Learning and Behaviour Modification PDF

0 Learning and Modification of Behaviour • Most behaviour ’problems’ in pets- are normal (innate) behavior of the animals but are problematic to owners- and are such ‘problems’ • -some of these problems are related to husbandry (living, eating housing etc) practices • Ex: leaving for 8-hour work sh...

0 Learning and Modification of Behaviour • Most behaviour ’problems’ in pets- are normal (innate) behavior of the animals but are problematic to owners- and are such ‘problems’ • -some of these problems are related to husbandry (living, eating housing etc) practices • Ex: leaving for 8-hour work shift small apartment(prolonged dog isolation -separation anxiety- pet howling and furniture and clothing destruction). • Query: would the this behaviour be the same if dog was left outside in a hobby farm, acreage or land on large farming operation 0 1 Learning and Modification of Behaviour • Some behaviours can be abnormal: • -compulsive and stereotypic behaviours- (discussed later) • -secondary to disease (any examples- ie male a cat) 0 2 1 0 Clinical behaviour- 3 disciplines areas of study 1) Ethology based: (genetic) adaption of behaviour for the animal in its natural conditions. These are considered ‘innate qualities’ of the animal (hardwired?) 2)Physiological basis: behaviour is influenced on physiological process (oxytocin release by motherenhance newborn-mother bonding) As such, behaviour problems are secondary to disease or abnormal physiological responses.• this could include abnormal response within the brain (neuroendocrine/ neurotransmitter imbalances) 3)Learning based: animals (people pets) learn all the time. Learning behaviour can be both ‘good and bad’ behaviour. Behaviour modification can be directed at rewarding good behaviour and discouraging bad behaviour • For behaviour modification- it may require and incorporation of single, several or all ‘ disciplines of study’ for the desired outcome • Any suggestion-example? • Note: ethology- study of animal behaviour under natural conditions and in the context of behaviour as an adaptive trait. The adaptation maybe based on evolutionary modifications to enhance animal fitness 0 3 Illness model • To treat behavioural problems- people naturally anthropomorphize the problem In people we treat this way- is this correct for animals (ie is behavioural problem in animals a mental illness • this is considered an ‘illness model’ • Illness model (anxiety, anorexia, depression, child abuse etc) is being challenged by human ethologists • A thought… • Perhaps abnormal human behaviour –is a disconnection (poorly matched interactions) between human biology (ie physiology), innate behaviour traits (genetics) added with modern-day environment (stresses). • Can this be extended to animal behaviour? • Potential problem with the illness model (abnormal behaviour is a disease) for the cause problem behaviours in animals- treatments (ie drug therapy) may not be a long-lasting or permanent- solution treatment. The pets may revert back to ‘problematic behaviour’ over time 0 4 2 0 Behavioural modification: learning processes • Behavioural modification: ‘intentional or structural use of conditioning or learning (conditioning) procedures to ,modify behaviours • Modification can (should) also include altering the environment (household) to improve the prospects of improving behaviour • Oversimplified- 2 principles of behaviour modification • 1) reward good behaviour • 2) disincentive of improper behaviour • Generalized behavioural outcomes categories-strategies (4) • 1) positive reinforcement: - good behaviour- receives good (appetitive) stimulus • 2) positive punishment: bad behaviour – receives bad (adverse) stimulus • 3) negative reinforcement: good behaviour- prevents bad (adverse) stimulus • 4) negative punishment (omission training): bad behaviour prevents good (appetitive) stimulus 0 5 Learning processes: Habituation (non- associative learning) • Animal have genetically coded innate (programmed) process to protect themselves (ie being startled with loud noiseprotective behaviour)- this can lead to unwanted behaviour – ie anxiety to loud noises • In nature animals can be come ‘use’ to the response and is not longer inducing adverse reposes (over time talking walks around loud traffic) • Habituation: