From Home to Habitat: A CCBS Conference on Understanding Animal Behavior

Affiliation

Emeritus Professor of Psychology
Reed College

Choosing to Go to Work: Using Reinforcement-Based Methods to Balance Animal Welfare with Research Needs

Abstract:

As part of a larger program of research concerned with an animal model of gambling, we arranged conditions of social enrichment for a small group of pigeons. When not in their experimental sessions, the pigeons lived together in a free-flying aviary, interacting with each other and with a physical environment that included perches and nesting boxes. While this better approximated the pigeons’ natural environment, it also created some practical problems from a research perspective; namely, how to get the pigeons from the aviary each day to their work sessions in another room. To minimize human involvement and the potential stress of daily captures, we devised procedures whereby the pigeons chose to enter the experiment each day by flying into a box on the side of the aviary, from which they were transported to the operant chambers for their daily sessions. By the end of training, all pigeons were consistently entering the box on cue, for transport to the session, and this continued for the remainder of the two-year project, over which each pigeon chose to participate in hundreds of daily sessions. The findings show the power of reinforcement-based methods in addressing practical problems in animal enrichment and welfare.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Define and give an example of social enrichment.
• Describe some of the tradeoffs between animal welfare and research demands.
• Describe the training methods used to give pigeons choices to participate in the work sessions.

Presenter Bio:

Tim Hackenberg received a B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine in 1982 and a doctorate in Psychology from Temple University in 1987, under the supervision of Philip Hineline. He held a post-doctoral research position at the Institute for Disabilities Studies at the University of Minnesota with Travis Thompson from 1988-90. He served on the faculty in the Behavior Analysis program at the University of Florida from 1990-2009, and at Reed College, until his retirement in 2022. He serves currently as Editor-in-Chief for Perspectives on Behavior Science, and as an Associate Editor Frontiers in Psychology (Comparative). He has served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and served on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, of the Society for the Quantitative Analysis of Behavior, as President of Division 25 of the American Psychological Association, as the Experimental Representative to the ABAI Council, and as the Director of the ABAI Science Board. His major research interests are in the area of behavioral economics and comparative cognition, with a particular emphasis on decision-making, token economies, and social behavior. In work funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, he and his students have developed procedures for cross-species comparisons of complex behavior. He now lives in England with his two dogs and one wife, where he enjoys walking in the forest, and watching the daily drama unfold at the bird feeder in the garden.

Affiliation:

Associate Professor of the Practice
Department of Applied Behavioral Science
The University of Kansas

Behavior Analysis as an Animal Care Tool in Zoos and Aquariums

Abstract:

In recent years, behavior has been recognized as an essential piece in the constellation of components critical to the care of animals housed in zoos and aquariums. The science of learning has many applications in these settings, and behavior analysts have contributed to the advancement of evidence-based practices particularly in the areas of husbandry training, environmental enrichment, and animal welfare. In this presentation, I will describe some examples of the role of behavior in multiple aspects of animal care. Along the way, I will highlight some key questions for the application of behavior analysis in zoological settings, some examples of work that addresses these questions, and some areas in need of further development.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe at least three components of animal care at zoos and aquariums, and explain how behavior interacts with each.
• Identify at least two key questions for the application of behavior analysis in zoological settings.
• Identify at least two important areas for future development in the application of behavior analysis to animal care in zoos and aquariums.

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Christy Alligood is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst whose 20 years of experience spans the science and practice of behavior analysis. She began her career in behavior analysis conducting human operant research on emergent stimulus relations in adults and children. She has also worked in home, school, and clinic settings with children with challenging behavior and their caregivers and teachers, and has supervised students in these areas of practice. For over 14 years, Dr. Alligood has used her expertise in the application of behavior analysis to enhance the welfare of nonhuman animals through cooperative training, environmental enrichment, behavioral problem solving, and behavior change strategies supporting the conservation of wildlife and wild places. At Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment, much of her initial work focused on a multi-faceted conservation program for Key Largo woodrats, which received a Bean Award for Significant Achievement in Captive Breeding from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2009) and a Federal Challenge Grant (2010) in collaboration with the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge for population monitoring work on Key Largo. More recently she has worked with the Behavioral Husbandry team, where she focuses on projects involving training, enrichment, and animal learning in a wide variety of nonhuman animal species, as well as science communication to both internal staff and the general public.

Dr. Alligood has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in on-ground, online, and hybrid formats. She has taught courses focusing on a variety of topics, including introductory behavior analysis, research methods, radical behaviorism, supervision, and applications of behavior analysis with humans and animals. She maintains a strong interest in designing effective, evidence-based instruction, and has used innovative methods such as interteaching and student-led inquiry in online instruction. She was a 2021 nominee for the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year Award. Outside the higher-education setting, Dr. Alligood has taught professional development courses for behavior analysts and animal professionals. She is an instructor for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums “Environmental Enrichment in Zoos and Aquariums” course, and the creator and instructor of the BehaviorWorks “How Research Works” course.

