Example CPDT Questions - Learning theory
A puppy client wants to practice socializing her 10 week old puppy to thunderstorms. The trainer recommends a CD with thunderstorm sounds. She then tells the client to play the CD in the house, ignoring the sounds as though they are not there. Initially, the puppy shows interest in the speakers of the stereo as the thunder and heavy rain noises play out. After a few days, the puppy no longer shows interest at all, and appears fine during the subsequent storm season. This is an example of: A. Habituation B. Desensitization C. Counter-Conditioning D. Learned Irrelevance
This is A! The owner wants to socialize the puppy to the stimulus, telling us that there is no previous history or experience to the NS. In this case, we are using habituation to effectively let the puppy "get used to" the sounds. If the question (or client) told us they wanted to help their puppy not be afraid of storms, then we know there is a history of fear, and we would be doing desensitization instead.
A trainer is trying to teach her dog to weave between her legs as she steps forward. The dog currently goes under once, so the trainer is ready to chain a series of passes into one behavior. She cues the basic skill (under) but only rewards for every 4th weave. She is using A. FR-4 to chain the series B. VR-4 to chain the series C. FI-4 to chain the series D. CRF to chain the series (Hint: Is the trainer using an increment of time or an increment of correct answers?)
A
An owner tries a new treat, but shortly after giving them to her dog, he throws up. He now refuses to eat the new treat at all. This is an example of A. Classical conditioning B. Positive punishment C. Negative punishment D. A picky dog
A
An owner works hard to ignore her dog's demand barks, until finally, he no longer displays the behavior. She calls because after a visit from a family member who thought it was cute to give treats when the dog "spoke," the barking has returned in full force. What has happened? A. Spontaneous recovery B. Extinction C. Learned irrelevance D. Descrimination
A
Which of the following is most likely a sign that the dog is stressed? A. Lack of attention on the handler B. Heavy panting and a wide, flat tongue C. Lip licking, yawning, and refusing to engage D. Sniffing and pulling on leash (Hint: All of these COULD be a sign of stress. The key here is which one is MOST likely a sign of stress. In other words, which one has the fewest other possible explanations.)
C
A post reinforcement pause is likely to occur after which of the following schedules? A. Variable Ratio B. Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior C. Continuous Reinforcement D. Fixed Ratio
Excellent! It is D! A post reinforcement pause occurs after a fixed ratio because the learner knows, via experience, that the next rewardable behavior will not be reinforced. Good!
Which of the following behaviors is most likely to be affected by neutering an adult male dog? A. Humping and mounting B. Leg lifting C. Aggression D. Wandering and door dashing
Humpy and mounting can have a variety of causes, frequently involving a learning history, self-soothing (such as anxiety), an attempt to communicate discomfort in group behavior, etc. Additionally, the question specifies that this is an adult male, which tells us that many of the behaviors that may be initiated by hormones are now learned. Oddly, while door dashing and wandering can have a similar behavioral history, because of the reduced interest in neighborhood females, it does appear that neutering at any age can reduce this behavior.
If a dog's gum line is greyish in color, he most likely A. Suffering from parvovirus B. Suffering from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) C. Suffering from poor circulation D. Suffering from a stroke
Yes, it is B! Hypoxia will make mucosal membranes turn a greyish or pale color due to the lack of oxygen and associated red blood cells in the blood stream. Good
What is the biological name for a female dog's "heat cycle?" A. Distress B. Eustress C. Estrous D. Monstrous
c
A beagle is lying tensely in the middle of the floor, his leased attached to a pinch collar sitting snugly around his neck. An overly rambuctious puppy springs into the room, approaching randomly from different directions like a Superball bouncing off of an uneven floor. The puppy just wants to play. The Beagle clearly does not. He is lying down, panting and giving furtive glances to the puppy. The beagle has flashed his teeth in warning 3 times as the puppy approaches. The trainer instructs the owner of the beagle to give a sharp jerk on the leash and pinch collar, which quickly curbs the warning behavior of the Beagle. The beagle now avoids looking at the puppy and cowers as the trainer's hands wave above him in the air. The trainer tells the client "I can do this to your dog, too." The trainer just demonstrated A. Negative Reinforcement and desensitization B. Positive Punishment and Flooding C. Habituation and Desensitization D. Positive Punishment and Counterconditioning
! It is B! The flooding comes in because the beagle has clearly had too much and is shutting down. He is not being given an escape or a break. Instead, he is stuck cowering in the corner while he continues to be harassed by the puppy...and the trainer.
Once they have completed training classes, the best way clients can continue to socialize their dogs is by ensuring A. The dogs can observe people and other dogs. B. The dogs in the family have a chance to play frequently. C. The dogs interact with people and other dogs frequently. D. Frequent trips to dog parks to allow the dogs to play with other dog
, it is C! we should encourage them to only continue pleasant interactions. This is an important part of teaching classes. Because clients often want behavior, we can get caught up in teaching as many skills as possible per session. However, it is important to take time to teach the owners how to apply those skills and lessons to the real world. A perfect example is how to manage socialization opportunities so as to keep their dog sociable.
A trainer is teaching a dog a new cue for an already established behavior. Which of the following is the LEAST effective approach. A. Give the new cue and then the learned cue. B. Give the learned cue and then the new one. C. Give the new cue while the dog is performing the established behavior. D. Begin to lure the dog into position and give the cue
. It is B! We don't ever want to give the old/learned cue before the new cue or it will block learning of the new cue. When breaking down a question like this with phrases like "least effective" or "last choice" start by thinking through the correct way to do it. In this case, we are giving a new cue to an existing behavior. Whether or not the existing behavior has a verbal cue or a hand signal, we would consider either the old cue. In this case, we would WANT the order to be: new cue, old cue/lure, dog performs behavior, reinforce. Therefore, we can narrow down the answer to either A or D because these would both be "backwards." Now, we consider that one is using body language, which will block the "memory formation" of the new, verbal cue. Dogs generally learn by doing, then seeing, then hearing.
