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Veterinary Assistant Certificate ProgramAnimal Behavior - Positive Reinforcement Training

OBJECTIVES:1. Describe the difference between classical and operant conditioning.2. Define terminology associated with positive reinforcement training.2. Describe drive theories.3. Identify primary and secondary reinforcers.4. Describe techniques for reward-based training programs.5. Describe techniques for shaping new behaviors.=================================================================

I. Operant Conditioning Versus Classical Conditioning

1. Classical Conditioning: Conditioning means learning

Discovered by: Ivan Pavlov, a Russian Physiologist studying salivary reflexes in

dogs. (FYI: His primary research had to do with digestion.)

Discovered that the dogs began to anticipate a reward when they heard the buzz

sound. They understood that things go together; there is an association between

things. He called it a conditioned response

Buzz sound = the conditioned or secondary reinforcer

Theory demonstrates that when one thing happens, another thing is likely to

happen

It’s all about anticipation; the animal reacts to the stimulus, the same way it

would react to the reward

What does this have to do with dog training? We use classical conditioning to

teach the animal that the sound of the clicker means a reward will follow.

Ex: You shake the box of cat food and the cat comes running

S. Lane, 4/2020

2. Operant Conditioning

Developer of Operant Conditioning Theory: B. F. Skinner, an American Pyschologist

who studied behaviorism in the 1930’s -40’s and throughout his life. In 2002, he

was voted one of the most influential thinkers/psychologists of the 20th Century

Invented the Skinner Box, where a rat learned to push a lever in order to get food

Skinner found that behaviors were dependent upon what happens after the response.

He called this phenomenon: Operant Conditioning

It works when the animal understands that his/her behavior has a CONSEQUENCE

When the consequence is good, it increases the likelihood that the behavior will happen

again = Positive Reinforcement

In 1938, he published his first book, “The Behavior of Organisms” which outlined the

principles of operant conditioning. It basically state that an animal could be training to

do anything it was physically capable of doing … using this technique.

Ex: Ask a dog to “sit”. If she does, a reward is given. If not, no reward.

II. Reinforcers (Things that Motivate Animals)

1. Motivation is used to describe the FORCES that act on, or within, an animal to activate or direct behavior. For the most part LEARNING does not occur without MOTIVATION.

2. Primary Reinforcers: Things that dogs want! Ex: Food, praise, toys, fun games, free-time

3. Secondary Reinforcers/Conditioned Reinforcers/Bridges:

A signal that is associated with the arrival of a primary reinforcer Signal = click sound, whistle, light beam, or a motion

4. The secondary reinforcer must be paired with the primary reinforcer (reward). This is an example of classical conditioning.

5. The signal means: I like what you are doing right now!

S. Lane, 4/2020

6. The signal is more powerful when it is paired with variable (several different)primary reinforcers:

Food, fun, freedom

III. “Drive Theory” of Motivation

A. Drive theory states that behavior is a result of both what has been learned and what is activated by the current drive.

B. They describe why some dogs REACT differently to training.

C. They are useful as a means of developing effective reinforcers for specific animals.Types:

1. Prey Drive:

These animals are highly motivated to engage in: predatory behaviors;

Ex: stalking, chasing, biting

2. Hunger Drive

These animals are highly motivated to engage in: food getting behaviors

Ex: begging, woofing down food, stealing food, counter surfing

3. Pack Drive:

These animals are highly motivated to engage in: social behaviors

Ex: grooming, being petted, nuzzling, playing, closeness

IV. Reward-Based Training

Reward-based training is effective when these five criteria exist:

1. Proper Reward Sequence

2. Proper use of the conditioned reinforcer

3. Good Timing

4. Proper Size of the Reinforcer

5. Occasional Jackpot

S. Lane, 4/2020

1. Reward Sequence:

1. Smile 2. Touch

3. Talk 4. Reward (food, praise, toy, freedom

Extremely important to maintain this sequence or animal gets too food motivated. Don’t

rely on #4. #1-3 will teach dog to “come” to you. Use #4 to strengthen the behavior.

2. Critical to Using A Conditioned Reinforcer:

1. Need to teach the animal what the signal means. (click, whistle, light beam, word, etc.)

2. Follow the reward sequence.

3. Timing must be effective.

4. Don’t feed the animal prior to training.

5. Limit treats given outside of training. Save “special”treats just for training sessions.

6. Use a toy the animal can’t play with at any other time.

7. Use the lowest value food animal will accept.

8. Use the smallest size treat animal will accept.

9. Change rewards on a routine basis.

10. Offer JACKPOTS sometimes.

11. Only use treats to teach a new behavior and to maintainmotivation.

12. When the behavior is consistent add cue (word or hand signal), gradually replace “click” with cue & decrease treats.

13. Training sessions should be short & fun. You end them, not the animal.

14. Always end on a positive “happy” note. If you’re having problems with a particular behavior and need to stop, ask the animal to do something it already knows and reward it. Then stop.

S. Lane, 4/2020

15. Periodically offer a treat reward for behaviors the animal know well. It keeps them guessing and that keeps them motivated.

