ANIMAL TRAINING

Basic Theory Class

Prepared by; Effenddy Malek
What is animal training?

act of teaching animals specific

responses to specific conditions or
stimuli.
 Why we train animal?

Training keeps animals’ minds and bodies active

builds a positive relationship with the keepers

helps us keep an eye on their health without resorting

to more invasive techniques like anesthesia
Who involve in animal training?

Animal Trainers
Keepers
Vet
Pet owners
Where we train animal?

Zoo
Aquaria/Aquarium
When we train animal?

Everyday.
How we train animal?
 CONTENT
• History
• Animal Behaviour And Learning
• Animal Training Basics
• Animal Training Philosophy
HISTORY
HISTORY OF ANIMAL TRAINING
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR AND
LEARNING
 BEHAVIOR

• Behavior is anything an animal does involving

action and/or a response to a stimulus.
 Animals behave in certain ways for four
basic reasons:
• to find food and water
• to interact in social groups
• to avoid predators
• to reproduce
STIMULUS
• A stimulus is a change in the environment that
produces a behavioral response.
• It may be an object or an event perceived
through an animal's senses.
• Stimuli may include the sight of food, the sound
of a potential predator, or the smell of a mate.
• Animals respond to stimuli.
• Each of these stimuli elicits specific behaviors
from animals.
 How animal
Learn

Observational Classical Operant

Learning Conditioning Conditioning
 Observational Learning
•Animals often learn through observation, that
is, by watching other animals.
How animal
•Observational learning can occur with no
Learn
outside reinforcement.
•The animal simply learns by observing and
mimicking.
Observational Classical Operant
•Learning
Animals are ableConditioning
to learn individual behaviors
Conditioning
as well as entire behavioral repertoires through
observation.
 How animal
Learn

Observational Classical Operant

Learning Conditioning Conditioning
 Classical Conditioning
•One of the simplest types of learning is called classical
conditioning.
•Classical conditioning is based on a stimulus (a change
in the environment) producing a response from the
How animal
animal.
Learn
•Over time, a response to a stimulus may be
conditioned. (Conditioning is another word for
learning.)
Observational Classical Operant
•By pairing a new stimulus with a familiar one, an
Learning Conditioning Conditioning
animal can be conditioned to respond to the new
stimulus.
•The conditioned response is typically a reflex - a
behavior that requires no thought.
 How animal
Learn

Observational Classical Operant

Learning Conditioning Conditioning
 Operant Conditioning
•Like classical conditioning, operant
conditioning involves a stimulus and a
response. How animal
•But unlike classical conditioning,
Learn in operant
conditioning the response is a behavior that
requires thought and an action.
Observational Classical
•The response is also followed by a Operant
Learning Conditioning Conditioning
consequence known as a reinforcer.
•In operant conditioning, an animal's behavior
is conditioned by the consequences that follow.
ANIMAL TRAINING BASICS
 ANIMAL TRAINING BASICS
• Operant Conditioning
• Positive Reinforcement
• Negative Reinforcement
• Schedule of Reinforcement
• Shaping Behavior
• Extinction of Behavior
Operant Conditioning
• Operant conditioning is the basis of animal
training.
• It is a type of learning in which an animal
learns (or, is conditioned) from its behaviors
as it acts (operates) on the environment.
• In operant conditioning, the likelihood of a
behavior is increased or decreased by the
consequences that follow.
Operant Conditioning
• That is, a behavior will happen either more
often or less often, depending on its results.
• When an animal performs a particular
behavior that produces a favorable
consequence, the animal is likely to repeat
that behavior.
• The basic components of instrumental learning (learning that
occurs as a result of operant conditioning) must occur in precise
order for learning to be achieved.
• These three components are the antecedent (a stimulus that
precedes the behavior), the behavior (the resultant observed
response emitted by the animal that immediately follows the
antecedent), and the consequence (a stimulus that immediately
follows the response and acts to increase or decrease that
behavior).
• During a training session, a hand signal (antecedent) is usually
presented to the animal followed by the animal’s response
(behavior). If correct, the behavior is usually reinforced
(consequence) by the trainer with either primary reinforcement
(food) or secondary reinforcement (touch, toys, play, activities).
Positive Reinforcement
• A favorable consequence is often a physical
experience - something that can be seen, heard,
felt, or tasted. This experience is a type of
stimulus.
• When an animal performs a behavior that
produces a positive stimulus, the animal is likely
to repeat the behavior in the near future.
• The positive stimulus is termed a positive
reinforcer because it reinforces, or strengthens,
the behavior.
Positive Reinforcement
• Positive reinforcement can also be called
rewards. Rewards take on many forms. For
animals, one of the most common rewards is
food.
• When a positive reinforcer immediately
follows a behavior, it increases the likelihood
that the behavior will be repeated.
• It must immediately follow the behavior in
order to be effective.
Positive Reinforcement
• Indeed, many behaviors animals do in the wild
are for getting food.
• If certain behaviors allow an animal to get
food successfully, the animal will repeat these
behaviors the next time it is hungry.
• Food is an example of a primary reinforcer.
Primary reinforcers are reinforcers that are
automatically positive.
Positive Reinforcement
• An animal does not have to learn to "like"
them. Other examples of primary reinforcers
include water, shelter, and mating
opportunities.
• Several types of primary reinforcers provide
tactile stimulation, like a good back scratch.
Positive Reinforcement
• Not all types of reinforcers are automatically
positive. Some can be learned.
• Reinforcers that are learned are called
conditioned reinforcers.
Positive Reinforcement
• Animals learn conditioned reinforcers when
they are paired with primary ones.
• Suppose an animal trainer exclaims "Good
boy!" and then gives the animal food or a back
scratch. After several repetitions, the
exclamation "Good boy!" will become
rewarding to the animal.
• Positive attention like this is a conditioned
reinforcer.
Negative Reinforcement
• A less common type of reinforcement is
negative reinforcement.
• Unlike positive reinforcement, which involves
giving a favorable stimulus, negative
reinforcement involves removing an
unfavorable stimulus.
Negative Reinforcement
• Negative reinforcement is not punishment.
Punishment involves giving an unfavorable
consequence.
• Punishment decreases the likelihood of a
behavior repeating.
• Both positive and negative reinforcement
increase the likelihood that a behavior will be
repeated.
SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Positive reinforcement for desired