Dr. Alligood has served in many leadership roles in the Association for Behavior Analysis International, including president of the Applied Animal Behavior Special Interest Group, Coordinator of the Special Interest Groups Board, Co-coordinator of the Applied Animal Behavior program area, and At-large Representative to the Executive Council. She is also a past president and secretary of the Southeastern Association for Behavior Analysis. She is currently a general member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Behavior Advisory Group serving on the Culture Change working group. She sits on the editorial boards of Zoo Biology and the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB) In 2022, she was the guest editor of a special issue of JEAB, “Strengthening the Research-Practice Loop in Applied Animal Behavior”. She frequently serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for other behavior-analytic and animal-focused journals, and as a grant reviewer for the Disney Conservation Fund. She has published in both peer-reviewed and popular outlets on topics related to applications of behavior analysis with animals as well as graduate training in behavior analysis. She is also frequently invited to speak at regional, national, and international conferences, and has given over 50 scholarly presentations.

Affiliation:

Associate Professor of Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare
Coordinator of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Concentration
School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Behavior Analysis and Dog Training: From the Lab to the Field

Abstract:

Dog training encompasses a variety of goals, including establishing and maintaining desirable behavioral repertoires for companion dogs, addressing behavioral challenges, and establishing and maintaining performance and working behaviors. Effective and humane dog training can be accomplished through the application of behavior analytic principles. In this presentation, we will discuss translational research that allows us to be more effective in our practice, including identifying reinforcers for dogs and the factors that influence them. We will also highlight applied work that is being conducted using these principles, including evaluating interventions to address behavioral issues and training dogs as an agricultural detection force.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Identify the relative value of different potential reinforcers.
• Describe the impact that quantity and delivery method have on reinforcer value.
• Describe how behavioral principles can be applied to solve behavioral issues.
• Describe how dog training can help us solve local environmental issues.

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she works with dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters program’s Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare concentration at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master’s in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Her research and publications focus on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied behavior analysis to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals. Learn more on http://www.ericanfeuerbacher.com.

Author
Founder, The Clicker Center

Going Micro: A Shared Journey Between Horse Training and Behavior Analysis

Abstract

Horses benefit when trainers and behavior analysts collaborate.

Working with horses means we are using tactile cues.  Handlers communicate via pressure and release of pressure.  When you introduce positive reinforcement teaching strategies the question is not whether tactile cues are used but how are they taught.

In the traditional command-based approach to horse training, tactile commands are taught using escalating pressure.  The end result may be a horse who responds to very light signals but backing up that response is the threat that pressure can always escalate.

Going micro offers a different way to get to these lighter-than-air responses.  In this program I’ll explore the connections between poisoned cues, loopy training, movement cycles, and constructional training.  I’ll define what it means to shape on a point of contact.  We’ll look at microshaping and the microshaping strategy.  The focus is on the initiation of movement rather than the completion of an action.  Going micro takes us to errorless learning procedures which are not only safer for both the horse and the handler, they produce outstanding performance. Collaborating with behavior analysts have helped develop these practical teaching techniques. 

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Highlight the value of animal trainers and behavior analysts collaborating together.
• Define loopy training, shaping on a point of contact, and the microshaping teaching strategies.
• Consider if these teaching strategies should prompt changes in the terms used when referring to them.

Presenter Bio:

Afffiliation:

Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, Utah State University
Founder, Behavior Works

The Animals are Waiting: A “Freeing Up the Operant” Approach to Environmental Enrichment at Zoos

Abstract:

Discrete trial training (DTT) is an essential strategy for teaching animals to be active partners in their medical and husbandry care. This approach has resulted in extraordinary welfare benefits and is now the standard of care in modern zoos. However, DTT is restricted by the trainers’ decisions. Trainers provide the cue, they set the behavioral criterion, they deliver the reinforcers, and they control the number of repetitions per session. Additionally, DTT occupies a relatively small portion of any zoo animal’s day. When training is the high point of their day, animals often do little more than wait for the next session to begin.

After a training session has ended, animals are typically turned-out into less controlled habitats where trainers have prearranged so-called enrichment opportunities (devices and other conditions) intended to induce active animals who behave similarly to their wild counterparts. However, the goals of environmental enrichment, as suggested by Markowitz (1982), have never been realized.

Recently at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, we have taken a free operant approach to environmental enrichment. With this approach, trainers engineer environments so that animals are free to make any possible operant response and to vary those responses as described by Lindsley (1996), such as the freedom to form and to speed responses. Two important dimensions have emerged when selecting and creating enrichment opportunities, i.e., time to satiation and time to depletion.

Both strategies together, that is, 1) borrowing animals for discrete training sessions to meet our medical and husbandry goals, and 2) returning them to environments that free up their operant behavior, can greatly improve the welfare of animals in human care.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Discriminate between discrete trial training and free operant environments in zoos.
• Name 1 pro and 1 con of discrete trial training in zoos.
• Describe the relevance to zoo animals of the free operant.
• State two dimensions that appear to improve the effects of zoo enrichment.
• Name the four operant freedoms described by Lindsay (1996).