Which of the following is the most commonly recommended use of a clicker? A. As a reward B. To get a dog's attention C. As an unconditioned stimulus D. As a secondary reinforcer
D. A clicker charged as a marker (how we usually recommend using it) is a secondary reinforcer.
A puppy is tethered to a training wall. The handler walks away from the puppy whenever he is jumping, and immediately returns and drops treats on the floor when the puppy has four on the floor. This is an example of: A. Negative punishment followed by positive reinforcement B. Positive punishment followed by negative reinforcement C. Positive punishment followed by positive reinforcement D. Negative punishment followed by negative reinforcement
A
A client calls a trainer because her dog has recently started shaking his head frequently, and it is drawing the attention of her other dogs. She has always had a peaceful group, and doesn't want the other dogs to begin "attacking" the head shaker. The trainer should: A. Suggest separating the dogs until the head shaking stops. B. Recommend a vet visit as head shaking can be a sign of ear problems. C. Suggest taking the dog to a groomer to have his ears cleaned. D. Recommend the owner rehome the potential aggressor
B
A client calls for help because her golden retriever jumps on visitors. A coworker recommended everyone push the dog off and ask for a sit. They should then pet the dog once it is sitting. She mentions that she is calling you because this seems to have made the behavior worse, not better. What is maintaining the jumping up behavior? A. The dog is being negatively reinforced for sitting because he is pushed off when he jumps on visitors. B. The dog is being positively reinforced for jumping up because he receives attention from visitors while jumping on them. C. The dog is being negatively reinforced for jumping up because he receives pets once he sits. D. The dog is being positively punished for jumping up because the visitors push him into a sit, but he has learned irrelevance of the hands.
B
A trainer is teaching a dog a new cue for an already established behavior. Which of the following is the LEAST effective approach. A. Give the new cue and then the learned cue. B. Give the learned cue and then the new one. C. Give the new cue while the dog is performing the established behavior. D. Begin to lure the dog into position and give the cue.
B
An owner is trying to train her dog not to jump on people who enter the home. She has been inconsistent in managing her dog while teaching an appropriate alternative skill. She contacts her trainer to address her concerns that the jumping up seems to be getting worse, not better. This is likely because A. Jumping up is being reinforced on a fixed ratio schedule B. Jumping up is being reinforced on a variable ratio schedule C. Jumping up is not being punished correctly D. Jumping up is not being extinguished (Think carefully, and break it down.)
B
In order to maintain a behavior, an owner occasionally gives her dog a treat for coming when called. This is an example of A. Positive reinforcement on a fixed ratio schedule B. Positive reinforcement on a variable ratio schedule C. Negative reinforcement on a fixed ratio schedule D. Negative reinforcement on a variable ratio schedule
B
What is the definition of the Premack Principle? A. A less likely behavior can reinforce a more likely behavior. B. A more likely behavior can reinforce a less likely behavior. C. A less likely behavior can punish a more likely behavior. D. A more likely behavior can punish a less likely behavior.
B! A more likely behavior (something the dog wants to do) can reinforce a less likely behavior (something they aren't excited about). This is grandma's law: eat your peas and you can have some ice cream.
A dog learns to keep his feet on the floor to avoid having his toes pinched. This is an example of A. Positive reinforcement B. Negative reinforcement C. Positive punishment D. Negative punishment (Hint: Focus on your target behavior as a starting point. We are going to do a series of these today.
B! The target behavior is keeping his feet on the floor. He learns TO DO (reinforcement) this by avoiding (removing/negative) the toe pinches. This, along with that whole knee the dog in the chest thing, is such a mean and inefficient way to teach four on the floo
This is why we've been doing the photos and videos. Here is an example of what an exam question on body language may look like. Two dogs approach the same toy at doggy daycare. Dog A stiffens and lowers his head over the toy. His tail begins to raise slightly and his ears and body move slightly forward. Dog B lowers his body, begins to curve, his ears back, and he is licking his lips. Assuming no one intervenes, which of the following is most likely to happen? A. Dog A will snap at Dog B for approaching and there will be a fight B. Dog B will cut his losses and Dog A will get the toy C. Dog B will snatch the toy and run off D. Dog A will give up the toy and they will play (Hint: Could you make an argument for any one of these answers, maybe. Read the question. Break down the behaviors you are given, and be careful not to insert any assumptions. For example, there is no growling mentioned. I will be interested to see your answers and why.)
B! Yes, we could argue for any of the other options based on anecdote. However, based upon this specific scenario of behaviors, B is the most likely prediction.
