Preference assessments with shelter dogs

Dogs may be relinquished to shelters and unlikely to be adopted if they engage in problem behavior. A successful way to eliminate problem behavior is through training techniques based on behavioral principles. Obedience training with the use of positive reinforcement has been successful in treating problematic behavior by dogs. In order for this method to work, it is essential that the stimuli selected function as reinforcers. A method used to identify potential reinforcers is through the use of preference assessments. A preference assessment is a systematic method used to identify stimuli that may serve as possible reinforcers by yielding preference hierarchies. Although preference and reinforcer assessments have been successfully used with humans, research with non-human animals is limited. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy and efficiency of the paired stimulus preference assessment with a multiple stimulus preference assessment. Results suggested that the results of both preference assessments corresponded with reinforcer assessments, but that the paired stimulus was the most efficient.