Training Techniques & Methodologies Flashcards

Which training method involves the dog offering behaviors freely without prompts to earn reinforcement, encouraging creativity?

Answer: Free shaping

Free shaping (also called 'capturing' or '101 things to do with a box') lets dogs offer behaviors independently, reinforcing approximations toward a goal.

A trainer uses food held at the dog's nose to guide it into a sit. This technique is called:

Answer: Luring

Luring uses a reward to physically guide the dog through a behavior before the food becomes part of the process.

What is the primary disadvantage of luring if faded too slowly?

Answer: The dog becomes dependent on the lure and won't perform without it

If the lure is not faded promptly, the dog may only perform the behavior when the lure is visible, making it prop-dependent.

In a 'go to mat' behavior chain, what reinforces the dog moving toward the mat?

Answer: The conditioned reinforcer of reaching the mat, which predicts the final reward

Each step in a behavior chain is reinforced by the opportunity to perform the next behavior, with the final reinforcer at the end.

A dog trained with a head halter that is suddenly removed shows increased pulling. This best illustrates:

Answer: Equipment dependency without training an alternative behavior

Equipment-based management suppresses behavior mechanically rather than teaching the dog what to do, so the behavior resurfaces when equipment is absent.

Which reinforcement schedule is most effective for initially teaching a new behavior?

Answer: Continuous (CRF)

Continuous reinforcement (every correct response rewarded) accelerates acquisition of new behaviors by providing immediate, consistent feedback.

A dog learns that sitting earns treats but only when a specific mat is present. The mat is functioning as a:

Answer: Discriminative stimulus (SD)

A discriminative stimulus (SD) signals that reinforcement is available, setting the occasion for the behavior to occur.