Define shaping and describe an example of how shaping might be used to create a specific behavior

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
?Animal trainers use an operant conditioning technique called shaping, in which a novel behavior is slowly conditioned by reinforcing successive approximations of the final desired behavior. In the case of training the dog, the trainer will reinforce any spontaneous behavior that is in the direction of the final desired behavior. The trainer may start by rewarding the dog for looking at him. Once the dog learns to pay attention, it may expand on this behavior by sitting up. This will also lead to a treat. Then the dog must sit up to get the treat. Once the dog learns to sit up, it may go a bit further and rear up a bit on its hind legs. This will also earn the dog a treat. Now that the dog can rear up, it must do so to get a treat. After rearing up for a time, the dog may spontaneously go up all the way onto its hind legs. The trainer responds with more treats. Soon the dog will progress to standing on its hind legs, and the trainer will reciprocate with more treats every time the dog stands up on its hind legs. The final step comes when the dog spontaneously takes its first steps after being conditioned to stand on its hind legs. At this point, all the trainer has to do is reward the dog for walking on its hind legs.