http://animalbehavior.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/pit-bulls-the-matter-of-genetic-causation/ By Kellie Snider Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:38:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://animalbehavior.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/pit-bulls-the-matter-of-genetic-causation/#comment-376 animalbehavior Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:24:31 +0000 http://animalbehavior.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/pit-bulls-the-matter-of-genetic-causation/#comment-376 It has to do with susceptibility to reinforcement. Animals inherit their propensities for reinforcement by certain stimuli. The behavior they perform to get that reinforcement is irrelevant to them... they'll do whatever works. The thing is, the first thing they figure out is usually common in a species or breed, and that's the thing that gets reinforced. However, if you want to change the behavior in a breed, you just change the behavior that is followed by reinforcement. It has to do with susceptibility to reinforcement. Animals inherit their propensities for reinforcement by certain stimuli. The behavior they perform to get that reinforcement is irrelevant to them… they’ll do whatever works. The thing is, the first thing they figure out is usually common in a species or breed, and that’s the thing that gets reinforced. However, if you want to change the behavior in a breed, you just change the behavior that is followed by reinforcement.

]]> http://animalbehavior.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/pit-bulls-the-matter-of-genetic-causation/#comment-375 Marmalade Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:40:12 +0000 http://animalbehavior.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/pit-bulls-the-matter-of-genetic-causation/#comment-375 If aggression towards other dogs is not genetic, why is interdog aggression more commonly seen in terrier breeds (especially pit bulls) even when they have not been used for dog fighting, and less commonly seen in breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels? If aggression towards other dogs is not genetic, why is interdog aggression more commonly seen in terrier breeds (especially pit bulls) even when they have not been used for dog fighting, and less commonly seen in breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels?

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