CATA NCE cheat sheet

Classical (Pavlovian) conditioning pairs a neutral conditioned stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus until the CS alone elicits a conditioned response; extinction weakens the CR but does not erase the original association.

Operant (instrumental) conditioning modifies behavior through consequences: reinforcement increases and punishment decreases the probability of the preceding response.

Positive means a stimulus is added; negative means a stimulus is removed. Positive reinforcement adds something appetitive, negative reinforcement removes something aversive.

Reinforcement schedules: fixed ratio (reinforcement after a set number of responses), variable ratio (unpredictable number, highest resistance to extinction), fixed interval (first response after a set time), variable interval (unpredictable time).

Thorndike's law of effect: responses followed by satisfying consequences are strengthened; those followed by discomforting consequences are weakened.

Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of an extinguished CR after a rest period; renewal is recovery of a response when the animal returns to the original conditioning context.

Habituation is a decrease in response to a repeated harmless stimulus; sensitization is an increase in response after an intense or noxious stimulus.

Stimulus generalization is responding to stimuli similar to the training stimulus; discrimination is responding only to the specific trained stimulus.

Shaping builds a novel behavior by reinforcing successive approximations toward a target; each criterion is reinforced until reliable, then the criterion is raised.

Chaining links discrete behaviors into a sequence; forward chaining teaches the first link first, backward chaining teaches the last link first and works backward.

Luring uses a food or target to guide movement; fading removes the lure gradually so the behavior comes under a cue rather than the lure.

A discriminative stimulus (S+) signals that reinforcement is available for a response; an S-delta signals that the response will not be reinforced.

Counterconditioning pairs the feared stimulus with something appetitive to change the emotional response; desensitization presents the stimulus below threshold intensity and increases it gradually.

Flooding exposes the animal to the full-intensity feared stimulus without escape; it risks sensitization and is generally avoided in favor of graded exposure.

Premack principle: a high-probability behavior can reinforce a low-probability behavior (e.g., sit earns access to play).

Reinforcement must be contingent on the target behavior and delivered promptly; delayed or non-contingent delivery weakens the behavior-consequence link.

Critical (sensitive) periods are developmental windows during which specific experiences strongly shape later behavior; socialization windows differ by species (roughly 3-16 weeks in dogs, 2-7 weeks in cats).

Ethograms catalog species-typical behaviors and provide a baseline for assessing whether an animal's repertoire is normal.

Fixed action patterns are innate, stereotyped sequences triggered by a sign (releaser) stimulus and generally run to completion once started.

Social species such as dogs, horses, and many primates rely on dominance hierarchies and appeasement signals; these are context-dependent relationships, not fixed personality traits.

Predatory motor sequences (orient, stalk, chase, grab, kill) are separate from feeding motivation and can drive play and problem behavior in cats and dogs.

Neoteny in domestic dogs means adult dogs retain juvenile traits such as playfulness and dependency, which affects trainability and attachment.

Horses are prey animals with strong flight responses and a need for social companions; isolation can produce distress and stereotypies.

Stereotypies are repetitive, invariant behaviors (e.g., cribbing, pacing, feather plucking) that often signal inadequate environment or chronic stress.

Functional assessment identifies the antecedent (A), behavior (B), and consequence (C) maintaining a behavior; the maintaining function is typically attention, escape/avoidance, access to tangibles, or sensory/automatic reinforcement.

Baseline data (frequency, duration, intensity) must be collected before intervention so change can be measured objectively.

The ABC model separates triggers from consequences; interventions should alter antecedents and consequences rather than target the behavior in isolation.

Medical rule-out: sudden onset, late-life onset, or changes in appetite, sleep, or elimination warrant veterinary evaluation before a behavioral diagnosis.

A behavior intervention plan should state an operational definition of the target behavior, a replacement behavior, reinforcement strategy, and a measurement method.

Replacement behaviors should serve the same function as the problem behavior (e.g., a settle cue replacing jumping for attention).

Progress is judged against baseline data, not subjective impressions; define success criteria in advance and monitor for regression.

Risk assessment considers severity, frequency, target of the behavior, and the safety of people and other animals; high-risk cases require referral.

The Five Freedoms address freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain/injury/disease, fear and distress, and freedom to express normal behavior.

The Five Domains model adds mental state as a domain alongside nutrition, environment, physical health, and behavior, emphasizing affective experience.

The Three Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) guide ethical use of animals in research and training contexts.

Least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) principle: begin with the least restrictive effective procedure and escalate only when justified.

Informed consent requires disclosing methods, risks, and alternatives to clients before training or intervention begins.

Scope of practice: behavior consultants should not diagnose or treat medical conditions; they refer to veterinarians for diagnosis and medical management.

Confidentiality and accurate record-keeping are professional obligations; records document assessments, plans, and outcomes.

Welfare is a state of the individual animal, not a property of the environment alone; the same housing can produce different welfare outcomes for different animals.

The human-animal bond influences owner compliance and expectations; interventions should align with the client's goals and household constraints.

Active listening techniques (reflecting, summarizing, open-ended questions) improve history-taking and client adherence.

The stages-of-change model (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) helps match recommendations to the client's readiness.

Motivational interviewing uses open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries to elicit the client's own reasons for change.

Behavior problems are a leading reason for relinquishment and euthanasia; early discussion of behavior concerns supports retention.

Attachment styles (secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant) describe owner-animal relationship patterns and can predict response to separation.

Cultural and economic factors shape attitudes toward animals and training methods; recommendations should be feasible for the household.

Written handouts and demonstration improve recall of instructions compared with verbal-only communication.

Equipment must be fitted and inspected before use; ill-fitting collars, harnesses, and muzzles can cause injury or escape.

Aversive equipment (choke, prong, shock) carries risk of fear, aggression, and injury and is contraindicated under LIMA and welfare guidelines.

Muzzles should allow panting and drinking where possible; basket muzzles are preferred for extended wear over soft fabric muzzles.

Enrichment categories: social, occupational, physical, sensory, and nutritional; effective programs address multiple categories.

Environmental enrichment reduces stereotypies and improves welfare by providing species-appropriate outlets for natural behavior.

Barriers and escape-proofing (double gates, secure latches) prevent injury and reduce stress during handling and transport.

Handler safety includes body positioning, avoiding reaching into a food bowl, and using barriers when working with fearful or aggressive animals.

Record equipment use and behavior during sessions; equipment-related injuries and near-misses should be documented and reviewed.