The Cognitive Dog

ABC’S OF LEARNING THEORY

How Dogs Learn – The Basics

How Dogs Learn

CLASSICAL CONDITIONINGAlso known as Pavlovian, Associative and Respondent

OPERANT CONDITIONING What we know as “training”

How Dogs Learn

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

• Pavlov’s Dogs

• Relates to reflexes not to voluntary behaviors

• Happening all the time

• Clicker and food is a classical association

• Teaching a cue is a classical association

How Dogs LearnOPERANT CONDITIONING

Definition (from How Dog’s Learn Burch & Bailey, 1999): “The part of science of behavior that explains the functional relationshipbetween environmental events and behavior. It is a key component in explaining how all organisms (including dogs) learn.” In simpleterms what happens in the environmentwill affect what a dog will do in the future. If a dog receives a cookie for sitting he will be more likely to sit again. If a bee stings a dog when he sits he is less likely to sit.

How Dogs LearnOPERANT CONDITIONING

CHANGING BEHAVIOR

REINFORCEMENT PUNISHMENT

POSITIVE Strengthens Weakens

NEGATIVE Strengthens Weakens

How Dogs LearnOPERANT CONDITIONING

REINFORCEMENT:

Strengthens behaviors

.

PUNISHMENT:

Weakens behaviors

Do you want to stop or increase the behavior?

How Dogs LearnOPERANT CONDITIONING

REINFORCEMENT:• Strengthens behaviors• Is anything that will increase the likelihood

of a behavior to happen in the future• To be effective it should closely follow the

behavior so an association is made

How Dogs LearnOPERANT CONDITIONING

PUNISHMENT:• Weakens behaviors• Punishment decreases the likelihood of a

behavior to be repeated in the future• To be effective it should closely follow the

behavior• Has potential fallout; fear, anxiety

How Dogs Learn

REINFORCEMENT in dog trainingStrengthens behaviors

• Positive Reinforcement Add good As perceived by the dog

• Negative Reinforcement Remove badAs perceived by the dog

How Dogs Learn

REINFORCEMENT in dog training

Positive Reinforcement

Add good - As perceived by the dog

Examples: Food, toys, exercise,

play & petting (not all dogs)

How Dogs LearnREINFORCEMENT in dog training

Negative Reinforcement

Remove aversive, As perceivedby the dog

Examples: Stop pulling on a leash, stop electronic collar; spray or shock, stop ear pinch

How Dogs Learn

REINFORCEMENT in dog training

Positive Reinforcement Primary Reinforcer Secondary Reinforcer

Negative Reinforcement Primary ReinforcerSecondary Reinforcer

How Dogs LearnREINFORCEMENT in dog training

Positive & Negative Reinforcement Primary An Unconditioned Reinforcer. A primary reinforcer will increase the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated in the future when presented immediately following a behavior. Related to basic needs, food, drink, some touch.

Secondary A Conditioned Reinforcer. It is something that by itself does not mean anything to the dog. But when paired with a primary reinforcer the secondary will then strengthen behaviors. For dogs these can include, praise, clicker, petting, verbal reprimand or sound. This pairing is classical conditioning.

REINFORCEMENT INCREASES BEHAVIOR

How Dogs Learn

Punishment in dog training: Punishment decreases behavior

• Positive Punishmentadd something bad

• Negative Punishmenttake away something good

The good or bad must be the dogs perception

How Dogs Learn

Punishment in dog training:

Positive PunishmentAdd something thing bad

Examples: electric shock, quick leash correction, spray bottle or collar, throwing objects,

hitting

How Dogs Learn

Punishment in dog training:

Negative Punishment

Remove something good

Examples: Time out in crate = removes you or the fun, Take dog away from fun event such as agility run for broken stay

How Dogs Learn

Punishment in dog training: Positive Punishment

Primary Punisher

Secondary Punisher

Negative Punishment

Primary Punisher

Secondary Punisher

How Dogs Learn

Punishment in dog training:

Positive & Negative Punishment

Primary An Unconditioned Punisher. The dog does not need prior experience for it to be perceived as a punisher. Extreme heat or cold, shock, pinch, citronella spray, hitting are all examples of primary

Secondary A Conditioned Punisher. It is something that by itself does not mean anything to the dog. But when paired with a primary punisher the secondary will then weaken behaviors. Verbal or sound. This pairing is classical conditioning.

