Training Techniques Unpopular Opinion Activity by Danika Smith

Think about what you know about training through school, experience, or word of mouth. What biases do you believe you may have based on this?

danikalasmith — 2024-10-03 12:02:53 UTC

Punishment training techniques can utilize tools such as shock and prong collars on dogs. Do you believe punishment in training regiments should be used why or why not?

danikalasmith — 2024-10-03 12:04:23 UTC

How can tools be seen as aversive versus encouraging? For example, crops (whips) in horseback riding or target poles.

danikalasmith — 2024-10-03 12:05:58 UTC

Even though food is generally utilized in positive reinforcement models, do you think there are ways to use food as a punishment as well?

danikalasmith — 2024-10-03 12:07:55 UTC

Do you agree or disagree with food deprivation as a training technique? Why?

danikalasmith — 2024-10-03 12:39:08 UTC

Can you think of times you may have witnessed food deprivation as a training method? Do you think there are alternatives methods to use as opposed to food deprivation?

danikalasmith — 2024-10-03 12:39:45 UTC

Any other thoughts?

danikalasmith — 2024-10-03 12:39:55 UTC

Ashley Laper

2024-10-04 18:16:59 UTC

I don't have too much hands on experience when it comes to animal training but I did attend a conference that focused on training animals with empathy and science. It was given at Zoo Tampa and was really insightful. By focusing on creating a bond where the animal trusts you, you are more likely to provide training that is successful. Using food rewards, words of encouragement and affection can go a long way. But it is important to change it up for them so they don't get bored.

Ashley Laper

2024-10-04 18:19:17 UTC

No, I do not believe these types of techniques should be used. Even if they may provide results, it is harmful on the animal and is not useful in the long run. If you put the time and effort into your relationship with the animal, they will want to participate with you in these training sessions. And if they don't at times, that is okay. It should be based on willingness, not control.

Ashley Laper

2024-10-04 18:25:43 UTC

A tool is seen as aversive when it creates a unpleasant outcome such as whips or prongs used in trainings. The animal will perform the task but only because it does not want to get hurt. So, the training is accomplished but at what cost? I believe if the techniques are encouraging, they are a lot more successful in the long run.

Ashley Laper

2024-10-04 18:31:01 UTC

Yes, food can definitely be used as a punishment whether that's to get the animal to do something or to stop them from acting a certain way. For example, I use positive punishment by adding lemon spray onto my rug so my dog stops chewing it. I know some owners do something similar to get cats to stop spraying or scratching furniture. I believe this technique of training is okay because it is not harming the animal. Now food deprivation on the other hand is not ethical. Providing a food source for your animal in managed care is one of the main freedoms and always needs to be followed. Sure, the animal may be more food motivated during training if it hasn't eaten, but it's not right.

Ashley Laper

2024-10-04 18:34:27 UTC

As I stated in my last comment, food deprivation should not be a form of training. You are depriving them from an essential resource. I think it is a cruel and unethical way to practice training. By starving them, you are controlling them in this situation rather then letting the animal truly decide if they want to participate in said training. There are so many other useful techniques that are proven to work better than this. There should always be choice and by depriving food, you aren't really giving the animal a say in the matter. Of course they are going to participate if they are hungry.

Ashley Laper

2024-10-04 18:39:25 UTC

I have never personally seen this in real life. I have seen cases of it online or in documentaries. I do not agree with this way of training and believe there are so many other ways to successfully train your animal. Positive reinforcements can include affection, words of encouragement such as "Good job!", favorite foods given as treats or a reward in addition to their regular meals always is a great way to motivate them. Making it entertaining and cognitively challenging will keep the animal interested in participating. You have to be creative and constantly think of new and positive ways to keep your animal involved.

Ashley Laper

2024-10-04 18:42:40 UTC

This was a really interesting presentation that gave an insightful look into the different types of training there are. It had me looking back a lot at the recent conference I attended that focused primarily on positive reinforcement training. To be able and step back and try and put yourselves in the animal's position is crucial in understanding their perspective. The better you can understand them and their behaviors, the more successful you are able to train them.

Amanda Crossen

amcrossen — 2024-10-04 21:39:07 UTC

I definitely have a bias towards positive reinforcement. This is generally what we learn about in school as being the ‘best’ method. It is also the only type of training I have encountered at managed-care facilities.