A client challenges the trainer that their dog hates the crate. However, the dog is always making a mess in the home when the owner leaves. What should the trainer try first? A. Recommend keeping the dog in a bedroom or laundry room rather than crating B. Allow the client to leave the dog loose in the house C. Suggest changing the style of crate and retraining with a different method D. Suggest tethering the dog whenever the owner leaves the house
C
A dog barks and lunges at cars driving past in the street. The trainer recommends that when the owner is working with the dog, she begin by working back from the street or during a less busy time of day. She then instructs the owner to ask for a sit and feed a steady stream of treats until the car passes, discontinuing the treats once the car is gone. This is: A. Positive reinforcement and desensitization B. Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement C. Desensitization and counter-conditioning D. Habituation and counter-conditioning
C
A trainer has been working with her dog to get clean, fast "sits." Now that the dog is sitting on cue, she begins to only reinforce completely square sits. Each time the dog sits fast and square, she clicks and treats. She is using A. Differential reinforcement of an incompatible behavior B. Negative reinforcement C. Differential reinforcement of an excellent behavior D. Positive reinforcement
C
Based upon the Dog Training and Behavior Intervention Practices Policy set forth by the CCPDT, which of the following is an acceptable training method? A. Helicoptering a dog for continuing to lunge on leash B. Applying ear pinches to teach "take it" C. Applying an electronic collar to reduce predatory drive D. Applying an electronic collar to the groin to reduce urine marking
C
Dog is restrained by trainer while handler runs away. Puppy struggles and trainer releases puppy. Puppy learns to follow handler when handler is running away. This is: A. Positive reinforcement B. Positive punishment C. Negative reinforcement D. Negative punishment
C
When you are using desensitization and counter-conditioning, you must be careful with the order of presentation of the UCS and the CS. If the dog begins refusing the unconditioned stimulus (i.e., food) it is likely A. You have contaminated your treat bag. B. You have done too many repetitions with the conditioned stimulus. C. You have reversed the order of the unconditioned stimulus and the stimulus you are counter-conditioning. D. You have desensitized the unconditioned stimulus.
C
A dog hides behind his owners chair at class. The trainer suggests that each time he shows interest in someone walking by, the owner gently says "yes" and tosses a treat behind the chair for the dog. This is an example of : A. Negative reinforcement and positive punishment B. Counter conditioning and desensitization C. Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement D. Habituation (Think it through carefully. You may or may not have a question with this many behaviors going on. What do you really have?)
C First, we are operant because we are talking about behavior. The target behavior is showing interest in people/not hiding. We mark that behavior with the "yes!" And now we use two quadrants: +R from the treat and -R with the removal of social pressure, i.e., treat placement away from the people. This is a variation on treat/retreat training.
A dog learns not to door dash because his owner body blocks all attempts. This is an example of A. Positive reinforcement B. Negative reinforcement C. Positive punishment D. Negative punishment
C! You add the body block to reduce the door dashing. I can understand how you got D, and I admit, I had to think really hard about this one before I posted it. However, based upon the wording of the question, we are adding a stimulus (the body block). If the question said that the owner removed the dog's access to the door or removed the opportunity for freedom, then it would be negative punishment
All of the following are healthy phases of a dog's agonistic display (ritualized aggression) EXCEPT: A. Growling B. Agonistic pucker C. Biting D. Charging
C. By definition, ritualized displays involve a lot of show but no actual overt aggression or inflicted harm (biting, clawing, kicking, hitting, etc. depending on the species). Dogs may charge, dashing in and out, in a threat of "don't make me hurt you" as part of ritualized aggression. However, if they cross into biting and physical damage, the behavior has transitioned into overt aggression with intent to harm.
A handler gives an electronic stimulus to stop a dog from running into the street. This is an example of A. Positive reinforcement B. Negative reinforcement C. Positive punishment D. Negative punishment
C. Positive punishment. In vague questions like this, look for keys to the change (or intended change) in behavior frequency. If the dog is learning TO DO something, we are increasing behavior frequency, hence, it must be some form of reinforcement. If the dog is learning to STOP DOING or NOT TO DO something, it is some form of punishment. Once we know the change in the behavior frequency, we just need to determine if we added or removed a stimulus to effect that change. So, in this case, we STOPPED the dog from running into the street by ADDING a "stim" from the shock collar. +P
A trainer is working with a dog who barks constantly when other dogs walk past at the park. They are on leash. What should the trainer do? A. Give a treat to the dog after the other dogs walk away. B. Give a collar correction every time the dog sees another dog. C. Pair the sight of other dogs with a scattering of treats on the ground. D. Pick the dog up and walk away.
C. n this case, by scattering the treats on the ground, we are accomplishing two things. 1) DS/CC for the dog who is a barker. 2) Prompting a calming sign/avoidance signal from the barker that reduces the likelihood of triggering a response from the other dog.
A client is worried about her dog's behavior on leash, as he barks and lunges at strangers. The result of his behavior is that none of her neighbors want to approach. Her friend at work recommends a prong collar and tells her to just "pop it" whenever he barks. However, after an initial notice to the prong collar correction, the dog quickly returns to barking and lunging, and eventually does so regardless of the collar corrections. This is an example of: A. Habituation B. Desensitization C. Learned Helplessness D. Learned Irrelevanc
D
A client is worried about her dog's behavior on leash, as he barks and lunges at strangers. The result of his behavior is that none of her neighbors want to approach. Her friend at work recommends a prong collar and tells her to just "pop it" whenever he barks. However, after an initial notice to the prong collar correction, the dog quickly returns to barking and lunging, and eventually does so regardless of the collar corrections. This is an example of: A. Habituation B. Desensitization C. Learned Helplessness D. Learned Irrelevance
D
A current client calls you because their dog has been digging in the back yard. What is the first thing you should recommend? A. Exercise routine to decrease energy level. B. Invisible fencing around the areas of the yard that are off limits. C. Train and practice "leave it" cue in the areas the dog is digging. D. All yard time should be leashed and supervised until training is complete.