behaviors may occur on one of four
possible reinforcement schedules.
• The simplest type of reinforcement schedule is
a Continuous reinforcement schedule.
• In this case every correct behaviour that
meets the established criteria is reinforced.
• For example, the dog gets a treat every time it
sits when asked to do so; the salesman gets
paid every time he sells a book.
 Fixed
Interval
SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Positive reinforcement for desired

behaviors may occur on one of four
possible reinforcement schedules.
 Fixed Fixed
Interval Ratio
SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Positive reinforcement for desired

behaviors may occur on one of four
possible reinforcement schedules.
 Fixed Fixed
Interval Ratio
SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Variable
Positive reinforcement for desired
behaviors may occur on one of four

Interval
possible reinforcement schedules.
 Fixed Fixed
Interval Ratio
SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Variable Variable
Positive reinforcement for desired
behaviors may occur on one of four

Interval Ratio
possible reinforcement schedules.
1) Fixed interval.
• This schedule of reinforcement is based on
receiving reinforcement after a fixed amount
of time.
• The desired behavior must continue for a
certain amount of time before a reinforcer is
delivered.
• The amount of time between reinforcers is
always the same.
2)Fixed ratio.
• A fixed ratio reinforcement schedule is based
on receiving reinforcement after a fixed
amount of behaviors.
• The desired behavior must occur a certain
number of times before it is reinforced.
• The number of behaviors always remains the
same.
3) Variable interval.
• Variable interval reinforcement occurs after
varying lengths of time.
• The behavior is reinforced at random
intervals.
4) Variable ratio.
• Variable ratio reinforcement occurs after a
varying number of behaviors.
• Reinforcement varies unpredictably, so the
person or animal performing the behavior is
never certain when they will be reinforced.
Shaping of Behavior
• Most behaviors cannot be learned all at once,
but develop in steps.
• This step-by-step learning process is called
shaping.
Shaping of Behavior
• Animals learn complex behaviors through
shaping.
• Each step in the learning process is called an
approximation.
• An animal may be reinforced for each
successive approximation toward the final
goal of the desired trained behavior.
Extinction Of Behavior
• If a behavior is not reinforced, it decreases.
Eventually, it is extinguished altogether. This is
called extinction.
• Animal trainers use the technique of
extinction to eliminate undesired behaviors.
• To eliminate the behavior, they simply do not
reinforce it. Over time, the animal learns that
a particular behavior is not producing a
desired effect. The animal discontinues the
behavior.
Extinction Of Behavior
• When using the extinction technique, it is
important to identify what stimuli are
reinforcing for an animal.
• The trainer must be careful not to present a
positive reinforcer after an undesirable
behavior.
• The best way to avoid reinforcing an undesired
behavior is to give no stimulus at all.
ANIMAL TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
 ANIMAL TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
• Foundation
• Creating the Training Environment
• Behavior Repertoire
• Reinforcing Desirable Behavior
• Reinforcement Variety
• Least Reinforcing Scenario (LRS)
• Building A Relationship
Foundation
• Three important steps - reinforcement,
communication, and target recognition - are
the basic building blocks of how animals are
trained.
• Once an animal learns this foundation, the
animal applies it to learning new and more
complex behaviors.
A) REINFORCEMENT
• Positive reinforcement is the only type of
reinforcement trainers use to train animals.
• All training is based on reinforcing desired
behaviors.
• Reinforcers motivate an animal to repeat the
desired behaviors. The reinforcer tells the
animal, "Yes, you have done that well."
A) REINFORCEMENT
• A variety of interesting, stimulating reinforcers
is the key to training animals.
• Trainers use food more frequently during the
early stages of the training process.
• Other primary reinforcers are introduced, and
new reinforcers are conditioned.
A) REINFORCEMENT
• Examples of positive reinforcers used include
back scratches, rub downs, toys, favorite
activities, squirts with a water hose, and ice