Presenter Bio:

Susan G. Friedman, PhD, is a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University and owner of Behavior Works Consulting, LLC. Susan has co-authored chapters on behavior change in five veterinary texts, and her popular articles have been translated into 17 languages. She teaches seminars and courses on animal learning online (How Behavior Works: Living & Learning with Animals), which has been attended by students from 64 countries so far. Susan consults with zoos and animal organizations around the world and teaches yearly for the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) Animal Trainer Accreditation program. She was appointed to the Fish & Wildlife Service’s California Condor Recovery Team from 2002 – 2010, after which time the team was retired due to the success of the birds in the wild and is currently the Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Committee of American Humane Association (AHA) Film and TV Unit. In 2022, Susan was honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. See behaviorworks.org and facebook.com/behaviorworks

Department Chair and Eberly Family Professor for Outstanding Public Service, Behavior Analysis
Department of Psychology, West Virginia University

Navigating the Intersection of Ethics and Innovation in Animal Behavior: An Interactive Q & A Session

Abstract:

This interactive Q & A session is designed to deepen the engagement and understanding of key themes explored during the “Home to Habitat: Conference on Animals.” As the field of animal behavior research continues to evolve, the need for thoughtful discussion around emerging methodologies, ethical considerations, and practical applications is more critical than ever. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with leading experts in the field, posing questions that probe the complexities of animal training across species, as well as exploring how the themes of the conference can be tied to other areas of skill building. The session will cover a broad spectrum of topics, including the challenges and benefits of incorporating choice and free-operant responding in animal training, the role of innovative technologies in tracking and studying animal behavior, and the implications of recent research findings on animal welfare. The Q & A session will be a dynamic discussion that encourages participation from attendees, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical research and real-world application. Whether you are a researcher, practitioner, or student, this session will provide valuable insights into how the latest advancements in animal behavior science can be used to improve the lives of animals across various settings. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to integrate innovative research techniques into their work, how to address ethical challenges effectively, and how to apply new knowledge to enhance animal welfare both in domestic environments and in the wild. This Q & A session is not just an opportunity to ask questions, but a chance to contribute to the ongoing dialogue that is shaping the future of animal behavior research.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Identify key ethical considerations in the transition from controlled environments to natural habitats in animal behavior research.
• Discuss how choice and free-operant responding are incorporated in animal training.
• Evaluate the practical applications of recent findings in animal behavior research for improving animal welfare in both domestic and wild settings.

Moderator Bio:

Dr. Claire St. Peter is a Professor of Psychology at West Virginia University, where she conducts behavior-analytic research, focusing on the development and implementation of evidence-based practices in both human and animal behavior. Dr. St. Peter is widely recognized for her contributions to the field, including her work on procedural fidelity, applied behavior analysis, and the ethical implications of behavioral interventions. With numerous publications and awards, she is a respected leader in advancing the understanding and application of behavioral science. For more information, visit www.clairestpeter.com.

This is a hybrid event with a smaller in-person gathering or a virtual attendance offering. Our in-person event will be held on the beautiful campus of West Virginia University.

For In-Person:

Room G21
Life Sciences Building
West Virginia University, Downtown Campus (Get Map)

For virtual attendance:

The Zoom meeting link and access information will be sent from behavior.org@gmail.com the week of the conference.  IF you do not receive, email pavlik@behavior.org.

Attendance verification instructions found below. Questions? Contact Rebekah Pavlik.

Continuing Education Opportunity:

BACB® Learning CEs

This is a hybrid in-person and virtual conference. Recordings will be available for 14 days.

BACB® Learning CEUs (6.0 anticipated): The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies is an approved Type 2 CE Provider by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) and is authorized to offer CE units for this conference. Continuing Education Provider No.: OP-04-0058

Attendees must complete all six presentations in-person, virtually or through recordings available for 14 days post-conference for asynchronous home-study to earn CEs. (Partial credit will not be issued.) For attendance verification, an evaluation and code submission quiz with a 100% score needs to be completed for issuance of continuing education.

It is attendee’s responsibility to check with their State and Professional organization to confirm all CE offerings.

For BOTH In-Person and Virtual attendance, we need to verify your attendance. 

Each presentation will have three (3) unique codes. You need to capture the codes.  At the end of the conference, you will need to complete an electronic evaluation and pass a code submission quiz (Google Forms). You need to get all codes correct for all six (6) presentations to earn your Certificate (100%). No partial credit is offered. (Suggestion: If in-person, take a photo; If virtual, take a screenshot of the codes.)

The link to start the process is below. An email will be sent to all conference attendees at 4:30 pm (EST) near the end of the conference with the link and instructions. 

Presentation recordings will be available for 14 days post-conference. Recording links are scheduled to be emailed by Thursday, October 10 (earlier if possible). The deadline for completing the online evaluation and code quiz is Friday, October 25. 

Start the process with your evaluation of our conference: https://forms.gle/QmELBq6ZrkB5epKDA

Certificates will be emailed to the email address used when you registered. Certificates will be emailed from behavior.org@gmail.com within 30 days of the final deadline date (14-days after recordings are sent).  Please review all continuing education information online and in communications. 

Post-conference instructions/information is also found on our Event Listing on behavior.org.