Download - Employees

Online Training for Perfect Start™ Certification Program
from Invisible Fence®
Created by
Animal Behavior Associates, Inc.
303-932-9095 phone
[email protected]
Instructors:
Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D., CAAB, CVJ
Dan Estep, Ph.D., CAAB
COURSE NOTES FOR Perfect Start™ Online Training
Session Four
Animal Learning Part Two
Copyright 2011, 2012, 2013 Animal Behavior Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Used by permission for Perfect Start™ Certification Program. May not be reproduced or distributed in
whole or in part outside of these parameters without express permission from Animal Behavior
Associates, Inc.
GLOSSARY
Stimulus Discrimination –In operant conditioning, the process by which animals learn
to give a particular response only in the presence of a particular stimulus or only in a
given situation. Dogs learn, if properly trained, that it is the tone of the containment
system collar that signals the impending stimulation, and not something else in the
environment, such as the wind, a particular smell or the presence of a person.
Stimulus Generalization –In operant conditioning, the process by which animals learn
to give a particular response in the presence of a variety of stimuli or the same stimulus
in different situations. Dogs learn, if properly trained, that the tone in any part of the
yard near the barrier will signal the impending stimulation, regardless of where the dog
is.
Social Learning –Learning that occurs in the presence of one or more individuals, or
as a result of interactions with another individual. There are several distinct types.
Social facilitation is where one individual becomes motivated to engage in a behavior
because another is doing it. Group howling in dogs is socially facilitated. Stimulus
enhancement is where one animal learns a response by being in the presence of the
other animal engaging in the behavior but does not learn the behavior by direct
observation, but rather through trial and error. Puppies probably learn house training
from another house trained dog by stimulus enhancement. True imitation is where an
animal learns an entirely new response simply by watching another do it, then
demonstrates the behavior at a later time in its entirety. While dogs can learn by social
facilitation and stimulus enhancement, there is no evidence they learn by true imitation.
If a dog learns the boundaries of an electronic containment system and learns the
appropriate avoidance response simply by watching another dog perform, it is probably
learned through stimulus enhancement.
Classical Counter Conditioning - occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS) predicts
an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that is “counter to”the previously conditioned one.
“… classical counter conditioning focuses on altering the affect or emotive state of the
animal with the assumption that the form of behaviors elicited by the emotions will also
change.”[Wright, Reid and Rozier, 2003, p. 151]
Operant Counter Conditioning –A technique whereby a particular cue comes to elicit
a behavior that is “counter to”, or incompatible with the unwanted behavior. As the
name implies, it is an operant learning procedure.
Desensitization - Desensitization is the gradual, or incremental exposure to a stimulus,
ideally without eliciting an undesired response.
Copyright 2011, 2012, 2013 Animal Behavior Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Used by permission for Perfect Start™ Certification Program. May not be reproduced or distributed in
whole or in part outside of these parameters without express permission from Animal Behavior
Associates, Inc.
CLASSICAL AND OPERANT COUNTER CONDITIONING AND DESENSITIZATION
WORKING TOGETHER
Operant and Classical Counter Conditioning are often used in working with problem
behaviors such as aggression and fears. They are typically used together and in
conjunction with desensitization. Usually the classical counter conditioning is done first
with desensitization and then operant counter conditioning is added when behavioral
changes are seen.
Classical counter conditioning is not based on eliciting a specific behavior from the
animal. Remember that classical conditioning is learning that one event predicts
another. Thus, classical counter conditioning occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS)
predicts an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that is “counter to”the previously conditioned
one. For example, the sight of nail clippers might predict pain and unpleasantness,
making nail trims impossible. To get the dog to accept the nail trims, classical counter
conditioning would be employed so that the sight of the nail clippers at a distance (CS)
would come to predict food, petting, or any other enjoyable event rather than pain and
fear (UCS).
This is only one step in teaching a pet to accept nail trims. The dog would then be
gradually exposed to nail clippers coming closer to him, in the presence of food, for
example, then quick touching with the clippers, and finally real nail trimming all paired
with the pleasant UCS. This is desensitization. Once the dog will accept nail trims
without fear responses, then quiet sitting behavior will be reinforced with treats, petting,
or some other enjoyable event. This is the operant counter conditioning.
REFERENCES
Reid, P.J. 1996. Excel-erated Learning. Explaining in Plain English How Dogs
Learn and How Best to Teach Them. Oakland, CA: James & Kenneth Publ.
Reid, P.J. 2007. Learning in dogs. In Jensen, P. (Ed.) The Behavioural Biology of
Dogs. Cambridge, MA: CAB International, Pp. 120-144.
Wright, J.C., Reid, P.J. and Rozier, Z. 2005. Treatment of emotional distress and
disorders-non-pharmacologic methods. In McMillan, F.D. Ed. Mental Health and
Well-Being in Animals. Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishing, pp. 145-158.
Download the article HERE.
Copyright 2011, 2012, 2013 Animal Behavior Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Used by permission for Perfect Start™ Certification Program. May not be reproduced or distributed in
whole or in part outside of these parameters without express permission from Animal Behavior
Associates, Inc.