SPE593 AppliedProject Poster PharrisNicole

Communicating wants or needs is essential for everyone, including animals. When communication is limited, alternative strategies may arise, sometimes resulting in maladaptive behaviors that can be painful. This study taught functional communication to two domestic dogs using positive reinforcement. The participants were two three-year-old sisters, Pyrenean dogs. We taught the dogs to request attention by pushing a button that says “pets”. The independent variable was reinforcing the button presses with petting; the dependent variable was button-pressing frequency. A multiple baseline design was used across participants. The study had two phases. During phase one, the button was placed on the thigh to pair with petting due to the dog's pawing you when they want pets, which can lead to injury. In Phase Two, the button was moved to a stool to replace the pawing with pushing the button. We collected frequency data on button presses. Results showed that one dog reached mastery in Phase One and improved in Phase Two. More time is needed before the dog can reach mastery criteria, however. The other dog did not make progress, nor did she move to Phase Two. These findings highlight the need for individualized treatment plans even when working with the same population or family.