Operant Conditioning in Dog Training

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Questions and Answers

Match the following concepts with their definitions:

Stimulus control = The ability to respond to a specific stimulus. Discrimination = Putting behaviors on cue. Generalization = Dog learns to respond to a specific stimulus in all environments. Proofing = This is when the dog has achieved a high level of generalization in different situations.

Match the following concepts with their definitions:

Overshadowing = This is when the stimuli are not noticed by the dog because there are more enticing stimuli present. Blocking = Putting behaviors on cue. Escape/ avoidance = The ability to respond to a specific stimulus. Flooding/ response prevention = This happens when a stimulus is disregarded by the dog when two stimuli are presented together.

Match the following concepts with their examples:

Overshadowing = The dog is following the treat rather than learning the hand signal for down. Blocking = Saying sit with the hand signal but they don't know the word yet. Escape/ avoidance = A dog learns to walk quietly at the handler side in order to avoid being choked by the leash and collar. Flooding/ response prevention = Exposing the subject to their fears at full force.

Match the following concepts with their characteristics:

Stimulus control = Requires verbal cues immediately in training period. Overshadowing = More enticing stimuli present. Discrimination = Responds to a specific stimulus. Generalization = Learns to respond in all environments. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their relationships:

Proofing = Is a result of generalization. Blocking = Is a type of stimulus control. Overshadowing = Is a type of discrimination. Escape/ avoidance = Is a type of aversive control of behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their goals:

Stimulus control = To put behaviors on cue. Discrimination = To respond to a specific stimulus. Generalization = To learn to respond in all environments. Proofing = To achieve a high level of generalization in different situations. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their consequences:

Overshadowing = The dog may not learn the hand signal. Blocking = The dog may be confused by the two stimuli. Escape/ avoidance = The dog may become anxious or fearful. Flooding/ response prevention = The method may be traumatic for the dog. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their types:

Aversive control of behavior = Escape/ avoidance and flooding/ response prevention. Stimulus control = Putting behaviors on cue. Discrimination = Responds to a specific stimulus. Generalization = Learns to respond in all environments. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their purposes:

Flooding/ response prevention = To overcome phobias. Systematic desensitisation = To overcome phobias gradually. Stimulus control = To put behaviors on cue. Proofing = To achieve a high level of generalization in different situations. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their effects:

Escape/ avoidance = May lead to anxiety or fear. Flooding/ response prevention = May be traumatic for the dog. Generalization = Learns to respond in all environments. Proofing = Achieves a high level of generalization in different situations. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Operant Conditioning

Consequences drive behavior; if good, the behavior is repeated, and if bad, the behavior is avoided
Operant conditioning consists of: antecedent, behavior, and consequence
Antecedent: any stimulus present in the environment before the behavior occurs
Behavior: anything the dog does
Consequence: anything that happens to the dog as a result of the behavior

Types of Consequences

Positive Reinforcement: something good happens to increase the behavior
Negative Reinforcement: something bad is taken away to increase the behavior
Positive Punishment: something bad happens to decrease the behavior
Negative Punishment: something good is taken away to decrease the behavior

Partial or Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule

The response is reinforced only part of the time
Partial reinforcement leads to slower learning but more resistance to extinction
Types of partial reinforcement schedules:
- Ratio Schedules: require a certain number of operant responses for a reinforcer
  - Fixed Ratio Schedules: response is reinforced after a specified number of responses
  - Variable Ratio Schedules: response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses
  - Random Ratio Schedules: response is reinforced randomly
- Differential Reinforcement Schedules:
  - Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior: reinforces an incompatible response
  - Variable Duration: provides reinforcements at an average variable time
  - Random Duration: provides reinforcement at random intervals

Premack Principle

A high-probability behavior can reward a low-probability behavior
Example: a dog must sit before chasing after a ball or going through a door

Habituation, Sensitization, and Adaptation

Habituation: the ability to stop reacting to meaningless stimuli
Sensitization: opposite of habituation; the dog's response becomes stronger towards the stimulus
Adaptation: physical process of tiring; sensory neurons can tire and stop working

Learned Irrelevance, Timing, and Fun

Learned Irrelevance: dog learns to ignore commands
Timing: exceptionally important for training; miscommunication can occur with poor timing
Fun: training should be enjoyable for both dog and owner; enthusiasm can go a long way

Salience, Satiation, and Deprivation

Salience: a discriminate stimulus that is very visible or noticeable
Satiation: the effectiveness of a consequence is reduced if the individual's appetite for that stimulus is satisfied
Deprivation: the effectiveness of a consequence increases as the individual becomes deprived of that stimulus

Environment and Stress

Stress can block chemical reactions in the brain necessary for learning
Stress can disrupt learning and memory development
Trainers should minimize stressful situations

Contingency and Stimulus Control

Contingency: a consequence follows the response consistently after successful instances
Stimulus Control: putting behaviors on cue; the dog reliably responds to a specific cue

Overshadowing, Discrimination, Generalization, and Proofing

Overshadowing: the stimuli are not noticed by the dog due to more enticing stimuli
Discrimination: the ability to respond to a specific stimulus
Generalization: the dog learns to respond to a specific stimulus in all environments
Proofing: achieving a high level of generalization in different situations

Blocking and Aversive Control of Behavior

Blocking: a stimulus is disregarded by the dog when two stimuli are presented together
Aversive Control of Behavior:
- Escape/Avoidance: an avoidance response is a form of escape behavior present in animals
- Flooding/Response Prevention: a method of overcoming phobias by exposing the subject to their fears at full force (unethical for canines)

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Description

Learn about operant conditioning and its role in dog training, including reinforcement and punishment. Understand how antecedent, behavior, and consequence influence a dog's actions.