D
A dog is barking on the patio at home. The owner shouts, "quiet" out the patio door, but the dog keeps barking. This is likely an example of A. Positive punishment B. Negative punishment C. Learned helplessness D. Learned irrelevanc
D
During socialization, a puppy develops a fear of skateboards. As part of helping the puppy overcome this fear, the trainer recommends exposing the puppy to approaching skateboards and providing a collar correction if the puppy tries to lunge. The puppy appears to get worse over time, barking and lunging even more than before. This is an example of: A. Habituation B. Desensitization C. Adaptation D. Learned Irrelevance
D
If I am providing a single treat for each of 4 correct responses, I'm using which schedule of reinforcement? A. FR-5 B. VR-5 C. CR-4 D. FR-
D
A dog learns not to nip when taking treats because his owner removes the treat. This is an example of: A dog learns not to nip when taking treats because his owner removes the treat. This is an example of
D! You remove the treat to reduce nipping/hard mouth.
When training a new skill, which of the following is NOT a common way to obtain behavior? A. Shaping B. Luring C. Molding D. Mimicking
D.
An owner's dog refuses to walk when on leash. The trainer recommends that the owner apply tension to the leash, slightly pulling the dog forward. When the dog steps forward, the owner clicks, releases the pressure on leash, and offers a treat. The dog learns to walk in the direction of a pull on the leash. This is: A. Positive reinforcement followed by negative reinforcement B. Positive punishment followed by positive reinforcement C. Negative punishment followed by negative reinforcement D. Negative reinforcement followed by positive reinforcement (Hint: Break down the behaviors. There is one target behavior, but it is being conditioned in two ways.)
D. Our target behavior is walking forward. We remove the pressure to reinforce this behavior (-R). We then add a treat to further reinforce (+R). This is the tricky thing with +P and -R, and I know a few of us discussed this on another thread. They are two sides of the same coin. In order to know for sure whether you are using an aversive to punish or reinforce, we MUST identify our target behavior properly. That is the only thing that will really make it clear. If our target behavior were "dog stops walking on leash" and the trainer recommended "adding a leash tug to teach the dog to walk" then we would have +P. There's a saying from art that I really think applies to dog training, "God and the Devil are in the details."
A post reinforcement pause is likely to occur after which of the following schedules? A. Variable Ratio B. Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior C. Continuous Reinforcement D. Fixed Ratio
D. The post reinforcement pause is a dip in performance that occurs when the learner can predict reinforcers. For example, we all wish we could slack off Saturday after a Friday payday. Essentially, attention lags briefly because the learner knows they cannot possibly earn a reinforcer with the next correct answer, so why try. It is also a large part of why we use VR more with dogs than FR. You can't explain to a dog that the reinforcer may be reduced if you skip a response (like calling out sick from work).
Which of the following best describes the tendency for a conditioned response NOT to occur when presented with stimuli that are similar to conditioned stimulus? A. stimulus presentation B. stimulus weakening C. stimulus generalization D. stimulus discrimination
D. They are discriminating the cue, and in some cases this is good, some not. For example, you ask for a sit in a new location, but the dog won't sit. They are discriminating by location as opposed to generalizing to the new place. This is also why we tell our beginning manners classes how important it is to practice in multiple places once their dog has learned the cue
Do you think of a head collar/halter as providing positive punishment or negative reinforcement? Why? Think it through. How are you using the head collar? Explain the mechanics of the tool, the way you teach your client, and how you break out - learner, target behavior, stimulus (added or removed), and change in behavior frequency? There may be more than one right answer depending on how you use the collar. It all depends on exactly how you explain it and use it.
It all depends on what your defined target behavior is. That is the tricky thing about operant conditioning. Your parameters make all the difference as to what quadrant you end up in. So always remember: Who is your learner? What is the target behavior? Did the behavior frequency change? (increase = R, decrease = P) Did we add or remove a stimulus to create that change? We can also, in hind sight, ask: Did the change reflect our intended outcome? If not, why? (overshadowing? learned irrelevance?)
A police dog is taken to a high school to demonstrate his ability to detect drugs in students lockers. the officer in charge has the dog lie down next to the drug samples before the demonstration. the dog spends the time that he is waiting exploring the officer's pile of props. During the demonstration, the dog fails to find 60% of the samples hidden. A. Adaptation B. Learned irrelevance C. Sensitization D. Habituation
It is A! Adaptation. It took some working through, but Jolynn Payne came up with the process. This is a neurological process, and it is temporary. Think about what happens when you have been cooking with onions. After a few minutes, you don't really smell them anymore. This is because the neurons fired in such rapid succession that they exhausted and stopped firing. Now, someone else walks into the kitchen and comments on the strong onions... This is also why perfumers will sniff coffee beans between testing scents. Sniffing too many odors in a row can cause similar odors to be blocked by this same process, affecting how well the nose can distinguish scents. If you have any questions, be sure to research or ask me!
When socializing a puppy, it is important that A. The puppy chooses whether or not to approach others B. The puppy plays with other dogs daily C. The puppy takes treats from all strangers D. The puppy is handed to as many people as possible
It is A! And yes, Theresa, D is often very stressful, but we see it a lot with little dogs. Owners somehow think that, since they plan on carrying the puppy, by having EVERYONE carry the puppy, it will make the puppy more comfortable with being carried. Usually the result is a dog who is terrified of hands and restrain
An owner calls a trainer to complain that they just don't seem to be making any progress with their dog. The trainer should begin with: A. Can you tell me specifically what you don't feel is working? B. Then you just aren't doing it right. C. This is the best way to teach that behavior. Just keep trying. D. Verifying that the owner is teaching the behavior correctly.
