CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT CANINE-
KNOWLEDGE ASSESSED (CBCC-KA)
Operant conditioning - Answers - A type of learning where the consequences that
immediately follow a behavior determine the probability of the behavior being repeated.
An example of operant conditioning in dog training is when we give a treat to a dog for
sitting. This increases the probability that the dog will do this behavior in the future.
Pavlovian (classical) conditioning - Answers - Associative learning where the pairing of a
conditioned and unconditioned stimulus to produce a unconditioned response can lead
to a conditioned response in the presence of the unconditioned stimulus alone.
Thorndike's Law of Effect - Answers - responses that produce a satisfying effect in a
particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses
that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation
Watson's Little Albert Experiment - Answers - Controversial classical conditioning
experiment on an infant boy called "Little Albert." Watson was interested in examining
the effects of conditioning on the fear response in humans
B.F. Skinner - Answers - Behaviorist that developed the theory of operant conditioning
by training pigeons and rats
Ian Dunbar - Answers - Founder of APDT and promoted positive dog training
Karen Pryor - Answers - Animal trainer and scientist who published "Don't Shoot the
Dog" explaining the application of operant conditioning
Reinforcement - Answers - in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the
behavior it follows
Stimulus - Answers - any event or situation that evokes a response
primary reinforcer - Answers - any reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing by meeting a
basic biological need, such as hunger, thirst, or touch
secondary reinforcer - Answers - any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being
paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars
schedules of reinforcement - Answers - different patterns of frequency and timing of
reinforcement following desired behavior
Eustress - Answers - positive stress or emotional state
, Distress - Answers - negative stress or emotional state; measured by elevated cortisol
levels and observed behaviors such as lip-licking, yawning, panting
Cortisol - Answers - stress hormone
Systematic desensitization - Answers - Using very gradual exposure to the stimulus in a
way that keeps the animal feeling safe at all times
Aversive - Answers - Anything unpleasant (emotionally or physically) that is used to
decrease an unwanted behavior. Examples of an aversive may include verbal
reprimands, pushing an animal into a position (alpha rolls, dominance downs),
threatening body language, shaker cans, spray bottles, citronella collars, leash
corrections, choke chains, prong collars, or shock collars.
Classical Conditioning - Answers - Any learned association between 2 events. In dog
training, this is most often used to create a conditioned emotional response in situations
where a neutral or negative stimulus is followed by a positive event. For example,
putting on shoes and picking up a leash may elicit a positive emotional response
because it predicts a walk. When the stimulus is perceived as negative, it is called
counter-conditioning. For example, feeding pieces of chicken to a dog after a loud noise
such as fireworks can help change the dog's emotional response. Classical conditioning
is also sometimes called a Pavlovian response.
Flooding Exposure Plans - Answers - Flooding involves exposing a dog to a stimulus
that is likely to invoke a fear response, and maintaining prolonged exposure to the
stimulus until the dog stops reacting. This is the opposite of desensitization (see
"Systematic Desensitization" definition below). Flooding should be avoided in dogs due
to the risk of invoking a fear response.
Luring - Answers - Using food or a toy to guide the dog into a position. The food may be
held in front of the dog's nose or face and then moved slowly away from the dog to
encourage forward movement or moved to a position to direct the dog's gaze. Moving
food above and slightly behind the dog's gaze will often cause the dog to sit down as
they move their head to see the lure.
Marker - Answers - A marker is a signal to the learner to identify the exact moment in
time that a desired behavior is occurring. A clicker or a verbal, "good" or "yes" are
examples of markers.
Reward-based Training - Answers - Reward-based training involves giving your dog
rewards for behaviors you want to encourage and removing the rewards for behaviors
you don't want your dog to do. In addition to selectively rewarding behaviors you like,
setting your dog up to be likely to do the preferred behaviors and giving enough
information that your dog can learn what behaviors you like, are important components
to a reward-based training plan. Rewards can be anything your dog enjoys (food, toys,
KNOWLEDGE ASSESSED (CBCC-KA)
Operant conditioning - Answers - A type of learning where the consequences that
immediately follow a behavior determine the probability of the behavior being repeated.
