legislation directed at certain breeds.

Question 35

Name the 6 CCPDT standards of practice

Answer 35

1. understand and promote LIMA
2. continued education
3. review and understand source materials and academic texts
4. upholds scientific standard—do not represent info as scientific unless backed by published, peer-reviewed research
5. no guarantees
6. maintain professionalism
   
   • provide services honestly
   • treat animals and clients respectfully
   • value and preserve privacy
   • be professional with colleagues and others

Question 36

Requirements and frequency of CPDT-KA recertification

Answer 36

Every 3 years.

CEUs
sign current Code of Ethics

Question 37

How many continued education units (CEUs) are required to maintain your CPDT-KA?

Answer 37

36

At LEAST 24 CEUs must be designated as CPDT-KA or CBCC-KA CEUs. A maximum of 12 Skills CEUs may be designated as CPDT-KSA CEUs.