It is A! As noted, we start by asking the question so we can clarify what the owner is struggling with. It is possible the owner is doing everything correctly but the dog, for whatever reason, just isn't going to learn the skill that way.
A puppy approaches a stranger wearing sunglasses. The stranger bends down and pets the puppy while feeding treats. As soon as he is out of treats, he stands up and walks away. The puppy likes strangers with sunglasses. This is an example of: A. Classical learning B. Positive reinforcement C. Negative reinforcement D. Premack's Principle (Hint: Read the question for clues to the answer!)
It is A! This is an example of classical conditioning at its finest. The scary person in the sunglasses approaches, providing a windfall of treats, and when they run out of treats, they leave. We are doing classic NS + UCS = CER to people in sunglasses (I love people in sunglasses). You will see questions like this on the exam. There is a mix of learning methodologies in the possible answers. Go back to the flow chart of set of questions, and always start with "is this dog learning an emotional response or a behavior?" If it is an emotional response, you are going to follow the classical conditioning line of processes. If it is a behavior or choice, we are talking about operant conditioning. Good job!
A trainer has been working with her dog to shape a new skill. She now wants to maintain the skill with a variable schedule. She will begin using a: A. VR-5 B. CRF C. VI-3 D. FI-5
It is A! VR_5. (Variable Ratio, average of 1 treat per every 5 correct responses). 1. Be sure to get Pam Reid's Excel-erated Learning. If you read no other books to prepare, read and thoroughly understand this book. 2. In the files section and in Litmos, there is a document called Key Terms and Definitions.pdf. Use it to make flash cards, and use them to review regularly. The schedules and their abbreviations are in there.
n classical counter-conditioning, the order of presentation is important. The correct order of presentation is: A. Conditioned stimulus followed by the unconditioned stimulus B. Neutral stimulus followed by the conditioned stimulus C. Unconditioned stimulus followed by the neutral stimulus D. Neutral stimulus followed by the unconditioned stimulus
It is A! Whenever we condition or counter-condition a stimulus, it is important that the unconditioned stimulus comes just after the CS or CCS. If we get these backwards, we can risk teaching the dog not to take treats because treats bring scary things. Instead, we want to be sure the scary or new thing brings the treats.
A trainer is teaching a dog to go to mat and lie down at the sound of the doorbell instead of barking, jumping, and spinning in the foyer. She is using A. DRI B. VRI C. FR-1 D. CRF
It is A, DRI. We are differentially reinforcing an incompatible behavior. The dog cannot go to mat and lie down while simultaneously continuing to bark, jump, and spin in the foyer. And if you get really good, the doorbell itself becomes the cue via transference (New cue, old cue, behavior, reward).
A dog is luring into downs and you are ready to add the cue. How do you name the behavior? A. Lure, verbal, response (down), reward B. Verbal, signal, response (down), reward C. Signal, verbal, response (down), reward D. Signal and verbal simultaneously, response (down), rewar
It is B! Good memory, Susan! This is all about blocking and overshadowing. As Lisa mentioned, you have to separate the cues (verbal and hand signal). So, as Denise broke out, the correct order will now be "Down", hand signal, dog downs, treat. Whenever we add a cue to a currently lured behavior or train a new cue to a previously named behavior, we have a very specific order of operations. I use the mnemonic "NOBRainer." New cue Old cue Behavior Reinforcer a I n e r Incidentally, even when we are shaping and do not have an obvious previous cue or signal, often there is something subtle that the dog has been using to start the behavior. A slight step, our attention, the way we hold the clicker. In these cases, that subtle signal is the old cue
Owner has a new washing machine that beeps whenever a load finishes. Her dog barks each time the machine beeps, but she carefully ignores the dog and the beep. The dog eventually stops attending to the beep and no longer barks. What has occurred? A. Learned irrelevance B. Habituation C. Desensitization D. Adaptation
It is B! Habituation. This is a new stimulus, and the barking tells us that he attended to the new noise. However, because the owner was so careful not to provide it meaning, he "got used to it" on his own and began ignoring it.
A dog recently learned to "sit" on cue at class. Her owner has practiced in the home, but does not understand why the dog won't sit at the park. Given the newness of the behavior the dog has likely A. Not learned stimulus discrimination B. Not learned stimulus generalization C. Not really learned to "sit" on cue D. Not learned to car
It is B! The dog has not yet learned stimulus generalization. If they can perform "sit" on cue at class and in the home, then they likely "know" the cue. However, dogs are great at discriminating for context. This is why we often tell our basic manners classes to practice in at least three different locations. We must help the dog generalize.
A dog lies down on a nearby mat, and the owner begins dropping treats. As soon as the dog stands up and walks away, the owner ignores the dog and stops all treats. The dog begins to show signs of relaxation on the mat. The owner is: A. Positively reinforcing the dog for lying on the mat B. Classically conditioning the dog to relax on the mat C. Habituating the dog to the presence of the mat D. Negatively punishing the dog for getting off the ma
It is B! This is an example of classically conditioning an emotional/visceral response to the mat.the key here is that the dog is relaxing on the mat. That is, he has learned an emotional response to being on the mat.
Which of the following is most likely a sign that the dog is stressed? A. Lack of attention on the handler B. Heavy panting and a wide, flat tongue C. Lip licking, yawning, and refusing to engage D. Sniffing and pulling on leash (Hint: All of these COULD be a sign of stress. The key here is which one is MOST likely a sign of stress. In other words, which one has the fewest other possible explanations.)