An example of operant conditioning in dog training is when we give a treat to a dog for
sitting. This increases the probability that the dog will do this behavior in the future.
Pavlovian (classical) conditioning - Answers - Associative learning where the pairing of a
conditioned and unconditioned stimulus to produce a unconditioned response can lead
to a conditioned response in the presence of the unconditioned stimulus alone.
Thorndike's Law of Effect - Answers - responses that produce a satisfying effect in a
particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses
that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation
Watson's Little Albert Experiment - Answers - Controversial classical conditioning
experiment on an infant boy called "Little Albert." Watson was interested in examining
the effects of conditioning on the fear response in humans
B.F. Skinner - Answers - Behaviorist that developed the theory of operant conditioning
by training pigeons and rats
Ian Dunbar - Answers - Founder of APDT and promoted positive dog training
Karen Pryor - Answers - Animal trainer and scientist who published "Don't Shoot the
Dog" explaining the application of operant conditioning
Reinforcement - Answers - in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the
behavior it follows
Stimulus - Answers - any event or situation that evokes a response
primary reinforcer - Answers - any reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing by meeting a
basic biological need, such as hunger, thirst, or touch
secondary reinforcer - Answers - any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being
paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars
schedules of reinforcement - Answers - different patterns of frequency and timing of
reinforcement following desired behavior
Eustress - Answers - positive stress or emotional state
, Distress - Answers - negative stress or emotional state; measured by elevated cortisol
levels and observed behaviors such as lip-licking, yawning, panting
Cortisol - Answers - stress hormone
Systematic desensitization - Answers - Using very gradual exposure to the stimulus in a
way that keeps the animal feeling safe at all times
Aversive - Answers - Anything unpleasant (emotionally or physically) that is used to
decrease an unwanted behavior. Examples of an aversive may include verbal
reprimands, pushing an animal into a position (alpha rolls, dominance downs),
threatening body language, shaker cans, spray bottles, citronella collars, leash
corrections, choke chains, prong collars, or shock collars.
Classical Conditioning - Answers - Any learned association between 2 events. In dog
training, this is most often used to create a conditioned emotional response in situations
where a neutral or negative stimulus is followed by a positive event. For example,
putting on shoes and picking up a leash may elicit a positive emotional response
because it predicts a walk. When the stimulus is perceived as negative, it is called
counter-conditioning. For example, feeding pieces of chicken to a dog after a loud noise
such as fireworks can help change the dog's emotional response. Classical conditioning
is also sometimes called a Pavlovian response.
Flooding Exposure Plans - Answers - Flooding involves exposing a dog to a stimulus
that is likely to invoke a fear response, and maintaining prolonged exposure to the
stimulus until the dog stops reacting. This is the opposite of desensitization (see
"Systematic Desensitization" definition below). Flooding should be avoided in dogs due
to the risk of invoking a fear response.
Luring - Answers - Using food or a toy to guide the dog into a position. The food may be
held in front of the dog's nose or face and then moved slowly away from the dog to
encourage forward movement or moved to a position to direct the dog's gaze. Moving
food above and slightly behind the dog's gaze will often cause the dog to sit down as
they move their head to see the lure.
Marker - Answers - A marker is a signal to the learner to identify the exact moment in
time that a desired behavior is occurring. A clicker or a verbal, "good" or "yes" are
examples of markers.
Reward-based Training - Answers - Reward-based training involves giving your dog
rewards for behaviors you want to encourage and removing the rewards for behaviors
you don't want your dog to do. In addition to selectively rewarding behaviors you like,
setting your dog up to be likely to do the preferred behaviors and giving enough
information that your dog can learn what behaviors you like, are important components
to a reward-based training plan. Rewards can be anything your dog enjoys (food, toys,