is a response to a repeated stimuli. The stimuli not longer induce unwanted behaviors • Structural habituation- is known to desensitization • Habituation – is easier to accomplish in young vs mature animal (hunting dogs trained pups to starter pistol fire- in preparation for hunting and sound of gunshots) • Desensitization stimuli: –provided repeatedly at full amount (strength) is known as flooding. Flooding works in neonates • Desensitization stimuli: - requires gradual incremental habituation. Gradual habituation is known as systematic desensitization. Systematic desensitization works for adult animals • note- its particularly difficult to habituate adult cats- so don’t try • Note: habituation to work and remain active (ie maintenance) - requires parodic exposure to stimuli- if not habitation to the stimuli will dimmish and can fail • Note: sometimes the response to noise intensifies (not reduces)- an unwanted response. This is often observed in loud percussion noise (gunshot, fireworks, thunderstorms). This process is known as sensitization. The sensitization response can transfer to other mild stimuli (car door closing). The dog becomes more generalized ‘anxious’ 0 6 3 0 Learning processes: Habituation • Ex Dog to walk into traffic 1) Unconditioned stimulus (car horns)---high response (anxiety, startled) 2) Unconditioned stimulus (car horns) ---repeated stimuli (car horns) -lower response (anxiety, startled) 3) Unconditioned stimulus (car horns) --- more repeated stimuli (car horns) --- eliminated response (anxiety, startled) - The dog maybe now able to go into busy traffic 0 7 Learning processes: Classical Conditioning (associative learning) • Classical conditioning-responses are ‘involuntary’ similar to a ‘reflexive’ response. • involuntary (nerve-glandular or smooth muscle response) vs voluntary (nerve skeletal muscular response; operant conditioning) • Classical conditioning- a pervious stimuli with no previous response’neutral’, now induces a ‘involuntary’ physiological-behavioural response. • Two-types of responses or stimuli: 1) Appetitive (pleasant) 2) Aversive (unpleasant) 0 8 4 0 Classical Conditioning: Appetitive responses ie: Pavlovian (salivating) dog • Appetitive response- inducing an appetitive responses - drooling (salivation) 1) Unconditioned stimulus (meat)---appetitive response- drooling ( a natural response to food) -to modify behaviour with classical condition 2) Conditioned stimulus (sound- clicker) --- unconditioned stimulus (meat)-appetitive (conditioned) response- drooling 3) Conditioned stimulus (sound- clicker) --- appetitive response- drooling Note: for best response and association- ’short duration’ (ie 3 seconds) between condition response (clicker) and unconditioned stimulus (meat) must occur- so the dog can form an association between the two (clicker and meat) -Do you really want your dog salivating everywhere? - A practical example of appetitive response: owner smiles (positive facial expression) dog tail wags 0 9 Classical Conditioning: Adverse responses • Adverse responses: usually ‘innate state’ of the dog-associated with an unpleasant (discomfort, anxiety provoking) event • Ex Pain- induces increased bowel movement, urination, blood pressure, heart rate etc. Ex: Going to the vet 1) Unconditioned stimulus (pain) ---adverse emotion response (panting) 2) Condition stimulus (white lab coat, vaccine-needle-syringe) --Unconditioned stimulus (pain) --- adverse emotion response (panting) 3) Condition stimulus (white lab coat, vaccine-needle-syringe) --- adverse emotion response (panting) Other possible adverse stimuli: falling, loud noises, isolation-abandonment, restraining equipment Any other examples- possibilities of events? 0 10 5 0 Learning processes: Operant Conditioning (associative learning) • Operant conditioning: responses are ‘voluntary’ nonreflexive (moving skeletal muscles for to accomplish a desired response) • ‘Goal’ driven response: behavioural action- gain response • Usually if response if followed by reward – probability of the response in enhanced • Reward: is known as reinforcer -Are all operant reward systems produce a positive response to the pet owner. Can behaviour response be unwanted? 