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About This Quiz
Training a dog might not be as easy as one-two-three, but it's rewarding for both handler and dog. With consistent efforts it can bring out the best in the duo, generating desirable behaviors in the dog and satisfaction on the part of both. Take this quiz to learn more about how dog training works.
How much money do Americans spend on their pet dogs per year?
more than $40,000
more than $40 million
more than $40 billion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
According to 2005 figures, it was just under $40 billion then and is certainly more today.
Pavlov termed the salivating phenomenon as _____ whereas the bell ringing was _____
an unconditioned stimulus, a conditioned stimulus
a conditioned response, an unconditioned stimulus
an unconditioned response, an unconditioned stimulus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The salivating was an unconditioned stimulus insofar as it was natural and no training was involved, whereas the bell ringing was a conditioned stimulus that prompted a conditioned, or trained, response.
Regarding classical conditioning, which applies to both animals and humans, is the learning active or passive?
it differs between animals and humans
active
passive
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The learning is passive, even involuntary. A human example of this is when we tense up at the sound of an ambulance driving past. This response is involuntary and learned passively.
What does the reward and punishment system, introduced by Skinner, rely on?
the age group of the learner
the actions of the learner
the wishes of the trainer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
It relies on the actions of the learner. If the learner acts in a certain way, he or she will receive a reward and the converse is true, too. But the choice is voluntary.
Which of these is an example of a negative reward?
a tug on the collar to pull the animal in a certain direction
giving a sugar cube for waving the foot
a horse galloping faster to stop the pressure of spurs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
A negative reward refers to the removal of something as a reward. In this case, the horse having to gallop faster to remove pressure is the negative reward.
What animals did the Brelands conduct a training experiment on in the 1950s?
wild cats
marine animals
circus animals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
They experimented on marine animals, teaching them to recognize a marker of desired behavior, even when it wasn't the final action before receiving a reward.
If you command your dog to sit while you're standing, then do so again while you're sitting down, why is it difficult for the dog to understand the command?
because animals are contextual learners
because the dog doesn't know whether to do what you're doing or the opposite
because the dog misreads the signals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Animals are contextual learners, so your changing position is, in a sense, a change of context for the dog.
What is the usual explanation for a dog's failure to learn something?
the dog's lack of intelligence
the dog's unwillingness to cooperate
a breakdown in communication
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
It usually boils down to a breakdown in communication. The responsibility, then, would rest on the trainer to try to improve the communication and make it clearer.
