- Email: [email protected]
An investigation into potential overshadowing of verbal commands during training
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Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 5, No 1, January/February 2010
occasionally overflowing accepted boundaries, rather than a deliberate calculated process of sexual deviance or animal abuse. Key words: zoophilia; bestiality; attachment; humananimal; anthropomorphism
References Adams, J.C., 2006. Beauty or the Beast: A Study of Bestiality and Zoophilia. Master of Science dissertation. England: Department of Psychology at Southampton University. Adams. J.C., McBride, E.A., Carr, A. and Carnelley, K., 2007. Humananimal sexual interactions: a predictive model to differentiate between zoophilia, zoosexuality and bestiality. Proceedings International Society of Anthrozoology Congress 2007 "The Power of Animals: Approaches to Identifying New Roles for Animals in Society", 4-6 October 2007, Tokyo (Japan). Diamond, L.M., 2006. How do I love thee? Implications of attachment theory for understanding same-sex love and desire. In: Mikulincer, M., Goodman, G.S. (Eds.), Dynamics of Romantic Love. Attachment, Caring and Sex. Guilford Press, New York, pp. 275–292. Karpman, B., 1961. From the dream life of a voyeur: A study in the psychodynamics of antisocial paraphilias. Conclusion In:Archives of Criminal Psychodynamics Vol. 4, 317–365. Prato-Previde, E., Fallani, G., Valsecchi, P., 2006. Gender differences in owners interacting with pet dogs: an observational study. Ethology. 112, 64–73. Serpell, J., 1996. In the Company of Animals: A Study of Human-Animal Relationships. Cambridge University Press. White, J., McBride, E.A., Redhead, E., and Bishop, F., 2007. Factors that contribute towards obesity in dogs. Proceedings International Society of Anthrozoology Congress 2007 "The Power of Animals: Approaches to Identifying New Roles for Animals in Society", 4-6 October 2007, Tokyo (Japan).
AN INVESTIGATION INTO POTENTIAL OVERSHADOWING OF VERBAL COMMANDS DURING TRAINING R. Skyrme, D.S. Mills* Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Lincoln, Riseholme Park UK LN2 2LG *Corresponding author: [email protected] Vocal commands and visual gestures are frequently used together during dog training, although most owners probably focus on verbal stimulus control. Ten dogs were trained to perform two novel tasks: a bow and a spin, using simultaneous vocal and visual cues on a progressive variable ratio schedule, until an 80% response was achieved on a variable ratio of 1:5 within 2 consecutive blocks of 10 trials. Subjects were then tested during two blocks of 10 trials, in which only one of the cues was given through a single communication channel at a time, balanced for each action and cue type (i.e. 5 of each). Performance was evaluated using a validated 5 point score. After this, the dog’s response was evaluated, during two tests in which each visual cue was given with the opposing vocal cue simultaneously. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess if there was a significant difference in
the number of correct responses performed to each cue type (visual versus verbal), and in the type of action performed (spin versus bow). A binomial probability distribution was used to determine the significance of cue type on the behavior performed when contradictory cues were given. Dogs responded significantly better (p , 0.05) to visual cues, but showed no preference in the action performed (P . 0.05). All subjects performed the visually cued behavior in the contradictory cue test (P , 0.001). These results suggest that visual cues may overshadow verbal cues during training, and emphasise the need to attend to paralinguistic communication during the training process for reliable subsequent performance. Key words: commands; conditioning; dog; overshadowing; training
PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF A SIMPLE FORM OF FOOD ENRICHMENT ON HORSES’ REACTIVITY Simona Normando1,*, Michele Gatto2, Valeria Semenzato2, Massimo Morgante2 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Sperimentali Veterinarie, Padua University, Legnaro (PD), Italy 2 Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Padua University, Legnaro (PD), Italy *Corresponding author: [email protected] Environmental enrichment in the form of increased variety of forage has been shown to be able to modify horses’ behavior, decreasing stereotypy performance (Thorne et al., 2005). However, practical considerations may limit this use in many stables. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess whether a very simple form of food enrichment, i.e., the provision of chopped carrots in a different bucket at the same time as concentrated meal, had any effect on horses’ non-stereotypic behavioral and physiological responses to two environmental challenges. Eight horses (4 mares, 3 stallions, 1 gelding; aged 3-11 years) not exhibiting stereotypic behavior were involved in this study. They were subjected to two standardized experimental procedures involving environmental challenges: one after five days of normal routine (control conditions) and one after five days of enrichment (enriched conditions). Half of the horses were assessed first in control conditions whereas the others were assessed first in enriched conditions. The procedures were performed at the same hour and were carried out in the same sequence in both conditions. The two environmental challenges consisted of: A. blindfolding the horse for 10 minutes; B. offering palatable, but unreachable (i.e., in a bucked covered by a net) food for 5 minutes. Before and after each experimental procedure, rectal temperature, heart rate (by Polar), infrared thermography values (of eyes and of the skin directly behind labial
Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 5, No 1, January/February 2010
occasionally overflowing accepted boundaries, rather than a deliberate calculated process of sexual deviance or animal abuse. Key words: zoophilia; bestiality; attachment; humananimal; anthropomorphism
References Adams, J.C., 2006. Beauty or the Beast: A Study of Bestiality and Zoophilia. Master of Science dissertation. England: Department of Psychology at Southampton University. Adams. J.C., McBride, E.A., Carr, A. and Carnelley, K., 2007. Humananimal sexual interactions: a predictive model to differentiate between zoophilia, zoosexuality and bestiality. Proceedings International Society of Anthrozoology Congress 2007 "The Power of Animals: Approaches to Identifying New Roles for Animals in Society", 4-6 October 2007, Tokyo (Japan). Diamond, L.M., 2006. How do I love thee? Implications of attachment theory for understanding same-sex love and desire. In: Mikulincer, M., Goodman, G.S. (Eds.), Dynamics of Romantic Love. Attachment, Caring and Sex. Guilford Press, New York, pp. 275–292. Karpman, B., 1961. From the dream life of a voyeur: A study in the psychodynamics of antisocial paraphilias. Conclusion In:Archives of Criminal Psychodynamics Vol. 4, 317–365. Prato-Previde, E., Fallani, G., Valsecchi, P., 2006. Gender differences in owners interacting with pet dogs: an observational study. Ethology. 112, 64–73. Serpell, J., 1996. In the Company of Animals: A Study of Human-Animal Relationships. Cambridge University Press. White, J., McBride, E.A., Redhead, E., and Bishop, F., 2007. Factors that contribute towards obesity in dogs. Proceedings International Society of Anthrozoology Congress 2007 "The Power of Animals: Approaches to Identifying New Roles for Animals in Society", 4-6 October 2007, Tokyo (Japan).
AN INVESTIGATION INTO POTENTIAL OVERSHADOWING OF VERBAL COMMANDS DURING TRAINING R. Skyrme, D.S. Mills* Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Lincoln, Riseholme Park UK LN2 2LG *Corresponding author: [email protected] Vocal commands and visual gestures are frequently used together during dog training, although most owners probably focus on verbal stimulus control. Ten dogs were trained to perform two novel tasks: a bow and a spin, using simultaneous vocal and visual cues on a progressive variable ratio schedule, until an 80% response was achieved on a variable ratio of 1:5 within 2 consecutive blocks of 10 trials. Subjects were then tested during two blocks of 10 trials, in which only one of the cues was given through a single communication channel at a time, balanced for each action and cue type (i.e. 5 of each). Performance was evaluated using a validated 5 point score. After this, the dog’s response was evaluated, during two tests in which each visual cue was given with the opposing vocal cue simultaneously. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess if there was a significant difference in
the number of correct responses performed to each cue type (visual versus verbal), and in the type of action performed (spin versus bow). A binomial probability distribution was used to determine the significance of cue type on the behavior performed when contradictory cues were given. Dogs responded significantly better (p , 0.05) to visual cues, but showed no preference in the action performed (P . 0.05). All subjects performed the visually cued behavior in the contradictory cue test (P , 0.001). These results suggest that visual cues may overshadow verbal cues during training, and emphasise the need to attend to paralinguistic communication during the training process for reliable subsequent performance. Key words: commands; conditioning; dog; overshadowing; training
PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF A SIMPLE FORM OF FOOD ENRICHMENT ON HORSES’ REACTIVITY Simona Normando1,*, Michele Gatto2, Valeria Semenzato2, Massimo Morgante2 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Sperimentali Veterinarie, Padua University, Legnaro (PD), Italy 2 Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Padua University, Legnaro (PD), Italy *Corresponding author: [email protected] Environmental enrichment in the form of increased variety of forage has been shown to be able to modify horses’ behavior, decreasing stereotypy performance (Thorne et al., 2005). However, practical considerations may limit this use in many stables. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess whether a very simple form of food enrichment, i.e., the provision of chopped carrots in a different bucket at the same time as concentrated meal, had any effect on horses’ non-stereotypic behavioral and physiological responses to two environmental challenges. Eight horses (4 mares, 3 stallions, 1 gelding; aged 3-11 years) not exhibiting stereotypic behavior were involved in this study. They were subjected to two standardized experimental procedures involving environmental challenges: one after five days of normal routine (control conditions) and one after five days of enrichment (enriched conditions). Half of the horses were assessed first in control conditions whereas the others were assessed first in enriched conditions. The procedures were performed at the same hour and were carried out in the same sequence in both conditions. The two environmental challenges consisted of: A. blindfolding the horse for 10 minutes; B. offering palatable, but unreachable (i.e., in a bucked covered by a net) food for 5 minutes. Before and after each experimental procedure, rectal temperature, heart rate (by Polar), infrared thermography values (of eyes and of the skin directly behind labial