PUNISHMENT DECREASES BEHAVIORBut there is possible increased anxiety and fallout

How Dogs LearnOPERANT CONDITIONING

Reinforcement Punishment

Positive Primary: Food Shock Secondary: Click Warning Sound

Negative Primary: Remove Shock Remove Food

Secondary: Remove Verbal Remove Verbal

How Dogs Learn

The ABC's of learning

A= Antecedent (cue)

B= Behavior (action)

C= Consequence (payoff)

Good Consequence = ReinforcementBad Consequence = Punishment

How Dogs Learn

The ABC's of learning

A= AntecedentCues

Verbal: words, soundsVisual: hand, body, motionEnvironmental: doors, leash

Think about the dog you have when making choices for cues; visual or sound stimulation stronger?

How Dogs Learn

The ABC's of learning

B= BehaviorAction or duration of non actionVoluntary action: sit, down, lift paw

Non action: stay in position

How Dogs Learn

The ABC's of learning

C= Consequence

Payoff

Good Consequence = Reinforcement, R+Increases likelihood of behavior

Bad Consequence = Punishment

Decreases likelihood of behavior

How Dogs LearnOnce learned, Good Consequences =

Behaviors Happen:

Human Example: A = Antecedent (cue): Alarm goes off, ugh…

B = Behavior: Get up and go to workC = Consequence: Paycheck, yahoo!

Canine Example:A = Antecedent (cue): Verbal “Sit” or DoorB = Behavior: Dog puts butt on the floorC = Consequence: Dog gets to go out to play!

How Dogs Learn

“Natural” Progression of A-B-C

Begging:

A - Owner eating at table

B - Dog Begs

C - Owner gives a piece of food

Think the begging will be repeated?!

How Dogs Learn

R + Training Steps: A new alphabet

Maximizes learning & the quality of the final behavior performance

B = Behavior: Get itC = Consequence: Give itA = Antecedent or A Signal: Add after behavior is strong, insert before behavior

How Dogs Learn

Training Steps

B = Behavior: Get the dog to perform the desired behavior

Capture: R+ dog doing behavior

Shape: R+ parts of the behavior working closer to the end behavior

Lure: Use of food or toy as a guide to where you want the dog then R+

How Dogs Learn

Training StepsC = Consequence:

R+

When the dog does the behavior- Capturing

When the dog does part of the behavior- Shaping

As the dog follows the food into position or partial position - Luring

How Dogs Learn

Training Steps

A = Antecedent or Cue: Add after the dog becomes good at the behavior, cue will pair with the end behavior performance (usually better than beginning)

Cue is presented just before the dog does the behavior = Classical Conditioning

R+ as usual

How Dogs Learn

EXAMPLE OF CAPTURING – SHAPING – LURING

Down – Capture: Sit in a small quiet room R+ as dog lies down on his own

Shape: R+ as dog lowers head, then bends elbows, then lowers back end etc.

Lure: Guide dog into position with food or toy

desired by the dog, R+ in position

How Dogs Learn

BUT KEEP IN MIND…

How Dogs Learn

Emotions & Motivation impact Learning

Take all we have studied so far into consideration…EmotionsHardwiring - MotivationPast ExperiencesLack of Experiences

Keep in mind all of this and the immediate environment have a big influence on a learners ability to learn

How Dogs Learn

THE LEARNERS …that have taught us….

Shaping and desensitizing

Chicken Training

Advanced chickens!