3. Timing of Reinforcement: signal must be given the MOMENT the desired

behavior happens; within ½ second of the desired behavior.

4. Size of Reinforcement: As small as possible! Small size cuts down on wait time

(chewing). Little dogs will fill up too fast with big treats and that decreases training

opportunities. The right size = chomp, chomp, swallow

5. Jackpots: A HUGE reward that is much larger than normal reinforcement. It

comes as a surprise.

V. Shaping: Step by step learning; taking a small tendency in the right direction

and shifting it, one step at a time, toward a goal.

Ex: You want a dolphin to jump high in the air. So first, you teach it to touch a target stick,

then slowly start raising the target stick higher and higher, rewarding at each increase in

height, until the dolphin is JUMPING out of the water … that’s shaping!

S. Lane, 4/2020

Name________________________________________

Veterinary Assistant Certificate ProgramAnimal Behavior - Positive Reinforcement Training

OBJECTIVES:1. Describe the difference between classical and operant conditioning.2. Define terminology associated with positive reinforcement training.2. Describe drive theories.3. Identify primary and secondary reinforcers.4. Describe techniques for reward-based training programs.5. Describe techniques for shaping new behaviors.=================================================================

I. Operant Conditioning Versus Classical Conditioning

1. Classical Conditioning: __________________________________________________________

Discovered by: ________________________, a Russian Physiologist studying salivary

reflexes in dogs. (FYI: His primary research had to do with digestion.)

Discovered that the dogs began to anticipate a reward when they heard the buzz

sound. They understood that things go together; there is an association between

things. He called it a ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does this have to do with dog training? _____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ex: You shake the box of cat food and the cat comes running

S. Lane, 4/2020

2. Operant Conditioning

Developer of Operant Conditioning Theory: __________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

and throughout his life. In 2002, he was voted one of the most influential thinkers/

psychologists of the 20th Century

Invented the _______________________________, where a rat learned to push a lever in order to

get food

Skinner found that behaviors were dependent upon what happens after the response.

He called this phenomenon: ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

When the consequence is good, it increases the likelihood that the behavior will happen

again = ___________________________________________________

In 1938, he published his first book, _________________________________________ which outlined

the principles of operant conditioning. It basically state that an animal could be training

to do anything it was physically capable of doing … using this technique.

Ex: Ask a dog to “sit”. If she does, a reward is given. If not, no reward.

II. Reinforcers (Things that Motivate Animals)

1. ______________________________is used to describe the FORCES that act on, or within, an animal to activate or direct behavior. For the most part LEARNING does not occur without MOTIVATION.

2. Primary Reinforcers: _______________________________________________________________

Ex: _________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Secondary Reinforcers/Conditioned Reinforcers/Bridges:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

4. The secondary reinforcer must be _____________________ with the primary reinforcer (reward). This is an example of classical conditioning.

S. Lane, 4/2020

5. The signal means: ______________________________________________________________________

6. The signal is more powerful when it is paired with _____________________________________primary reinforcers:

_______________________________________________________________________

III. “Drive Theory” of Motivation

A. Drive theory states that behavior is a result of both what has been learned and what is activated by the current drive.

B. They describe why some dogs REACT differently to training.

C. They are useful as a means of developing effective reinforcers for specific animals.Types:

1. _____________________________:

These animals are highly motivated to engage in:________________________________

Ex: ____________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________:

These animals are highly motivated to engage in: ____________________________________

Ex: ________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________:

These animals are highly motivated to engage in: ____________________________________

Ex:_________________________________________________________________________________________

IV. Reward-Based Training

Reward-based training is effective when these five criteria exist:

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

S. Lane, 4/2020

4. Reward Sequence:

1. ________________________ 3. _________________________

2. ________________________ 4. _________________________

Extremely important to maintain this sequence or animal gets too food motivated. Don’t

rely on #4. #1-3 will teach dog to “come” to you. Use #4 to strengthen the behavior.

2. Critical to Using A Conditioned Reinforcer:

1. Need to teach the animal what the ____________ means. (click, whistle, light beam, word, etc.)

2. Follow the __________________________.

3. Timing must be _____________________.

4. Don’t __________ the animal prior to training.

5. _____________ treats given outside of training. Save “special”treats just for training sessions.

6. Use a _________ the animal can’t play with at any other time.

7. Use _____________ value food animal will accept.

8. Use __________________ size treat animal will accept.

9. _____________ rewards on a routine basis.

10. Offer __________________sometimes.

11. Only use treats to teach a ________ behavior and to maintainmotivation.

12. When the behavior is __________________ add cue (word or hand signal), gradually replace “click” with cue & decrease treats.

13. Training sessions should be ___________ & _________. You end them, not the animal.

S. Lane, 4/2020

14. Always end on a ______________ note. If you’re having problems with a particular behavior and need to stop, ask the animal to do something it already knows and reward it. Then stop.

15. Periodically offer a treat reward for behaviors the animal know well. It keeps them guessing and that keeps them motivated.

3. Timing of Reinforcement: ______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Size of Reinforcement: ____________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Jackpots: ____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

V. Shaping: ____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

S. Lane, 4/2020