0 11 Learning processes: Operant Conditioning Positive reinforcement • All reinforcement – enhanced the likelihood a behaviour (good or bad) will reoccur (ie learned) in the future • Ex training to sit 1) Stimulus (verbal command ’sit’)---Response (sit)--- reward (reinforcement stimuli) (food treat) • There can be a delay in the desired response- as such bridging stimuli (clicker, whistle, verbal commands ‘ good dog’, ‘good boy’ etc)) are added to the conditioning strategy. • Bridging stimulus : also known as secondary reinforcer • Link the bridging stimulus (whistle) to the reward (reinforcement stimuli) • Ex training to sit with secondary reinforcer 1) Stimulus (verbal command ’sit’)---Response (sit)--- reward (reinforcement stimuli; food treat) 2) ) Stimulus (verbal command ’sit’)---Response (sit)--- secondary reinforcer (‘good dog’) ---reward (reinforcement stimuli; food treat) 0 12 6 0 Learning processes: Operant Conditioning Positive Punishment – controversial (aversion stimulus) • The use of an adverse stimulus to prevent a unwanted behaviour -ex. making loud noises (aversion stimulus) when dog jumps on couch (unwanted behaviour ) • Positive punishment- steepest learning for operant behavioural modification. • Positive punishment best results usually requires: - More intense and longer duration of adverse stimulus- longer lasting behaviour modification. (Animals can become resistant to low intensity aversion stimulus) - Immediate application of aversion stimulus is better than delayed application of the stimulus - Continuous application of aversion stimulus (towards unwanted behaviour) is more effective than only intermittent (occasional) application of the stimulus - If alternates for limiting aversion therapy are provided ex. jumping on a couch- provide another ‘soft’ material for the dog to lay on, may help reduce unwanted behaviour (jumping on couch) Note: the dog may only, jump on the couch when the owner is away and jump on the coiuche when owner is at work. 0 13 Learning processes: Operant Conditioning Positive Punishment – controversial (aversion stimulus) • Positive punishment can be very effective- but is it ethical? • Some consideration for positive punishment application: • Seriousness of unwanted behaviour (digging vs aggression and biting) • Urgency of needed behaviour change • Potential for abuse (excessive use) • Skill of user (trainer vs pet owner) • Employ the ‘least aversion technique’ to get desired effect 0 14 7 0 Learning processes: Operant Conditioning Negative reinforcement • Reinforcers are a negative stimuli - removing the reinforcer provides a beneficial effect to the pet and benefits owner. • Responses- can be aggressive-defensive posturing, growling. Often protective in nature (defensive) • Ex dog approached by threating individual 1) Stimulus (threating individual)---response (barring teeth)---reinforcement (reward) --- individual flees the dog 0 15 Learning processes: Operant Conditioning Negative Punishment (Social punishment) –removal of rewarding stimulus • Negative punishment: prevention or providing or removal of pleasant (appetitive, reward) stimuli to modify behaviour • Negative punishment is also known as social punishment • Ex. Family member at the door- dog jumping 1) Stimulus (family member) ---adverse response (jumping) 2) Stimulus (family member) ---adverse response (jumping)--- owner ignores the dog (no affirmation) 3) Stimulus (family member) ---reduced adverse response (jumping)--owner ignores the dog (no affirmation) 4) Stimulus (family member) ---removed adverse response d(og doesn’t jump on family member) 0 16 8 0 Learning processes: Operant Conditioning Negative Punishment (social punishment): Method-time out • Social animals (dogs)- dislike abandonment and isolation • ‘Time-out’- common form of negative punishment • Bad behaviour (jumping on family)- the dog is isolated into and area of confinement. • Time-outs; if enacted correctly – can be very effective • Short periods (up to 2 minute) are usually effective- longer periods of isolation doesn’t improve the effectiveness of negative punishment. Dogs left alone will find other ways to entertain themselves- removing ability to modify behaviour • Note: 1) negative punishment- required longer periods of training than positive punishment 2) negative punishment: complete and effective behaviour modification is rare 0 17 Methods of Punishment: Interactive punishment 