Amanda Crossen

amcrossen — 2024-10-04 21:39:39 UTC

For a very long time, because of the bias I have, I did not think anyone should use punishment training techniques. However, I have started to look into different trainers and their methods and in some cases, I can understand using punishment techniques. I often hear that certain dogs with specific behavioral issues could benefit from punishment training over other dogs. For example, if you are dealing with a dog that is very confident and pushy it could work, but if you are dealing with a dog that is already fearful it could be damaging.

Amanda Crossen

amcrossen — 2024-10-04 21:40:00 UTC

I think training tools that we would not want used on use are seen as aversive. So being hit with a riding crop or shocked with an E-collar would be considered harsh. Something like a target pole would not be aversive to us so we do not see it as punishment for the animals.

Amanda Crossen

amcrossen — 2024-10-04 21:40:20 UTC

Withholding food could definitely be used as punishment. This would be considered negative punishment since you are taking away something the animal wants when they do not exhibit the correct behavior.

Amanda Crossen

amcrossen — 2024-10-04 21:40:39 UTC

I do not have a strong feeling towards food deprivation. I can see the benefits in certain situations, but can also imagine the negative impacts it could have. I think I would need to learn more about it and how it is being used in order to form a strong opinion on it.

Amanda Crossen

amcrossen — 2024-10-04 21:40:56 UTC

I have seen food deprivation used as a training method at a marine mammal facility as it is described the presentation. I never really saw it as food deprivation because the animals were not motivated to eat. It felt to me like we were just listening to the animal instead of trying to force feed them. However, the food was being withheld because the dolphins would not do specific things, it was not as if they were being offered ‘free’ food and still refusing it.

Amanda Crossen

amcrossen — 2024-10-04 21:41:44 UTC

Great presentation!

2024-10-04 23:17:20 UTC

I use a clicker to train my cat. It has been super helpful with him learning his name, to come to me, and to sit (when he wants to). I know I’m biased because i know it works to an extent. I don’t force my cat to do an action or use punishment. Just reinforcements

2024-10-04 23:20:29 UTC

To have a productive relationship with an animal and gain their trust; punishments should not be used. However there are always exceptions and (I know this is horrible) sometimes a little boop on the head in a way that doesn’t harm them to a child or animal will get them to pay attention and learn. (In no way at all am I supporting abuse)

Cloe

2024-10-04 23:22:24 UTC

Personally, I don’t like the idea of using food as punishment in the sense of taking it away fully. If it’s a special treat or an extra then that’s fine. But an animal should always have a constant source of food (even if they don’t think it’s the tastiest)

Cassidy Taylor

2024-10-05 06:01:53 UTC

I have taken animal behavior modification at Eckerd where we were tasked to train an animal throughout the semester. I trained my cat to spin, high five, and sit. I trained her exactly how we were taught and it worked very well. I used a clicker and her favorite kitty treats. I also used physical and verbal prompting in the beginning. I found that she was happy and throughout and enjoys doing the behaviors from what I can see. I have also done a little bit of dolphin training but always had the actual trainer with a bridge nearby. I was never giving the bridge, only the reinforcement. In both situations, I find the training beneficial for the animal and a form of enrichment. I really like seeing a connection get built between myself and the animal as well.

Cassidy Taylor

2024-10-05 06:07:49 UTC

I don't really know that much about prong or shock collars. However, I have heard that both can be effective ways to train a dog since some dogs can be very energetic or reactive. While I do not have a dog myself, my dad has a Rotweiler that is very reactive and does not do well around other dogs or new people coming into the house, which includes me. After they had her for about 6 months I noticed that they bought a prong collar for her. They said that they got it because she is a very strong dog and if she was too bolt and they were unaware it could hurt others. Ever since they bought the prong collar she has been much better on walks and does not bolt out at other dogs that much. Once again, I do not know the stats here, but I don't think that punishment for large and potentially harmful animals is bad. However, I am also a bit biased because I grew up very afraid of dogs.

Cassidy Taylor

2024-10-05 06:16:32 UTC

I believe that they could be seen as aversive depending on how they are used. If a whip is used in the wrong way or to cause pain, then it will be very disliked and not really a good training method. However, a whip could also be seen as encouragement for a horse as they are trying to avoid it. Horse behavior is not something I know a ton about, but I do believe that since they are a larger animal that would require more control in certain situations, using aversiveness would be better.

