Abstract
The aim of this study was to develop a humane alternative to the traditional remote devices that deliver punishers contingent on home-alone dog barking. Specifically, we evaluated the use of remote delivery of food contingent on intervals of not barking during the pet owner's absence. In Experiment 1, 5 dogs with a history of home-alone nuisance barking were recruited. Using an ABAB reversal design, we demonstrated that contingent remote delivery of food decreased home-alone barking for 3 of the dogs. In Experiment 2, we demonstrated that it is possible to thin the differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) schedule gradually, resulting in a potentially more acceptable treatment. Our results benefit the dog training community by providing a humane tool to combat nuisance barking.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis |
DOIs | |
State | Accepted/In press - 2016 |
Keywords
- Animal welfare
- Differential reinforcement of other behavior
- Dog training
- Problem behavior
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology
- Philosophy
- Sociology and Political Science