Ethology, Body Language & Observation Flashcards
A dog engaging in excessive self-licking may be:
A) Highly excited
B) Malnourished
C) Relaxed and being offered little stimulation
D) Anticipating social activity with conspecifics
C) Relaxed and being offered little stimulation
The rate at which a behavior occurs once it has begun is called the:
A) Response Rate
B) Inter-Response Rate
C) Run Rate
D) Overall Rate
A) Response Rate
What is a Run Rate?
The measure of the rate at which a behavior occurs once it has begun and is ongoing.
Example: Your dog hears the doorbell and begins barking, how long does he continue to bark with no intervention?
Hypothesis Generation is referred to as
A Functional Assessment
Hypothesis Testing is referred to as
Functional Analysis
In dogs, primary social relationships start to develop by the:
A) 2nd Week
B) 3rd Week
C) 4th Week
D) 5th Week
B) 3rd Week
The Primary Socialization Period starts at 3 weeks when sense organs become fully functional.
ABI stands for
Acquired Bite Inhibition
How much damage is done when a dog bites.
Bite Inhibition refers to
The amount of pressure exerted when the dog bites.
Source: Jean Donaldson
Bite Threshold refers to
The number and intensity of trigger(s) required to get the dog to bite.
Example: in a proximity sensitive dog, how close does another dog need to get to elicit a bite (after other warning behaviors)
Source: Jean Donaldson
Protracted Warnings refer to
All the behavior a dog may display before resorting to a bite
Source: Jean Donaldson
A period during which the behavior under study is recorded, but no attempt has been made to modify it.
Baseline
Source: Chance
The Emotional Valence Model/Diagram maps emotions based on what two axis?
Valence - negative to positive
Arousal - active to passive
Anger, Fear - Negative/Active
Sadness, Boredom - Negative/Passive
Joy, Excitement- Positive/Active
Contentment, Relaxation- Positive/Passive
Panksepp Theory refers to
Emotions.
Specifically, the emotional systems are:
- Seeking
- Lust
- Care
- Play
- Anger
- Fear
- Sadness
NRM
No Reward Marker
Used to indicate that a behavior performed was the incorrect choice and no reward for that attempt is incoming.
Per Jean Donaldson: A conditioned negative punisher
What are the 7 driving emotional systems in the Panskepp Theory?
- Seeking
- Lust
- Care
- Play
- Anger
- Fear
- Sadness
Continuous Recording
Record each occurrence of a specific behavior during a specified period of time.
Recording Interval Behavior Rates
Record if a behavior occurs (yes/no) during each of a series of short intervals within an observation period. In a 1 minute observation period, you may break into 6 10-second intervals.
Used for behavior that may happen too fast for continuous recording.
ABAB Reversal Design
A single case study where baseline and intervention conditions are both repeated to test progress. This is to rule out that the change is the result of other variables.
Look at baseline data with no training
Test your training method
Return to no training
Return to training method
Compare results
Training > Nothing > Training > Nothing > Compare
Multiple Baseline Design
Single case study where the effects of training are tested in many environments/situations.
Example: dog who lunges on leash towards other dogs - train, then test with a dog behind a fence, in the neighborhood, in the yard, on a trail. If behavior change is noted in all scenarios it is likely due to learned training not random chance.
Alternating Treatment Design
Single case design where you alternate training methods.
Determine Baseline then test training method A and training method B in alternating trials.
Example: Loose leash walking
Baseline: dog pulls
Method A: 1-2-3
Method B: Red/Green light
Measure which training strategy is more effective in behavior change
Inter-Observer Reliability
Two or more observers tally behavior in a sample period
Continuous Data: divide smaller tally by larger tally and multiply by 100
Example: Bob counted 50 barks, Jane counted 75 barks 50/75x100= 66 barks
Interval Data: Count total number of intervals where both saw behavior, divide by total number of intervals, multiply by 100.
Example: in a 1 minute trial with 10 seconds intervals, Bob counted barks in 5 intervals, Jane counted 4. 5+4/6*100 = 150
Contingency
A statement of a dependent relationship between events.
If my dog lays down, I will throw the frisbee. If my dog sits he will get a cookie.
Drive Theory
Each individual dog comes genetically “equipped” with varying levels of energy for different drives.
Example: Prey Drive, Food Drive, Pack Drive
Source: Excel-erated Learning
The four stages of learning are
- Acquisition
- Fluency
- Generalization
- Maintenance
Source: Excel-erated Learning
Four As: acquiring, automatic, application, always
Predatory Drift
When play escalates and tips over into predation. Usually triggered by high arousal, dog size mismatches and a yelp or bolt from the target dog.
Stereotypies are
Functionless, repetitive motions associated with deprivation and chronic stress.
An ethogram is
A list of observable natural behaviors performed by individuals within a species.
