Lab 3: Animal training

Question 1

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 1

Positive (adding)
Negative (removing)

Reinforcement (increase behaviour)
Punishment (decrease behaviour)

Positive reinforcement: ↑ frequency by adding something good

negative reinforcement: ↑ frequency by removing something aversive

positive punishment: ↓ frequency by adding something aversive

negative punishment: ↓ frequency by removing something good

Question 2

Training basics

Answer 2

-Define your desired outcome and come up with a plan to get there
-Start with reward every time, slowly reduce how often or replace
-Only pair with with command/cue once animal understands what is expected
-Gradual proofing - start in quiet, undisturbed area and slowly increase distraction
-Don’t do too much at one - multiple short sessions, lots of breaks

Question 3

what is clicker training? how does it work?

Answer 3

Based on classical conditioning
● Click marks reward is coming

Charge the clicker - associate with reward
● Click immediately prior to food reward, repeat until association formed

Click at the exact moment when the correct behaviour occurs, then follow up with a treat
● Faster than fumbling for treat

Question 4

what is luring?

Answer 4

Using rewards (food) to physically encourage a correct behaviour
● Sit - push reward up over dogs’ head
● Down - lower food to the ground
● Come - step back and draw hands towards abdomen
● Heel - hold reward at hip
People can sometimes have trouble fading out the lure

Question 5

what is capturing?

Answer 5

rewarding a desired behaviour when it happens naturally

Question 6

what is targetting?

Answer 6

Train to touch a target for rewards

Use the target to move animal in desired ways

Question 7

what is shaping?

Answer 7

Training a complex behaviour by rewarding successive approximations
● Start with rewards for behaviours that are close or can be built on
● Don’t associate command or cue until behaviour is complete
Often used for behaviours that don’t occur naturally

Question 8

what are the steps for desensitization and counterconditioning?

Answer 8

Step 1 - Identify fear threshold and train client to identify signs

Step 2 - Develop a clear gradient for exposure
● Intensity, duration, distance

Step 3 - DS & CC by client using gradient
● Progress to next step when animal is calm
● Repeat and increase over multiple sessions

Explain plus provide client with detailed written instructions