ABS 2023
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Canine Functional Analysis of Dog-Directed Reactivity
Stephanie Keesey-Phelan, Ran Courant-Morgan. The Dog Behavior Institute, Lancaster, MA, United States

This study involved the application of functional analysis (FA) methodology to dog-directed reactivity in a home-based setting. Reactivity involved whining, growling, or barking in the presence of another dog while oriented toward that dog. The experimenter used behavior skills training (BST) to teach caregivers to implement two single-function functional analyses. All training and coaching of the FA conditions were completed remotely via Zoom. The first FA tested for an escape function and involved an escape test and matched control. The second FA tested for an access/tangible condition and involved an access test and matched control. The caregivers implemented the FAs on two separate days while the experimenter coached them live via Zoom. The results of the FAs indicated that dog-directed reactivity was maintained by escape. These results suggest that behavior analytic FA methodology can be applied to the behavior of domestic dogs and extends the literature on conducting FAs remotely.