cubes.
• Animals may not respond in the same way to
the same reinforcers - each animal may have
its favorites.
• Therefore, the trainer must learn which
reinforcers are preferred by individual
animals.
A) REINFORCEMENT
• Trainers determine what is reinforcing to the
animals by carefully observing the behavior
after a particular reinforcer is given.
• If the behavior decreases, trainers assume
that the consequence was not reinforcing.
• They then try a different reinforcer. But if the
behavior increases, the reinforcer is likely to
be an effective one. Sometimes an animal
appears to desire or even solicit a particular
reinforcer.
B) Communication
• Communication is difficult between two people
who don't speak the same language. So
imagine what it's like to communicate with
another species.
• It is the responsibility of humans to find some
way for the animal to understand them.
• Reinforcers are one way to communicate with
animals.
• Reinforcers let the animal know when it has
performed the desired behavior.
B) Communication
• Reinforcement must immediately follow the
behavior in order to be effective.
• A delay of even a few seconds may accidentally
reinforce the wrong behavior.
• But, it's not always possible to instantly
reinforce an animal while it is performing - it
may be across the pool from the trainer.
• The trainer must have some other way to
communicate to the animal that it has
performed correctly. They use a signal.
B) Communication
• This signal is called a bridge signal. The bridge
signal "bridges" the gap of time that occurs
between the behavior and its reinforcement.
• The bridge signal varies with species.
• Each animal is trained to recognize a bridge
signal: before an animal receives a reinforcer,
a bridge signal is introduced.
• Through continual pairing with reinforcers, the
bridge signal becomes a conditioned
reinforcer.
• The animal comes to associate the bridge
signal with being reinforced.
• The bridge signal can then be used to
reinforce the animal the instant it performs
the correct behavior.
C) Target Recognition
• To train an animal to do a behavior, trainers
usually break down the behavior into a series
of small steps.
• Trainers use their hands as a focal point -
animals are trained to come to the trainer's
hand, hold on it, and await the next signal.
This behavior is called "targeting".
• When a behavior takes place farther away, a
tool called a "target" is used as an extension
of the hand.
• Target directs an animal toward a position or
direction.
• For most animals, the target used is a long
pole with a foam float or ball on one end.
• Other targets include a tap on the glass at the
side of the pool or an ice cube tossed into the
water.
How To Target Training
Trainers teach an animal to "target" by touching the
target gently to the animal.

The bridge signal is sounded, and the animal is

reinforced. This is repeated several times.

Next is to position the target a few inches away

from the animal.
 waits for the animal to touch the target

The bridge signal is sounded, and the animal is

reinforced. This is repeated several times.

After several successful repetitions, the target is

moved still farther away. When the animal touches
it, the animal is reinforced
Eventually the animal will
follow the target.

Eventually, the target is

replaced by a hand signal.
How to target training
• Each animal is trained to follow the target.
• Trainers teach an animal to "target" by
touching the target gently to the animal.
• The bridge signal is sounded, and the animal is
reinforced. This is repeated several times.
How to target training
• The next step is to position the target a few
inches away from the animal.
• The trainer waits for the animal to touch the
target.
• By this time, the animal has learned that
whenever it touches the target, it gets
reinforced.
• It moves toward the target and touches it. The
bridge signal is immediately sounded, and the
animal is reinforced.
• After several successful repetitions, the target
is moved still farther away. When the animal
touches it, the animal is reinforced.
• Eventually the animal will follow the target.
The target may then be used to lead the
animal through a series of steps to gradually
perform complex behaviors.
• Eventually, the target is replaced by a hand
signal. As with other stimuli in animal training,
the hand signal stimulus is learned by
introducing it along with the target.
Important Behaviour To Be Trained