It is B! This is the type of poorly written question you might see on the exam. Mostly because there are older questions that may or may not have been replaced over the years, and not everyone thinks of operant conditioning as neatly as psychology majors. So, let's break down why. The key in this statement is that we "remove the aversive as a reward." The application of the aversive is not said to influence the frequency of any behavior. A good example would be an ear pinch. The pinch is applied until the dog opens his mouth to take the retrieving dummy, then the aversive is removed to reinforce opening his mouth. We are not really +P the closed mouth, although it seems that way. This is what makes -R so tricky for most people. The use of an applied aversive makes us think +P, but in reality, we are applying something the dog wants to avoid to get him TO DO something. +P uses an aversive to get him to STOP or NOT TO DO somethin
A trainer is shaping a dog to walk nicely on leash. Now that the dog is staying by her side most of the time, she shifts her reinforcement schedule to one treat every 5 steps, then 3 steps, then 7 steps and so on. She is using which schedule of reinforcement? A. FR-5 B. VR-5 C. DRO D. VR-10
It is B! VR-5. As most of you narrowed down, the VR tells us this is a variable ratio schedule. This is because we are varying how many correct responses are required for each treat. The 5 tells us that if we average the number of correct responses for each treat, it would come to 5. 5+3+7=15, 15/3=5 A VR-10 schedule would require that our average number of correct responses required would come to 10, so we would have something more like 7, 10, 13.
A dog lies down on a nearby mat, and the owner begins dropping treats. As soon as the dog stands up and walks away, the owner ignores the dog and stops all treats. The dog begins to show signs of relaxation on the mat. The owner is: A. Positively reinforcing the dog for lying on the mat B. Classically conditioning the dog to relax on the mat C. Habituating the dog to the presence of the mat D. Negatively punishing the dog for getting off the mat
It is B! We are creating a CER to the mat. We are not cuing or shaping anything but an emotional response (the dog relaxes on the mat). The mat is the doorbell (NS). The doorbell "rings" when the dog lies down (UCR) and the owner begins dropping treats (UCS). The result is that when the dog goes to the mat, they now have a ooey gooey "I love my mat" response (CER).
A dog is attempting to counter surf for the first time. He accidentally paws a metal bowl, which quickly falls onto the ground, making a loud clang, and sends him scurrying out of the kitchen. He never attempts to counter surfs again. This is an example of: A. Murphy's Law B. Premack's Principle C. One-time Learning Event D. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
It is C! Technically, this is also operant conditioning. The loud clang was aversive enough to effectively administer +P
Which of the following is a tertiary reinforcer? A. A charged clicker B. Food C. Hand targeting D. Social contac
It is C! The hand target has been reinforced by a clicker (secondary) which was reinforced by food (primary)
A trainer wants to teach a disinterested dog to play with a flirt pole. She breaks the behavior into parts (touch the flirt, chase the flirt, mouth the flirt, etc.) and provides the dog with treats each time he successfully interacts with the toy. Over time, the dog learns to engage in and enjoy the game. This is an example of: A. Differential reinforcement of an incompatible behavior B. Luring a play behavior C. Shaping with positive reinforcement D. Shaping with Premack's principle
It is C! This is actually how I took Calvin from scent hound focused on the treats to playful pup chasing the toy!
If I am using a continuous rate of reinforcement to shape a behavior, I would write this as: A. CR-1 B. FR-5 C. CRF D. DRE
It is C! Whenever we are using continuous rate fixed, essentially one treat for every correct response, we are using CRF. It is one of the only ratio or schedule designations in which we don't use a letter, because it is continuous.
A dog learns not to door dash because his owner body blocks all attempts. This is an example of A. Positive reinforcement B. Negative reinforcement C. Positive punishment D. Negative punishmen
It is C! You add the body block to reduce the door dashing. I can understand how you got D, and I admit, I had to think really hard about this one before I posted it. However, based upon the wording of the question, we are adding a stimulus (the body block). If the question said that the owner removed the dog's access to the door or removed the opportunity for freedom, then it would be negative punishment.
A trainer is teaching a dog to down stay on his mat. She gives him the cue, steps back slightly, counts to 15, then steps in to reinforce and release. She is using a A. FR-15 B. VR-15 C. CRF D. FI-15 (Hint: This is a duration behavior.)
It is D! FI-15 (fixed interval 15). Deb brings up a good point. I should have mentioned that this was repeated. Fresh question. You guys did a good job of figuring it out from a so-so written question, though.
Trainer is working with an adult rescue dog who appears to be afraid of inflatable lawn ornaments. She recommends to the client that they approach the lawn ornament in her neighbor's yard until the dog begins reacting. They remain in place while the dog barks, lunges, and growls. Once the dog gives up, they walk away. They continue to do this until the dog is no longer reacts to the inflatable lawn ornament when he sees it. This is an example of: A. Habituation and extinction B. Desensitization and counter-conditioning C. Learned irrelevance and negative reinforcement D. Flooding and learned helplessness
It is D! I intentionally made this one very tricky (and you may not find any on the exam this tough. I like to over prepare you.) The flooding is self explanatory. This dog is being subjected to a stimulus well above his threshold. Nothing he does works to change the situation, so he gives up. That's the key in the learned helplessness part of the question. You could make an argument for the negative reinforcement part of C, but there is nothing that constitutes learned irrelevance. Therefore, D is our "most correct" answer.
The domestication syndrome is a series of behavioral and physical traits that occur during the domestication of a species. These include all of the following EXCEPT A. White spots and mottled coats B. Reduced skull and teeth size C. Reduction in timid or aggressive behavior D. Reduced vocalization
It is D! The domestication syndrome actually results in increased vocalizations in many species, including dogs.
