Canine Learning Theory Flashcards

A dog trainer is working with a dog that barks excessively for attention. The trainer instructs the owner to completely ignore the dog when it barks. For the first few days, the barking intensifies and becomes more frantic before it starts to decrease. This temporary increase in the unwanted behavior is known as:

Answer: An extinction burst

An extinction burst is a predictable and temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or variability of a behavior immediately after reinforcement is removed. [5, 6] In this scenario, the owner's attention (the reinforcement) was removed, leading the dog to try the behavior with more intensity (the burst) before the behavior begins to extinguish.

Which of the following scenarios is a correct application of negative punishment (-P)?

Answer: Turning and walking away when a puppy nips during play.

Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior. [15, 17] In this case, the desirable stimulus (the trainer's attention and playtime) is removed immediately following the puppy's nip, making the nipping behavior less likely to occur in the future.

A trainer is teaching a dog to lie down. They say the verbal cue "Down" at the exact same time as they use a food lure to guide the dog's nose to the floor. After many repetitions, the trainer finds the dog will not lie down with the verbal cue alone, but will with the hand motion. This is an example of:

Answer: Overshadowing

Overshadowing occurs when two stimuli are presented simultaneously, but one is more salient or noticeable to the animal. [19, 25, 26] The more salient stimulus (the hand motion with the lure) interferes with the conditioning of the less salient stimulus (the verbal cue), preventing the dog from learning to associate the verbal cue with the behavior.

In the context of classical conditioning, what is the primary difference from operant conditioning?

Answer: Classical conditioning involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit an involuntary response. [2, 29]

Classical conditioning (or Pavlovian conditioning) deals with involuntary, reflexive behaviors. It creates an association between a previously neutral stimulus and a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response. [2, 3] Operant conditioning, conversely, deals with voluntary behaviors and how they are shaped by consequences (reinforcement or punishment). [8, 18]

To prevent a puppy from developing a fear of vacuum cleaners, the owner frequently runs the vacuum in another room while the puppy is happily playing or eating, ensuring the sound is at a low, non-threatening level. Over time, the puppy learns to ignore the sound. This preventative process is best described as:

Answer: Latent inhibition

Latent inhibition is a phenomenon where pre-exposure to a neutral stimulus, without any associated consequence, makes it more difficult to later condition that stimulus with a response. [1, 32] By repeatedly exposing the puppy to the neutral sound of the vacuum without any negative outcome, the owner is making the stimulus irrelevant, thus inhibiting the formation of a fear association later on.

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement (-R)?

Answer: A trainer stops applying upward pressure on the leash as soon as the dog sits, making the dog more likely to sit in the future.

Negative reinforcement occurs when an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus is removed or stopped following a behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior happening again. [14, 15, 22] In this case, the unpleasant pressure from the leash is removed the moment the dog performs the desired behavior (sitting), thus reinforcing the sit.