1) Interactive Punishment: pet associates unpleasant stimuli with pet owner • Eg: Owner hits (hand, paper, broom) or yells (threating manner) are the pet • can evoke more aggression in cats • This is not recommended for long term behavior modification: i) the behavioural changes may not to be long-lasting ii) application of interactive punishment by owner can be inconsistent iii) If the punishment is applied overly severe- classically condition responses (fear of people) • Has been used (effectively) against dangerous behaviours in dogs (aggression, fearsome barking, menacing family and strangers, biting) 0 18 9 0 Methods of Punishment: Remote Punishment 2) Remote punishment: no association between punishment stimuli and owner -most effective type of punishment -cat be useful in cats Ex. Buried electric boundary fences, shock collars, water sprinkler (how does this work), low voltage shock mats for furniture jumping • Remote punishment works best if: i) Have an alternate area for behaviour (not digging in flower bed- but digging in a designated area) ii) Try other techniques to mitigate behaviour (ie castration reduces androgens and potential hormonal drive of aggression) iii) Consistent punishment for very mis-behavioural event iv) Punish immediately (within seconds) after behaviour v) Try to limit the ability to misbehave. Less access to flower beds- so this would reduce digging 0 19 Methods of Punishment: Remote Punishment (equipment) • Electric shock collars (remote activated)- important to protect against life hazardous event (chasing cars) and is better than drug therapy for treating acral lick dermatitis/granuloma • Citronella spry collar- remove activated –release citronella • Bark activated collar (electric or citronella)- sensor feels vibration of the vocal cords and releases response. Advantage- owner doesn’t have to see the behaviour to activate the response • Up-side down loaded mouse traps – ie digging dog garden or cat in flower pots- touch's trap- it springs closed (but safe- upside-down trap) and loud noise is an adverse stimuli. Can use multiple traps in the same area- very load noise • ‘Snappy trainer- ‘ commercial product-Amazon.ca 0 20 10 0 Other forms of learning: Extinction Reducing conditioned (classical and operant) responses • Extinction: condition stimulus (clicker) is to provided over many occasion (repeated exposure of the condition stimulus) without followed involuntary response (unconditioned stimulus; meat) • Ex: Condition stimulus (box with dog treats)- Unconditioned stimulus (treats) but no longer giving dog treat in the box- no response (wagging tail, salivates). The association is eventually lost. • Extinction therapy of classical adverse conditions ( fear + anxiety)- hard to accomplish. These emotions maybe critical for survival of the candid withing the wild (biologically important emotions) • Systemic Desensitization (gradual increasing levels of anxiety provoking stimuli)- similar to habituation- can also used for to modify adverse classical conditioning 0 21 Other forms of learning Successive proximation Conditioned (operant) responses: Tricks • These are response ‘not normally’ part the animal’s natural behaviour- inducing ‘parlor tricks’ • Ex: seals playing ring toss, dog rolling over etc. • Requires slow and gradual (incremental) increase in training. • Each ‘successful step’ must be rewarded –until the task is completed. If tasks are not rewarded successive proximation may fail • Important to have a well defined successful end-point. 0 22 11 0 Treating Behaviour Problems: Systematic Desensitization 1) Systematic Desensitization (previously discussed) briefly: • Mainly applied fear and anxiety reactions: starling loud/unknown sounds, strangers, aggression-fear (biters) separation • Used for habituation of natural (innate) fears, or unwanted classically conditioned fears and anxieties • Often used with ordered gradient or incremental increase of stimuli intensity/duration 0 23 Treating Behaviour Problems: Counterconditioning • Counterconditioning: establishing and new (positive – appetitive) conditioned response that is mutually exclusive (not compatible) with the unwanted behavioural response • Used in conjunction with systematic desensitization • ‘the aversion response (loud noises) is reduced by also linking the aversion