The presentation from MR John Rogerson at National Taiwan

How Dogs Learn
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Most behaviour that a dog learns happens
through trial and error
For trial and error learning to take place the
dog must have a strong desire for the outcome.
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This happens when the dog‟s mind is at rest
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It is a way of assimilating past information
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In dog training we allow the dogs mind to rest
in between training sessions
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1.
Behaviour that is copied from a role model
Two types of behaviour that can be learned this
way:
Any behaviour that relates to stress
2. Any behaviour that relates to excitement
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Where the dog imitates the behaviour of a role
model
First noticed by Hutchinson in 1874
Recently re discovered by the University of
Vienna
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Term comes from Guide Dogs for the Blind
The physical act of guiding the dog into the
correct behaviour.
Umbilical cord often used with a new puppy in
the house
Non confrontational
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The ability to problem solve
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Requires the dog to have the ability to „think‟
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Primates such as chimpanzees have this ability
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Learning to avoid a situation
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Punishers are often used
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Fine line between punishment and animal
cruelty
Because it is a natural survival function,
avoidance learning can be rapid
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Can be acquired at a very early age
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Introducing a puppy to a collar and lead
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Teaching a puppy to retrieve a toy
Behaviour
changes
because of
consequences
It is the difference
between what the owner
wants and what they have
in terms of the way that
their dog is behaving
1.
2.
3.
4.
Teach or find the behaviour that you want the
dog to adopt and heavily reward that
behaviour.
Create an aversive situation for the unwanted
behaviour (environmental correction)
Control and management options to physically
prevent the unwanted behaviour
Drug therapy possible
The Cue, Stimulus, Trigger, Antecedent or
Command that starts the behaviour in motion.
It is sometimes possible to make the dog less
sensitive to the stimulus
It is sometimes possible to remove the stimulus
The Behavioural Response
It is how the dog behaves when the stimulus
occurs or is present
The Result or the Consequence
Consequences can be good, bad or they can be of
no consequence
It is the strength of the consequence that drive
behaviour
1.
2.
3.
The owner tells the dog to “SIT” (Stimulus)
The dog adopts the sitting position
(Behavioural Response)
The owner gives the dog a food treat (Result of
sitting is good)
Or
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Owner tells the dog to “SIT” (Stimulus)
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Dog lays down (Behavioural Response)
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Owner withholds food treat (Bad Consequence)
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This kind of training, using both examples is
known as Operant Conditioning
The difference between classical Pavlovian
Conditioning and Operant Conditioning is
summed up in one word.
P
P
Pleasure
Punishment
Increase
Increase
LRS
Control Through Training
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Training can be used to control instincts
Training can dramatically reduce frustration
Training can improve communication between
dog and owner
Modern dog training is usually reward based
A fifteen minute dog training session can tire a
dog out and make it easier for the owners to
manage
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Dogs that can be reliably let off lead for
exercise generally develop fewer behaviour
problems
The more freedom a dog has the less
frustrations it will have
Particularly important for working breeds of
dogs
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Police dogs in the UK are mostly pet dog
rejects donated by their owners
Customs dogs in the UK are mostly obtained
from shelters
Hearing dogs for the deaf in the USA are all
obtained from shelters
Having a job of work to do improves a dogs
quality of life
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Companion dog training
Agility dog training
Obedience competition training
Detection dog training
Tracking training
Search and Rescue training
Plus lots of specialist training such as Urban
Gundog training
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Many problems can be prevented by formally
training a dog.
Possessive aggression can be prevented by
training a young dog to retrieve (fetch).
Teaching a young dog to stay while a toy is
thrown controls can control its instinct to chase.
Territorial Aggression
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Train the dog to sit and stay on command
when visitors enter the property (training an
incompatible behaviour)
Train the dog to go to it‟s bed when the front
doorbell rings (counter conditioning)
Train the dog to carry a toy to the visitor to
throw (modified greeting behaviour)
Train the dog to avoid the visitor (aversion)
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Examine the dog/owner relationship
Train the dog to be obedient in the area where
visitors enter
Arrange all meetings away from the dog‟s
territory
Desensitise to the stimulus that puts the dog
into arousal
Keep dog in another room until visitor has
been in the house for at least 20 minutes
Muzzle for safety
Part Two
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Breed information
Source
Age
How long has the dog been displaying
unwanted behaviour
When it first started
Risk assessment
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Testing is a way of asking the dog questions
Behaviour modelling
Test in order to make/confirm a diagnosis
How would you test a dog to find out if it had
been trained in bitework?
How would you test for separation anxiety?
How would you test for Territorial
Aggression?
Can be used in a court of law
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a.
b.
c.
d.
Owners need to know why the dog has the
problem
We can divide problem behaviour into
Caused by breeder (food aggression)
Caused by owner (relationship?)
Caused by environment (dog park)
Caused by medical problems (veterinary)
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Owners need to be shown how to resolve the
problem
Written behaviour modification programmes
are not usually very effective. Bullet points
Show owner how to take a bone away from an
aggressive dog
Show owner how to groom and handle the dog
Show owner how to get the dog to walk
properly on the lead
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Repetitive or continuous exposure to a
stimulus until the dogs response becomes
extinct.
Continue until the dog gets used to the
stimulus
Used for simple behaviour problems
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Stimulus is given in low measured doses
As dog habituates to the lowest dose it is then
increased to the next level
Each exposure the level of the stimulus is slowly
raised
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Dogs have FIVE senses
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Used for moderate problems
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Changing the dogs response to a stimulus
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Stimulus remains the same
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Only the dogs behavioural response is changed
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Teaching the dog to carry out a behaviour that
is not compatible with the problem behaviour
Teach the dog to sit on command to stop it
jumping up at visitors
Owner MUST be shown how to train the
behaviour
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Sometimes the only option
High risk assessment prevents a cure being
attempted
There is usually a management option for
every type of behaviour problem
Many management options require purpose
built equipment.
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We need some tools to work with
Rewards and punishers
List the rewards that can be used
“When your dog first opens its eyes every
morning, list down all of the things it looks
forward to on a average day”.
“What is the highlight of your dogs week”?
List anything that the dog does not like
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Breed – Jack Russell Terrier
Breed history
Verbal history of problem from the owners
perspective
Behaviour testing to get the dogs perspective of
the problem
Possible strategies include:
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Fill envelope with hot chilli powder and mail
one every day
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Teach a sit stay at the top of the stairs
Teach the dog to walk down the stairs correctly
on the lead
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Teach the dog to hold a toy in his mouth
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Teach the dog to go and lie in his bed
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Record the sound of the stimulus that puts the
dog into arousal
Play continuously to habituate
Play at a low level and then slowly raise to
desensitise
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After desensitising, use stimulus to teach new
behaviour (food?)
Previously letter box sound produced barking
biting response
After counter conditioning the letter box sound
should produce a run to the food bowl and
salivate response
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Wire mesh letter box container
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USA style letter box outside the front door
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Muzzle to stop the dog grabbing the letters
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Dog trainers and behaviourists can only advise
on NORMAL behaviour.
Almost all behaviour problems are normal for
the species/breed but carried out at the wrong
place or time
Abnormal behaviour such as Obsessive,
Compulsive disorders (OCD‟S) are best dealt
with under veterinary supervision
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If we cannot predict when the behaviour is
likely to occur then we cannot advise on a
suitable behaviour modification programme
If the owner describes the behaviour as
unpredictable, sudden in onset, out of
character etc then this would indicate a
MEDICAL problem and not a BEHAVIOUR
problem
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Dog trainers
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Veterinarians
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Dog groomers
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Dog boarding kennels
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Dog charities
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Breed specialists