Cassidy Taylor

2024-10-05 06:22:39 UTC

Yes, not providing an animal with food can be seen as a punishment to the animal. For animal's that are very food motivated, depriving food would definitely work for their training. However, food deprivation can be harmful for certain animals.

Cassidy Taylor

2024-10-05 06:26:51 UTC

I do not believe that depriving food as a form of negative reinforcement is the best method to use. Food is a necessary resource for animals and when they are deprived of it, they are losing essential nutrients as well. It is typical that sometimes animals will not be given their "treat" or reinforcement if they do not do the behavior asked of them. However, in these situations the animal will still eventually get the reinforcement and are not completely deprived of it. I think that depriving an animal of food can be very physically and psychologically damaging for an animal too.

Cassidy Taylor

2024-10-05 06:31:36 UTC

I really enjoyed the presentation. It definitely provided me with some new perspectives. I really appreciated having a review of classical versus operant conditioning. I am interesting in possibly seeing when food deprivation was used in real-life cases and what happened in these situations.

Cassidy Taylor

2024-10-05 06:34:29 UTC

The only time I have ever seen an animal not get food was when they didn't receive reinforcement because they didn't do the proper behavior. However, in these cases the animal would eventually get the reinforcement and would get the full amount of needed food within the day no matter what. I do not believe I have ever seen an animal get their food completely deprived for not following direction.

Alexa G.

2024-10-05 16:35:05 UTC

I have gathered most of my knowledge of training through classes at Eckerd College, more specifically the Animal Learning and Behavior Modification class. A bias that I hold regarding animal training is that reward should benefit the animal and there should not be any harm done when training.

Pod Kathy

2024-10-05 16:36:06 UTC

There can be negative and positive outcomes with training. A big part of training is consistency and structure. Some biases we have about training are it depends on the type of animal being worked with and the type of training method being used.

Pod Kathy

2024-10-05 16:36:45 UTC

Punishment techniques are appropriate when they are used correctly. As long as the tools aren’t intentionally used to hurt an animal, they can be used as a reinforcement. Once the animal learns the behavior that is being taught the use of the tools could go down.

Pod Kathy

2024-10-05 16:37:16 UTC

When we think of aversive training techniques being used we correlate it with the animals receiving pain or causing discomfort. When we think of encouraging training techniques we correlate it with a more positive experience for the animal.

Pod Kathy

2024-10-05 16:37:40 UTC

Food could be used as a punishment by using it to tease the animal or it could be taken away as a punishment.

Pod Kathy

2024-10-05 16:38:27 UTC

Overall, we agree with food deprivation techniques as long as they do not hurt the animals' health and these techniques could help their health too

Alexa G

2024-10-05 16:38:38 UTC

While shock collars can suffice for efficient results regarding training, I don't necessarily believe punishment should be used in training requirements. Training with punishment may not always leave the best outcome for training animals even though they have learned their behavior.

Pod Kathy

2024-10-05 16:39:03 UTC

We have not witnessed this technique before. Another training technique could be to keep feeding an animal normally, but to encourage a behavior, the animal could be incentivized with more enticing food.

Pod Kathy

2024-10-05 16:41:28 UTC

We found this presentation fascinating to learn about how food deprivation can be used in different ways. We also enjoyed the examples with the dolphins, equine, and dogs for how food deprivation is used to gain a full understanding. Finally, the presentation was very well organized, and liked the theme/background! Great job!

Alexa G

2024-10-05 16:45:24 UTC

Tools can be seen as aversive versus encouraging because they are a type of punishment which could sometimes cause a negative behavior effect on the animal being used for it. For example, they may begin to elicit a "trauma response."

Alexa G

2024-10-05 16:48:49 UTC

Even though food is generally utilized in positive reinforcement models, there are ways to use food as punishment by depriving the animal of food until. This can cause starvation and lead to malnutrition.

Alexa G

2024-10-05 16:54:07 UTC

A time where I believe I witnessed food deprivation was when I had to train my hamster for my animal learning behavior modification class last semester. I usually give him eight food pellets in total but when he was training I would give him four in the morning and four at night. This motivated the hamster to participate more in his training activities.

Alexa G

2024-10-05 16:56:14 UTC

Food deprivation is a tricky topic to have an opinion on. As long as the animal is not being starved and not feeding them as much helps their scenario then I am not completely opposed this method. However, if not handled properly, I do not agree with food deprivation as a training technique.

