Modification of instinctive herding dog behavior using reinforcement and punishment

Bibliographic Data

ID2608545
AuthorsEve D Marschark (Temple University), Ronald Baenninger (Temple University)
Year2002
Volume15
Issue1
Pages51-68
Publication date2002-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthrozoös (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0892-7936 • E-ISSN: 1753-0377
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2752/089279302786992685
OpenAlexW1989634340
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited9

Instinctive" behavior may be modified using operant techniques. We report here on a field study of training herding dogs in which reinforcers and punishers were used by owners, who were themselves being trained to control their dogs. Access to sheep was assumed to be a primary reinforcer for herding dogs. While blocking their access was aversive to them. Over several months, the number of blocking and access actions by the human were scored during the training of seven naïve herding dogs. We found that rates of punishment by blocking the dog's access to sheep or by stopping the dog occurred at higher levels than positive reinforcement from access or verbal praise. While positive reinforcement can be used exclusively for the training of certain behaviors, it is suggested that in the context of instinctive motor patterns, negative reinforcement and punishment may be desirable and necessary additions to positive reinforcement techniques

Biology · Cognitive psychology · Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Geography · Herding · Instinct · Praise · Punishment (psychology · Reinforcement · Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Psychology · Ecology · Social Psychology

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