A dog approaches the trainer with a curved body, loose tail wag, and bouncing front end. Upon arriving at the trainer's feet, the dog drops onto its front elbows with his rear in the air. This dog is most likely: A. Friendly and wants a belly rub B. Conflicted and has tapped out C. Aggressive and is trying to dupe the trainer D. Affiliative and wants to play
It is D! The key here is that when the dog gets to the trainer's feet, he "drops onto its front elbows with his rear in the air." This is a play bow, and together with the curved body and bouncing, tells us he is likely soliciting play.
Which of the following is a tertiary reinforcer? A. Playing tug B. Food C. Clicker D. Sitting on cue
It is D, sitting on cue. Food is a primary reinforcer (a biological or social necessity such as food, water, shelter, play/social contact, reproduction). We use food to reinforce or provide meaning to a secondary reinforcer, with the perfect example being a clicker (also marker words, toys, etc.). We use a clicker or marker word to reinforce the sit and put it on cue, making the cue to sit a tertiary reinforcer. We ask for a sit (3), mark with a clicker (2), and provide food (1) to reinforce.
Which of the following behaviors serves dual purpose as a stress signal? A. Wiggling rear B. Forward ears C. Play bow D. Jumping up
The "most correct" answer is C! The play bow is actually discussed in Turid Rugaas' calming signals video and book as a signal that can serve dual purpose. While it works as a play signal (ready, set, go) it also works to create pauses in interactions. Additionally, it can serve to allow a dog to stretch their body in an attempt to self-sooth. If you see a dog play bowing or performing a similar body stretch and he is not playing or just waking, he is likely soothing himself and I would suggest a quick survey of the environment for potential triggers.
A dog has developed a fear of thunderstorms. The owner purchases a thunderstorm CD and plays it at low volumes until the dog no longer displays fear or anxiety. She then turns the volume up slightly and repeats. This is an example of: A. Counter-conditioning B. Desensitization C. Habituation D. Adaptation (Hint: Think through the components of the question carefully.)
The answer is B, desensitization! I'm pleased to see you all picked up the key that only stimulus control was used. No one said A. The reason it is not habituation is because the dog is already sensitized. We cannot habituate a learner to a sensitized stimulus. We must, instead, desensitize them with controlled stimulus presentation
Shelly convinced her parents to buy her the game "Operation" for her birthday. The first time she played the game, her tweezers touched the side and made a loud, buzzer noise. Shelly immediately stopped playing the game, began crying and told her mom she was scared and didn't want the game anymore. What happened? A. Shelly was sensitized to the sound of the game buzzer B. Shelly was negatively punished by the game to stop playing C. Shelly was positively reinforced by her mom because she got the game D. Shelly developed learned helplessness and stopped playin
The reason it is A is that I was sensitized and avoided the stimulus. I was able to avoid the noise by my own choice. In order for it to be D, learned helplessness, I would have to be subjected to the stimulus with no way to avoid it by my own choice (flooding), and ultimately give up crying, flailing, or otherwise trying to escape.
Trainer is working with an adult rescue dog who appears to be afraid of garbage cans. She recommends to the client that they stand outside and just let the dog see a garbage can from a distance. Once the dog shows a decrease in stress, they take a step closer. They continue to do this until the dog is comfortable walking up to the garbage can and sniffing it. This is an example of: A. Habituation B. Desensitization C. Counter-Conditioning D. Extinction
This is B! As noted, the dog is already sensitized (appears to be afraid). Therefore, we must work to desensitize him. Why is this not counter-conditioning? We are not working with a UCS to change the meaning of the stimulus. Instead, we are letting him work out, through threshold and trigger control, that the garbage can is not scary after all.
Humans can use similar similar signals to communicate with dogs. Which of the following is NOT a communication signal humans share with dogs? A. Soft eyes B. Agonistic pucker C. Play bow D. Looking away (Think about the definition for each signal)
We have the primate equivalent of a play bow, and some dogs, especially companion breeds, do seem to get it. But not to the extent where it is a sweeping communication signal we share with dogs. We just aren't mechanically built the same
After the repeated use of aversives in a training session, the owner's dog shuts down and no longer attempts to display any behavior. Instead, they lie still, with little to no expression. This is: A. Learned Irrelevance B. Learned Helplessness C. Sensitization D. Adaptation
ery good, it is B. Learned helplessness. The difference between learned helplessness and learned irrelevance is one of behavior. In learned helplessness, the learner ignores the punishers, but also discontinues any effort of avoidance. In most cases, they simply stop producing behavior altogether and shut down. In learned irrelevance, the learner ignores the punishers, but usually with attempts to continue obtaining reinforcement from a difference source (pulling regardless of the collar correction so he can sniff). In learned helplessness, the learner has done the math and realized he can't win, so he gives up. In learned irrelevance, the learner has done the math, and realizes that the reinforcement of behavior X outweighs the attempted punishment.
it is A! And yes, we would want to encourage the owner to get a vet check to ensure there is no medical reason for the behavior. This is also an example of one of those times in which we could start management while waiting for the vet visit and results. The key here, is that we may not try to do too much training until the vet has confirmed the dog is healthy. Otherwise, we could bloody our heads on the brick wall trying to change a behavior that is otherwise motivated.
es, it is D! And likely for the reasons that Beth mentioned. The tell tale piece of information that this could be more than boredom is the location of the damage. Any time there is damage or urination/defecation near an exit point, it is possibly, not always, but likely SA.