1. Target
2. Recall
3. Follow trainer
4. Stationing
5. A to B
6. Gating
7. Desensitization
Creating the Training Environment
• By far, the most critical aspect in animal
training is creating a positive environment.
• Trainers and keepers strive to make training
fun, interesting, and stimulating for the
animals.
• In doing so, the animals are motivated to
participate.
• Trainers have to developed several techniques
to create a positive, motivating environment.
Behavior Repertoire
• Animal training is an ongoing process throughout an
animal's life.
• An animal can become bored if it is asked to do the
same behaviors over and over.
• Trainers and animals develop new behaviors and modify
current behaviors to keep the animals physically and
mentally challenged.
• Animals have the potential to learn extensive
repertoires of behaviors.
• An experienced animal may learn as many as 200
behaviors. Maintaining existing behavior is as equally
important as training new behaviors.
Reinforcing Desirable Behavior
• Reinforcing desirable behavior is one of the
cornerstones of animal training.
• It's a very simple concept, but a very complex
undertaking.
• The reinforcer tells the animal, "Yes, you have
done that well." It motivates an animal to repeat
the desired behaviors and to stay interested.
• Trainers must also take care not to reinforce
undesirable behavior, while keeping an animal
motivated at the same time.
Reinforcement Variety
• A variety of interesting, stimulating reinforcers
is essential to successful training.
• If reinforcers become routine and predictable,
animals may become bored, unmotivated,
frustrated, and even aggressive.
• Variety is much more motivating to the
animals.
• Trainers and keepers use food more frequently
during the early stages of the training process.
Soon they introduce other primary reinforcers.
• Animals may not respond in the same way to
the same reinforcers - each animal may have
its favorites.
• Therefore, the trainer must learn which
reinforcers individual animals prefer. Again, a
strong relationship with the animal is key.
Knowing an animal's personality and carefully
observing its body language and behavior
helps trainers evaluate reinforcers.
• Trainers also condition new reinforcers -
strong, trusting relationships with the animals
helps trainers present new reinforcers in a
positive manner.
• Positive reinforcers include back scratches, rub
downs, grooming, toys, favorite activities,
squirts with a water hose, ice cubes, puzzle
games, and one-on-one time.
• New behaviors are trained using a continuous
schedule of reinforcement (every correct
response is reinforced to assure learning).
• Trained behaviors are maintained on a
variable ratio reinforcement schedule.
Variable ratio means that animals are not
automatically reinforced after each behavior.
• They do a number of behaviors before they
are reinforced. The number varies randomly
from one occasion to another.
• Experience has shown that a random schedule of
reinforcement is more effective than a fixed one.
• Through years of application, trainers have determined
that a variable ratio reinforcement schedule stimulates
and motivates better behavior and produces higher
response rates, than other reinforcement schedules.
• Trainers continually learn about the relationships
between reinforcers and animal behaviors through
direct contact and observation.
• Recording data daily is essential. In this way, animal
trainers contribute to the knowledge of the animal's
behavior as well as its ability to learn.
Least Reinforcing Scenario (LRS)
• What happens if a trainer requests a particular behavior
and the animal does not respond, or the animal responds
with undesired behavior?
• incorrect behavior is followed by a training technique
called the Least Reinforcing Scenario (LRS).
• The LRS has two parts. The first part is a consequence for
incorrect behavior. This occurs when the trainer does not
reinforce the animal for the incorrect behavior.
• The second part is a stimulus providing an opportunity
for reward - for two to three seconds the trainer is relaxed
and attempts no change in environment. (Changes in the
environment may accidentally reinforce the behavior.)
• This brief time period is a stimulus to the animal to
remain calm and attentive. This stimulus provides a
new opportunity for reward. Following an LRS, the
animal is reinforced for calm, attentive behavior.
• The animal may also receive an opportunity to perform
another behavior that will result in reinforcement.
• The LRS is not a fixed posture. It is a flexible system
enabling the trainer to deliver the LRS in a variety of
contexts.
• The trainer does not ignore the animal but must
monitor its behavior. The trainer must do everything
possible not to respond to inappropriate behavior.
• Reinforcing the animal for calm, attentive
behavior following the LRS helps the animal
learn from its mistakes.
• When used consistently, the LRS technique
eventually decreases undesired behavior and
increases calm and attentive behavior.
• The LRS helps reduce frustration that might
result from the lack of reinforcement. It
teaches the animal to respond without
aggression.
Building A Relationship
• The key to successful training is building a
strong and rewarding relationship between
trainer and animal.
• This relationship is based on a history of
positive and stimulating interaction.
• By creating a motivating environment and
reinforcing desirable behavior, trainers and
keepers have great success in developing
strong relationships with their animals.
Thank You