Vocab

Question 1

In dog training, a fixed action pattern (FAP) is

Answer 1

an innate, stereotyped behavioral sequence triggered by a specific stimulus, often instinctive and completed regardless of changes in the original stimulus.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Innate and Instinctive:
FAPs are not learned; they are hardwired into a dog’s genetic makeup and are present from birth.
Stereotyped:
These behaviors are highly predictable and consistent within a species, following a specific sequence.
Triggered by a Stimulus:
A specific stimulus, called a “sign stimulus” or “releaser,” triggers the FAP.
Obligatory:
Once initiated, the FAP will continue to completion, even if the original stimulus is removed.
Examples:
Prey drive: Seeing a small, moving object can trigger a sequence of behaviors like stalking, chasing, and potentially biting.
Nursing: A puppy instinctively knows how to suckle.
Digging: Some dogs have a strong instinct to dig holes.
Burying food: Some dogs instinctively bury bones or other valuable items.
Importance in Training:
Understanding FAPs can help trainers manage and redirect these behaviors, as well as understand why certain behaviors are hard to change.
Examples of FAPs in Dogs:
Orient, Eye, Stalk, Chase, Grab-Bite, Kill-Bite: This is the predatory sequence in dogs.
Turning in circles before laying down:
Hiking a leg to pee or mark:
FAPs and Learned Behaviors:
While FAPs are innate, dogs can still learn to modify or control them through training and management.

Question 2

In dog training, “criterion” refers to

Answer 2

the clear, measurable definition of a desired behavior that a dog needs to perform to earn reinforcement. It’s the “contract” between the trainer and the dog, specifying exactly what constitutes a successful performance

Question 3

6. A client wants their dog to remain in a down-stay while the doorbell rings. Which criterion should you increase last when building the behavior?
   A. Duration
   B. Cue clarity
   C. Distance from handler
   D. Distraction level

Answer 3

Correct answer: D. Distraction level
▶ You want to build duration and distance first in a low-distraction setting. Once the behavior is fluent and stable, you then add distractions last, because they are the most challenging element to generalize across environments.

Question 4

What is the most appropriate way to help a client generalize their dog’s behavior across environments?
A. Repeat training in one location until the behavior is perfect
B. Add distractions early in training
C. Train in multiple settings with gradual increases in difficulty
D. Only train in high-distraction environments

Answer 4

Correct answer: C. Train in multiple settings with gradual increases in difficulty

▶ While it’s tempting to master one setting first, true generalization requires multiple locations, increasing distraction levels, and context variation. Dogs often don’t automatically apply what they learned in one context to others.

Question 5

1. A dog has learned to sit when asked at home, but not in the park. This is an issue of:
   A. Proofing
   B. Luring
   C. Latency
   D. Shaping

Answer 5

A. Proofing

▶ This is a classic generalization problem — the dog hasn’t learned to perform the behavior in a variety of contexts yet. Proofing is the process of practicing cues in different locations, with different distractions, and under varying conditions.

Question 6

What is a poisoned cue?

Answer 6

A poisoned cue is a cue (like a word, hand signal, or gesture) that has become associated with something unpleasant, confusing, or aversive, so the dog either no longer responds reliably or begins to have a negative emotional reaction to it