An owner contacts you because their dog has recently started eating poop in the backyard. According to the humane hierarchy, which of these is the first thing you should recommend? A. Keep the yard picked up B. Supervise the dog whenever he is in the yard C. Teach the dog an automatic "leave it" D. Spray the dog with a hose when he is caught in the act (Hint: The actual first step is not listed here. This happens on exam questions. Which is the NEXT first step.)
it is A! And yes, we would want to encourage the owner to get a vet check to ensure there is no medical reason for the behavior. This is also an example of one of those times in which we could start management while waiting for the vet visit and results. The key here, is that we may not try to do too much training until the vet has confirmed the dog is healthy. Otherwise, we could bloody our heads on the brick wall trying to change a behavior that is otherwise motivated.
Assuming proper puppy raising practices, during which stage of development is bite inhibition initially learned? A. 1st Socialization B. 2nd Socialization C. Juvenile D. Adolescence
it is A. Most bite inhibition is taught by the mother and littermates during the 1st socialization stage. We often think of it in the 2nd because this is when clients call us with a nipping puppy. However, if the breeder was a good breeder, allowing the littermates to stay together for the full 7-8 weeks, they shouldn't be going home with hard mouths.
Lucy barks at the TV whenever horses are on. Her owner changes the channel every time she barks at the TV, but barking increases. Lucy's barking has been A. Positively reinforced B. Negatively reinforced C. Positively punished D. Negatively punished
it is B. We removed the horses on TV by turning the channel (-), but the behavior (barking) has increased in frequency (reinforcement).
An adolescent dog who has been reliably potty trained for months suddenly begins peeing near doorways. The owner thinks it is separation anxiety because she has heard that dogs will usually make a mess by exit points in the home. The first thing the trainer should recommend is: A. The dog should be told "no" and taken outside each time he is caught peeing by the door. B. The owner should go back to potty training 101 since the dog is obviously not reliable. C. The dog should have a thorough vet check to be sure it is not medical. D. The dog should be referred to a qualified behavior professional for evaluation
it is C! I know someone who had this training situation arise and actually took the dog in for a "housebreaking" board and train. Poor thing did, in fact, have a urinary tract infection. Anything that could be medical should ALWAYS go to the vet, first. Especially when there is a sudden change.
An owner calls to register his dog for training classes. He asks the trainer about how she trains, and begins to argue with her when she mentions "force free" training. He insists that dogs need to be shown who is boss, and tells her she is setting owners up to fail. The trainer should: A. Explain to the owner that science has proven that dogs do not need alphas. B. Discuss with the owner the potential fallout of how he is expecting to train. C. Provide evidence on the benefits and effectiveness of force free training. D. Politely explain that she may not be the trainer for him at this time and welcome him to call again in the future.
it is D! It can be tempting to get into a debate about methods, the value of what you do, etc. However, if you find yourself defending your training too much, it is not likely a client who will "see the light" or be cost effective to accept. Simply admit you are in different camps, realize you can't change the world, and move on
n this day and age, it seems everyone is attached to their cell phone. Text alerts, Facebook alerts, and email alerts often receive instantaneous responses from the users. This is likely because: A. Cell phone users are classically conditioned to look at their phone when it alerts B. Cell phone users are positively reinforced to look at their phone when it alerts C. Cell phone users are negatively reinforced to look at their phone when it alerts D. Cell phone users addicted to looking at their phone when it alerts (Hint: There are probably more than one technically right answers. I'm looking for you to discuss how you came to the response you choose.)
it is a learned reflex. Phone beeps, you check it. Our salivation at the sound of the food comes in the form of that slight anxiety we feel that is relieved upon answering, A good way to think of the cell phone is a doorbell. Dogs become classically conditioned to be excited when the doorbell rings. We either have to get them under threshold and operantly train an alternative response, or often, begin with DS/CC of some sort. The CER to the cell phone is that "ooh, I have a notification" feeling we get when we hear it. This is also why tech addiction can be such a powerful thing.
Fido has an itch on his hind end. He spins, tries to bite, rolls, but nothing seems to improve his the state of his itch. Finally, exhausted he flops against the corner of the couch, incidentally scratching his rear and relieving the itch. The behavior of Fido scratching his rear against the corner of the couch increases. This is an example of: A. Positive reinforcement B. Negative reinforcement C. Positive punishment D. Negative punishment
t is B! The dog, after suffering from that itchy hind end, made it go away by accidentally rubbing his bum on the corner of the couch. Now he knows how to scratch in the future. " The behavior of Fido scratching his rear against the corner of the couch increases." And isn't this a better use of the corner of the couch than chewing? No more bitter apple.
In practice the handler uses a short leash and a prong collar, the dog learns to heel close to the handler. This is an example of: A. Positive Reinforcement B. Negative Reinforcement C. Positive Punishment D. Negative Punishment
t is B, negative reinforcement. The question is intentionally a bit vague because you will get older questions on the exam that are a bit vague. Some words to key in on, the dog learned "TO DO" something, heel close to the handler. This tells us right off the bat that he is being reinforced. If he were taught NOT TO pull, then we would be talking about punishment. So, now that we have confirmed the frequency change in the behavior, we can determine how that change was achieved. In this case, we know that a prong collar is designed to pinch the neck whether it be by the handler applying a correction of by the dog self correcting by pulling. This is not likely to be something the dog wants, so he is likely working to avoid it. He avoids/removes the pinch by heeling nicely. -R Never fear, we will do many more of these vague scenarios as well as crystal clear questions and those with multiple components. In the meantime, if you haven't seen it yet, I uploaded a flow chart of sorts to walk you through answering learning theory questions.
