Canine Learning Theory Flashcards
7 cards from real Dog Training practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Canine Learning Theory flashcards as text
In operant conditioning, what does negative reinforcement do to a behavior?
Answer: Increases it by removing an aversive stimulus
Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by taking away an unpleasant stimulus when the behavior occurs.
A dog stops jumping on guests when jumping is completely ignored. This is an example of what?
Answer: Extinction
Extinction occurs when a previously reinforced behavior fades because reinforcement is withheld.
What is an 'extinction burst'?
Answer: A temporary increase in the behavior when reinforcement stops
An extinction burst is a brief spike in the unwanted behavior before it declines once reinforcement ends.
In a fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule, reward is given after which condition?
Answer: A set number of correct responses
A fixed-ratio schedule delivers reinforcement after a specific, unchanging number of responses.
Which reinforcement schedule produces the most resistant-to-extinction behavior?
Answer: Variable ratio
Variable-ratio schedules create persistent behavior because the dog can never predict when the next reward comes.
What does 'shaping' refer to in dog training?
Answer: Rewarding successive approximations toward a target behavior
Shaping builds a complex behavior by reinforcing small steps that get progressively closer to the goal.
A marker signal (like a clicker) works because it does what?
Answer: Bridges the gap between the behavior and the reward
The marker pinpoints the exact moment of correct behavior, bridging the delay until the reward arrives.