Using Owner Return as a Reinforcer to Operantly Treat Separation-Related Problem Behavior in Dogs
Separation-related problem behavior (SRPB) is a severe behavioral issue in which dogs engage in a variety of undesirable behaviors when the owner is absent, such as destructive behavior and excessive vocalization. Given the severity and high prevalence of SRPB, finding effective treatments is crucia...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1110 |
| _version_ | 1797563873892499456 |
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| author | Erica N. Feuerbacher Kristy L. Muir |
| author_facet | Erica N. Feuerbacher Kristy L. Muir |
| author_sort | Erica N. Feuerbacher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Separation-related problem behavior (SRPB) is a severe behavioral issue in which dogs engage in a variety of undesirable behaviors when the owner is absent, such as destructive behavior and excessive vocalization. Given the severity and high prevalence of SRPB, finding effective treatments is crucial. To date, most treatments have relied on habituation to increase tolerance to owner absence. Additionally, research has typically not utilized direct observations of the dog’s behavior and the treatment implemented with unknown treatment integrity. We evaluated an operant approach to SRPB using owner return as the reinforcer. After collecting baseline, we enrolled five dogs for treatment. Treatment involved differential reinforcement of either absence of problem behavior or occurrence of specific desirable behaviors. Behavioral criteria for delivering reinforcement changed based on the dog’s performance assessed through direct observation. We coached owners to ensure treatment integrity on each trial. From baseline, mean time to SRPB was 27.1 s. During treatment, all dogs increased their ability to stay alone without SRPB compared to baseline, indicating that contingent owner return can be a useful treatment. However, despite four training sessions, only one dog was able to stay alone for over 5 min. Our data demonstrate the slow-going progression of this SPRB treatment and the challenges of this behavioral issue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:49:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b02ca2c9c13445dadd043c82b00ba7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:49:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b02ca2c9c13445dadd043c82b00ba7f2023-11-20T05:17:07ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-06-01107111010.3390/ani10071110Using Owner Return as a Reinforcer to Operantly Treat Separation-Related Problem Behavior in DogsErica N. Feuerbacher0Kristy L. Muir1Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USALilly Hill Farm, Lakeland, FL 33810, USASeparation-related problem behavior (SRPB) is a severe behavioral issue in which dogs engage in a variety of undesirable behaviors when the owner is absent, such as destructive behavior and excessive vocalization. Given the severity and high prevalence of SRPB, finding effective treatments is crucial. To date, most treatments have relied on habituation to increase tolerance to owner absence. Additionally, research has typically not utilized direct observations of the dog’s behavior and the treatment implemented with unknown treatment integrity. We evaluated an operant approach to SRPB using owner return as the reinforcer. After collecting baseline, we enrolled five dogs for treatment. Treatment involved differential reinforcement of either absence of problem behavior or occurrence of specific desirable behaviors. Behavioral criteria for delivering reinforcement changed based on the dog’s performance assessed through direct observation. We coached owners to ensure treatment integrity on each trial. From baseline, mean time to SRPB was 27.1 s. During treatment, all dogs increased their ability to stay alone without SRPB compared to baseline, indicating that contingent owner return can be a useful treatment. However, despite four training sessions, only one dog was able to stay alone for over 5 min. Our data demonstrate the slow-going progression of this SPRB treatment and the challenges of this behavioral issue.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1110separation-related problem behaviordomestic dogreinforcementbehavioral treatmentoperant conditioning |
| spellingShingle | Erica N. Feuerbacher Kristy L. Muir Using Owner Return as a Reinforcer to Operantly Treat Separation-Related Problem Behavior in Dogs Animals separation-related problem behavior domestic dog reinforcement behavioral treatment operant conditioning |
| title | Using Owner Return as a Reinforcer to Operantly Treat Separation-Related Problem Behavior in Dogs |
| title_full | Using Owner Return as a Reinforcer to Operantly Treat Separation-Related Problem Behavior in Dogs |
| title_fullStr | Using Owner Return as a Reinforcer to Operantly Treat Separation-Related Problem Behavior in Dogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Owner Return as a Reinforcer to Operantly Treat Separation-Related Problem Behavior in Dogs |
| title_short | Using Owner Return as a Reinforcer to Operantly Treat Separation-Related Problem Behavior in Dogs |
| title_sort | using owner return as a reinforcer to operantly treat separation related problem behavior in dogs |
| topic | separation-related problem behavior domestic dog reinforcement behavioral treatment operant conditioning |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1110 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ericanfeuerbacher usingownerreturnasareinforcertooperantlytreatseparationrelatedproblembehaviorindogs AT kristylmuir usingownerreturnasareinforcertooperantlytreatseparationrelatedproblembehaviorindogs |