Ellery Overstreet

2024-10-05 21:37:56 UTC

My biases are that training an animal by using pain or withholding needed things like food make me feel uncomfortable, and between that and public opinion it gives me the opinion that these methods are wrong.

Ellery Overstreet

2024-10-05 21:46:20 UTC

I think that other methods should be tried and exhausted first, but that punishment can be occasionally used with caution. I also don't see prong collars as being in the same wheelhouse as shocks, because when I see dogs in prong collars they have not exhibited the same apprehension, fear, or pain responses that I have seen dogs with shock collars have.

Ellery Overstreet

2024-10-05 21:51:33 UTC

I do not know much about horse training, so I did have to look up target poles and I hope that I understand them correctly.

Tools that inflict pain, fear, or discomfort are generally seen as aversive. Tools that encourage an animal to do something out of a desire for a positive outcome (and will have a neutral rather than negative outcome if not fulfilled) are seen as encouraging.

Ellery Overstreet

2024-10-05 21:52:35 UTC

Food can be used as punishment by keeping it from an animal. I personally, morally, disagree with this use.

Ellery Overstreet

2024-10-05 22:03:55 UTC

Even after the given examples, I still disagree with food deprivation as a training technique. The example of the dolphins did not seem like food deprivation as much as it was following their natural patterns.

In general, I believe that there is a line between having food available in accordance with an animal's biology and natural history (not over feeding, and for example making certain predators have to hunt rather than just sitting and being fed) and actually depriving them of food as a training technique. I am also biased in the dog example, because I do not like dogs being used as weapons. Therefore, I am already against the training that is being done, and it seems that the behaviors being trained will cause harm to someone, and you are causing mild harm to the dog in the meantime.

Ellery Overstreet

2024-10-05 22:05:55 UTC

Like what others have said, I have withheld a treat from an animal in training until they correctly performed the behavior. But I don't believe that this is the same thing as depriving them of food. Their regular food is needed for them to survive, whereas a treat is just a bonus. I think using training treats is an alternative method that can work without withholding regular meals from an animal.

Ellery Overstreet

2024-10-05 22:06:22 UTC

I have no other thoughts meaningful enough to contribute.

Kaleigh Tkach

2024-10-06 00:02:32 UTC

Most of my knowledge surrounding training comes from classroom and personal settings. I took Professor Frick's Training and Behavior modification course, which put an emphasis on positive reinforcement. I have a strong preference for pos. reinforcement, as it has worked best with my dogs in the past.

Kaleigh Tkach

2024-10-06 00:08:23 UTC

I don't think that these measures should be used as a first option. However, there are a select few cases where they can be beneficial to the animal. When properly training with a shock collar, you are only shocking the animal if they are about to do something that will harm themselves or another individual. You are NOT using it when they elect to not do a behavior you are asking of them. When used correctly, it can be keep a lot of animals from getting into serious situations.

Kaleigh Tkach

2024-10-06 00:11:19 UTC

When tools are used in a negative way, they can be interpreted as aversive. If the tool is not directly helping the animal to understand what behaviors are okay to do and what isn't, then there is no way for them to view it as encouraging.

Kaleigh Tkach

2024-10-06 00:14:57 UTC

Yes, if you deprive the animal of food then it can be used as a punishment. If the animal is performing undesirable behaviors, and you do not feed them, then it is considered a positive punishment.

Kaleigh Tkach

2024-10-06 00:21:57 UTC

In most cases, I disagree with food deprivation as a technique. I do think it is entirely contingent on the animal's temperament and what works best in their training sessions. It is something that an inexperienced trainer should not implement into their routine, and should not be used unless other options are exhausted. For the most part, it feels unethical and cruel to be withholding food from an animal. They need to eat, and its harsh to expect them to perform behaviors when their basic needs are not met. While I don't agree with it in a majority of situations, I can understand why it would be used in certain cases.

Kaleigh Tkach

2024-10-06 00:25:14 UTC

I have never witnessed food deprivation used as an intended technique outside of situations that have already been mentioned (ex: withholding a treat for not completing a target behavior). I think that positive reinforcement techniques are ethically better than food deprivation, and typically work better for most animals. However, there are still situations where it can be useful!

Kaleigh Tkach

2024-10-06 00:26:22 UTC

Your presentation was great! It did a great job of covering situations where atypical training methods may be beneficial to the animal.