Types of training

Question 1

Classical conditioning

Answer 1

Learning by association continually happens
Ex. Clicker – treat.
Dogs will salivate when they hear clickers.
When two things are paired, they take on the same association or meaning.

Question 2

Counterconditioning

Answer 2

Animals must choose a particular action to get a reward.
Trial and error learning:
When a random behaviour results in something pleasing, it is likely to be repeated.
If the behaviour isn’t rewarded, it is less likely to be repeated.

Question 3

Reinforcement

Answer 3

Anything that increases the likelihood that a behaviour is repeated.
Most effective if immediate
Within 3 seconds
Usually more effective than negative reinforcement

Question 4

Positive reinforcement

Answer 4

You add something:
Food: Come = treat
Praise
Rubbing
Ex: when a foal approaches you when you enter the paddock, give it a pleasant shoulder scratch
- Remember that undesirable behaviours may encouraged (not intentionally) by positive reinforcement. For many pets, any attention from the owner is better than being ignored:
A cat or dog may “steal” an item (such as food or clothing). The owner pursues to retrieve the article and the pet learns a new fun game.
A pet that displays a fearful response to a loud noise or new situation may be “rewarded” by getting attention.

Question 5

Negative reinforcement

Answer 5

You take something away
Put a dog outside when it barks at guests.
When correctly positioned, releasing pressure on a dog back forced to sit

Question 6

Punishment

Answer 6

The objective of punishment is to decrease behaviour.
When a behaviour is immediately followed by an unpleasant stimulus, it is less likely to be repeated.
This means _within 3 seconds__!!
Must be consistent, every time the inappropriate behaviour is displayed.
Example: Ultrasonic / Electric Debarking collars
Train quiet behaviours
Choke chain – pressure applied when dog pulls.
Always avoid physical contact between owner and animal when applying a punishment
May result in aggression.
Alternatives: A cat scratches the couch and the owner shakes a tin can full of pennies making a loud, scary noise.

Question 7

Classical counterconditioning

Answer 7

Patients are rewarded for a new behavior that is incompatible with the old one.
Ex. feed them during vaccinations
Cannot be fearful if eating.
Practice with ballpoint pen
- Be prepared to use LOTS of treats and then wean them off as the desired behavior becomes the “norm.”
Ex: the doorbell rings and the dog starts barking.
Counter condition by giving the dog a food treat when the doorbell rings.
The dog cannot bark and eat at the same time.
Repeat
Eventually, the doorbell rings and the dog looks to the owner for a treat
- The sit command is the most common counter conditioning for jumping up, leash pulling, escaping when a door is opened etc.

Question 8

Steps for successful counterconditioning

Answer 8

Identify undesirable behaviour.
Identify the motivation/reward behind the behaviour
Decide on alternate behaviour
Plan a training schedule
Use a quiet area initially, train twice a day for 10-15 min
Reward good behaviour.
Use a minimum of 3 different settings/surroundings.
Slowly add distractions.
Test on actual problem
***For each step the animal must reach relaxation before moving to the next step.

Question 9

Habituation, flooding

Answer 9

Through repeated exposure to the stimulus, with no negative effects, the animal stops responding.
A. Flooding
Animal is exposed to stimulus in a closed area (cannot escape)
Initially gets fearful
Sympathetic activation only has _a limited time__
Animal clams down, realizes no adverse effect.
Is now habituated.

Question 10

Potential problems of flooding

Answer 10

Animals may become more sensitized, increasing the fear and anxiety to the same initial stimulus, or even less stimulus.
Can have a LOT of side effects!!

Question 11

Habituation, desensitization

Answer 11

Start with very little stimulus until there is no response or very little,
Then increase the stimulus bit by bit: only when there is no response to that level.
Where this technique is used alone, VERY SLOW!!
How could you apply this to stop my dog barking when the doorbell rings?

Question 12

Extinction

Answer 12

The removal of poitive reinforcement for previously rewarded behaviour.
Removing attention is NOT the same as ignoring!
The pet learns that behaviour no longer “pays off “, the frequency of that behaviour drops off eventually to extinction.
Ex: a dog that begs at the table at mealtimes will eventually stop if it never gets another table scrap
A frustration effect or “frenzy” occurs initially when the behaviour is no longer reinforced. An increase in the undesirable, or related, behaviours in an attempt to get rewarded.
Probably the most difficult way for owners to attempt to modify behaviour.
In all training if you go too fast and the animal gets excited/confused you need to back up one step until the animal gets it right!!

Question 13

The rate of extinction depends upon

Answer 13

The duration of the behaviour
Reinforcement regularity
How often did the slot machine pay out?
The type of reinforcement used.
How pleasant was the stimulus?
Most undesirable conditioned behaviours have been reinforced intermittently; therefore they are very difficult to extinguish.