Instructors: Lindsay Parenti, BCBA lparentibcba@gmail.com Class Dates: March 4, 2019-March 29, 2019 Format: Prerequisites: Texts: online There are no prerequisites for this course. Burch, M. R., & Bailey, J. S. (1999). How Dogs Learn. Hoboken, NJ: Howell Book House. Additional readings will be provided on the ecampus site for the course. Supplies: None needed. Course Overview and Objectives: This course presents an overview of canine development, health, sensory and communicative abilities, and behavioral techniques necessary to work with and train dogs. The student will learn the types of assistance animals, fundamentals of behavior analysis, canine ethology and development, and basic health and husbandry of dogs. Students completing this course successfully will be able to better understand their canine family members. They will also be prepared to handle and train a dog with professional guidance and will be able to register for the Hearts of Gold workshop to further develop their dog training skills with hands-on practice. The successful completion of this course and the accompanying workshop is required for clients that may receive a service or therapy/visitation dog from Hearts of Gold, or for anyone who wishes to volunteer to work with the Hearts of Gold dogs. Knowledge Checks: Reading Quizzes: For 15 of the reading assignments this semester, there is an accompanying quiz on ecampus consisting of short answer and multiple-choice questions on the assigned reading. Reading quizzes are for checking your knowledge. Worksheets: Worksheets are designed to help you apply the knowledge learned. Discussions: Discussions allow the course instructor to gauge your level of learning. Journal Entries: Journal entries are designed to help you apply the knowledge learned. 1
Inclusivity: The West Virginia University community is committed to creating and fostering a positive learning and working environment based on open communication, mutual respect, and inclusion. If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Accessibility Services (293-6700). For more information on West Virginia University's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, please see http://diversity.wvu.edu Students with a Disability: If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation to participate in AVS 276, please make appropriate arrangements with Disability Services (tel. 293-6700) and let me know as soon as possible. Recesses and Other Key Dates: Course content is online and may be completed at the student s own pace within the date range specified; therefore, there are no official course recesses. Course content is labelled as week.day as recommendation only. For example, 1.1 is week 1, day 1 of the course. Keeping up with this timeline will allow the student to complete the course within the dates suggested. 2
Course Outline & Reading List (This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Your instructor will notify you of any changes throughout the semester.) Topic Readings/Activities Objectives 1.1 Introduction Video: Life and Living with a Service Dog Reading: Donaldson Chapter 4 Discussion 1 Understand the importance of service dogs and dog training. Recognize the role of empathy in dog training. Recall information about the Hearts of Gold organization. 1.2 Types of Assistance Animals Assistance Animals and the Law Parenti et al. (2013) Ensminger (2010) Chapter 8 Reading Quiz #2 Assess the clarity of current assistance dog terminology. Classify types of assistance animals based on characteristics. Evaluate state and federal laws regarding public access and assistance animals. 1.3 History of Animal Training B&B Ch 1 and 2 Blattner 2015 Worksheet 1.3 1.4 Learning and Classical Conditioning B&B Ch 7, 9, 10 Reading Quiz #3 Discuss the general historical evolution of animal training methods. Recognize the contributions from early scientists to the field of animal training. Recall the Law of Effect and Instinctive Drift. Categorize behavior based on components of classical conditioning (US, CS, UR, and CR). Contrast generalization and discrimination in classical conditioning. Describe extinction of classically conditioned behavior. Develop a plan for extinction of a classically conditioned response. 3
1.5 Operant Conditioning SR 2.1 Operant Conditioning SP B&B: Ch 14 (pp. 141-145) Donaldson Ch 3 pg 53-77 Reading Quiz #4 B&B: Ch 3 & 4 (pp. 27-56) Feng, Howell, and Bennett, 2016 Reading Quiz #5 Worksheet 2 Categorize behavior based on components of operant conditioning (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence). Describe generalization and discrimination in operant conditioning. Explain extinction of operant conditioned behavior. Define punishment as a scientific, behavior modification term. Discuss the disadvantages of using punishment in a real-life scenario. Classify the consequences of behavior as positive or negative, reinforcement or punishment. 2.2 Shaping B&B: Ch 11-12 (pp. 121-141) Donaldson Ch 5 B&B Ch 13 Reading Quiz #7 Discussion 2 Recall the definition of shaping Apply the concept of shaping to dog behavior Define chaining Define task analysis Describe how to use chaining 2.3 Behavior Chains B&B Ch 13 Breland & Breland (1961) RQ #8 4
2.4 Estrus Cycle and Sexual Reproduction Correa (2002) Reading Quiz #9 Recall the duration, frequency, and stages of dog estrus cycles. Explain the difference between dog and wolf reproductive cycles. Be able to predict when a dog may go into heat. Recall the fertilization period and how to detect pregnancy in dogs. State the length of gestation in dogs. Describe the stages of parturition in dogs. 2.5 Dog Sensation and Perception Budiansky Ch 5 Reading Quiz #10 State what structures are important to perception. Describe a dog s color vision and visual acuity. Recall a dog s olfactory abilities. Explain dog s hearing abilities. 3.1 Dog Communication Horowitz pg 89-119 Reading Quiz #11 Journal Entry 1 3.2 Dog Nutrition & Feeding Dog Health & First Aid Dog First Aid Miller, Ch. 4 Socialization Checklist Reading Quiz #13 Classify different types of body language Differentiate between calming signals and signs of anxiety/fear Evaluate scenarios and determine playful/energetic dogs compared to scared/timid dogs Recall required vaccinations and yearly tests. State recommended health tests and preventative medications and their timeline. Describe components of grooming and how to prevent fear of grooming. Understand the body condition system and the importance of body condition. Explain emergencies, what to do, and how to check the dog s dehydration level. Recall toxic items and emergency situations. 5
3.3 Decreasing & Preventing Behaviors 3.4 Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) B&B ch 15-18 Donaldson Ch 3 pg 77-87 Reading Quiz #16 Stewart Reading Reading Quiz #17 Describe the 8 methods of decreasing behaviors. Describe how an extinction procedure would be used for behaviors maintained by each of the possible functions (attention, escape, tangible, auto). Explain BAT. Describe the BAT Zone Identify calming signals. Describe the 3 types of BAT setups. Recall the steps of the Basic BAT Set-up. 3.5 Behavior Assessment B&B Ch 8, 9 Journal 2 Create an operational definition. Determine the possible function of a target behavior. Discussion 1: In this discussion forum, students should introduce themselves to the class. They should provide: Name Where you're from Why are you taking this course? Why do you think service dogs are important? Read and comment on 3 other students' posts (5 Points). Discussion 2.1: Your dog is lunging and barking at other dog when on leash. Your friend suggests that you try a shock collar to reduce the lunging and barking behavior around other dogs. Is this a justified use of punishment? Why or why not? (5 pts) Read 3 other students posts and ask each a question about their post (5 pts ) Discussion 2.2: What did you find most interesting about the shaping lecture? 6
Read and comment on 3 other student's posts. Journal 1: Explain how you would handle these two different situations: 1. Looking at picture A, if your dog was the dog in the middle, what would you do? 2. In picture B, if your dog was the larger dog, what would you do? Journal 2: Practice creating an operational definition of behavior for the following example: A client calls and says that they need help with her dog s behavior. She describes the problem behavior as fear of men. Create an operational definition that might fit this description. 7