BASIC RESEARCH OUTLINE:
Before each session, prep reinforcers.
Day 1:
Preference test
· Test the dog’s preference between the three reinforcers (each cut to approximately 6 mm x 6 mm x 6 mm)
· Hot dogs, cheese, and your choice of reinforcer
· Determine which reinforcer your dog preferred and use that in the next phases
Day 1 or Day 2:
Pre-training session
· 20 nose touches on an FR 1 using half-sized reinforcers
· Session ends when dog completes 20 nose touches or when dog stops responding for 1 minute
· If dog completes 20 nose touchesàTraining Session
· If dog does not complete 20 nose touches (i.e., stops responding for 1 minute or more), end for the day and repeat another day.
Training Session
· Use full-sized reinforcers
· Schedule requirements increase after dog completes two of the same schedule requirements successfully
· If dog completes two schedule requirements successfully (e.g., FR 1 + FR 1), add one nose touch to the schedule requirement (e.g, now dog is working on an FR 2)
· Session ends when dog stops responding for 1 minute
Day 3:
· If dog did not complete Pre-training session on Day 1, repeat Day 1.
· As long as dog completed the Pre-training session on Day 1, continue with Training sessions.