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    Do As I Do 2nd Edition: Using Social Learning to Train Dogs
    Do As I Do 2nd Edition: Using Social Learning to Train Dogs
    Do As I Do 2nd Edition: Using Social Learning to Train Dogs
    Ebook120 pages1 hour

    Do As I Do 2nd Edition: Using Social Learning to Train Dogs

    By Claudia Fugazza and Fumi Higaki

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    Train dog based on social learning ? Yes!

    Recent research suggests that dogs can engage in social learning which includes the ability to observe the actions of other dogs and imitate them to learn new behaviors. The big news for dog trainers is that author Claudia Fugazza and her colleagues in Europe have discovered that dogs can also imitate people. This natural skill can be used to teach dogs new behaviors using the Do As I Do protocol presented in this book-video combination. The Do As I Do method is particularly useful in working with service dogs and canine athletes who must masters skills such as ringing a bell, jumping over a hurdle, spinning and dozens more.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDogwise Publishing
    Release dateMay 1, 2024
    ISBN9781617812934
    Do As I Do 2nd Edition: Using Social Learning to Train Dogs
    Author

    Claudia Fugazza

    Claudia Fugazza lives in Italy and is completing her PhD research in the field of social learning in dogs at Eotovos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary. Fumi Higaki has studied organizational behavior and more recently pursued a Ph.D. in Ethology at ELTE University in Budapest. She joined Claudia Fugazza's research team in 2023.

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      Book preview

      Do As I Do 2nd Edition - Claudia Fugazza

      Introduction

      I made the decision to write this book in order to help spread a new training method that takes advantage of the social learning skills of dogs and their predisposition to learn by observing, and then imitating and/or repeating behaviors, performed by humans. Interestingly, despite the fact it is now well known that dogs have excellent social learning skills, training methods used so far have not relied on their ability to learn by observation and imitation.

      Traditionally, the techniques used for dog training have been based on individual associative learning, that is, operant and classical (Pavlovian) conditioning. Almost every species has the skill to learn, e.g., through association, even very simple organisms as well as those who do not live in complex social structures like packs and families. But I have always been curious to know if my dogs learn to open doors on their own by simple associative learning, for instance by trial and error, or whether it is by a different process reflecting their eminently social nature and their great observational skills. I am sure that many dog owners have noticed the inclination of dogs to be curious and attracted toward what we humans do and the objects we handle. How many of us have bedded plants out in the garden with great care under a dog’s scrutiny, digging a small hole, introducing the roots and lovingly covering them with fresh soil, only to find out later on that the dog has pulled the plants out and perhaps even meticulously dug up the entire garden. While we were digging, Fido probably thought that it was an interesting game and that he wanted his share of the fun. It seems to me that the question that needs to be addressed is whether dogs can learn through the use of social learning, observing and then replicating the actions of their human companions.

      In this book you will be introduced to social learning through the use of a training protocol known as Do As I Do.

      As a way of introducing the subject of this book, allow me to tell the story about how I first learned about the potential of social learning and the Do As I Do protocol.

      Siria and the water faucet

      Siria was my Czechoslovakian Wolfdog with an awesome silver-colored coat. My favorite portrait of her and her amber eyes hangs in my sitting room. However, the fondest memory I keep of her is the way she used to wake me up in the morning with licks, her sweet greeting ritual. Siria was not only a great dog, but she also marked a course change in my life.

      It happens sometimes that the drive to study the behavior of companion animals stems from the little seed of a routine episode. In this case, my curiosity was so strong that it led me to abandon my previous profession in order to start studying dog ethology.

      One night, after an intense working day, I was exhausted and could not wait to pick up the book that rested on my bedside table, read a few pages and then go to sleep. It was right at the moment when I began to relax that I heard a noise in the background. I had no idea where it came from. Was it the radio in the bathroom? It was like the white noise from a radio out of tune. However, I was positive that I had switched off my radio.

      After paying closer attention, I realized that it was the sound of water coming out of a faucet. I got up from my bed and went to check the bathroom. I was convinced that I had shut the water off completely. However, a small stream of water was pouring out of the faucet. I turned it off and went back to

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