response to a condition positive response (treat)’ • The positive response (treat) may overtime replace and as such eliminate the negative (aversion, loud noises) response • Can treat: fear and anxiety, dominant aggression 0 24 12 0 Treating Behaviour Problems: Medication assisted desensitization • To be discussed in senior courses briefly: • Anti-anxiety medication used in conjunction with desensitization process. • Although effective as an individual (medical) treatment- medical treatment works best: medication + systematic (non-drug therapy; counterconditioning) desensitization program • Often employed when: • behavioural systematic desensitization is ineffective • Owners (work, life) schedule limits the proper gradient stimulus treatment • Allows for more flexibility to desensitization program • Aberrant (hyper-reaction) reaction to aversion stimulus by the animal • Inability to prevent exposure to aversion stimulus • Treatment: anxiety and fear provoking behavioral problems- especially beneficial for separation anxiety 0 25 Behaviour problems: cats and dog • Behaviours are innate (natural) within animals and domestication has altered behaviours that can both beneficial and detrimental to the pet and pet-human interaction • ‘Normal’ Dog behavioural problems: aggression (people and dogs), anxieties (ie separation anxiety), Excessive barking, excessive activity (ie furniture destruction), roaming, inappropriate urination/defecation, inappropriate attention, sexual and maternal behaviours • ‘Normal’ Cat behavioural problems: inappropriate urination/defecation, scratching, aggression (people and cats), sexual and maternal behaviours, feeding and predatory behaviours • ‘Non-normal’ behavioural problem: ‘ no adaptive or functional value for the animal’: Repetitive, Compulsive and Stereotypic (stereotypies) behaviour (ie pacing of zoo animals, pet). • Highly repetitive movements/behaviours without function • Its suggested that stereotypies are coping mechanisms- are manifestation of environmental stress, boredom, isolation, condiment, overcrowding (livestock) 0 26 13 0 Repetitive, Compulsive and Stereotypic Behaviour (OCD) • Repetitive and stereotypic behaviours in pets- similar to compulsive disorders in people • People compulsive disorder linked to obsessions. • Obsessions: (ideas, thoughts, beliefs, visual cues) that induce anxiety • Compulsions (frequent hand washing, multiple locks closures) are used to reduce- eliminate obsessions • Term: Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). • Compulsions are pathological if alters function of ‘normal’ living 0 27 Compulsive and Stereotypic Behaviour-pets • In pets attempts to define: 1) Stereotypic: repetitive behavioural cats 2) Compulsive: internal drive to preform behaviour acts with not innate function or link to ancestral acts need for survival and to fitness (food, reproduction, fear-flight) • There is genetic predisposing for compulsive- stereotypic behaviours in breeds of dogs • Could be neurotransmitter deficiencies- this is unknown • But medical therapies to improve the CNS (brain) balance of neurotransmitters (ie serotonin) appears to improve abnormal behaviour 0 28 14 0 Acral Lick Dermatitis: Dogs Acral Lick Granuloma (old term):Dogs • Dog licks excessively: • Location: Carpus > tarsus >> other body regions • Moisture leads to wound • Is this condition a serious problem? 0 29 Compulsive-Stereotypic Behaviours: Cats • Some compulsive- stereotypic behaviours maty have a link to natural behaviours, but the marked manifestation of the behaviour becomes profoundly abnormal and as such are considered compulsive- stereotypic behaviours 1) Wool Chewing and Wool Ingestion (pica, Siamese and Burmese cats) • Get destruction of owners clothing • Appears near puberty • Unproven- buts some consider it associated with early weaning of kittens • Note: Pica- ingestion of material that has no nutritional value or benefit to the animal 2) Excessive grooming (psychogenic alopecia, no breed predisposition) • Grooming is an important part of the cat behaviour (8% of awake time) is directed to grooming (may keep fur parasite free) • Unknown- overaction of behaviour directed towards dermatitis (allergy; flea etc), or a completely abnormal behaviour toward some other stimulus • Licking and biting of large areas of fur 0 30 15