2017 Conference Program

Join us for two full days of educational lectures,
thought-provoking question and answer sessions, and many opportunities to meet like-minded trainers and
talk all about animal behavior and training.

Program Overview

Saturday, February 25. For the first day of our conference, we’ll focus on the Premack principle and how reinforcement works. During the talks, our speakers will address both theoretical issues and practical training strategies.

Sunday, February 26. We’ll discuss how to effectively maintain behaviors. Talks will address building long-duration behaviors, dealing with distractions, effective use of reinforcers, and much more.

Our unique format will allow you to explore these topics in a way much different from the “typical” conference experience. Each presentation will be followed by a short discussion period for the other speakers to ask questions and discuss the topic with the presenter. This will be followed by a question and answer period where the audience will be able to ask additional questions.

Daily Schedule

Time Friday, February 24
5:00-6:30 Opening reception – The Crosswinds Room

Join us for conversations and refreshments as we kick off the conference weekend! You’ll get to meet our speakers, talk with other attendees, and see research posters from the ORCA graduate students. A cash bar and light refreshments will be available.

Time Saturday, February 25
9:00-9:10 Welcome and announcements
9:10-10:40 Dr. Peter Killeen
Skinner’s rats, Pavlov’s dogs and Premack’s principles
(description)
10:40-11:00 Morning break
11:00-12:30 The Premack principle in action

Part 1: Emily Larlham
Reversibility of reward: Harnessing the power of your animal’s worst distractions
(description)

Part 2: Alexandra Kurland
Do it again: The use of patterns in training
(description)

Part 3: Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz
Premack and freedom
(description)

12:30-2:00 Lunch
2:00-3:20 Ken Ramirez
Teaching an animal to say “no”
(description)
3:20-3:40 Afternoon break
3:40-5:00 Dr. Paul Andronis
So what else is going on? A brief introduction to adjunctive behavior
(description)
6:30-8:00 Banquet dinner
Presentation of the 2017 Anderson Award
After dinner Evening Conversations – The Crosswinds Room

Join us in the Crosswinds Room for conversations and discussions. Catch up with old friends and make new friends while chatting about training and discussing the day’s talks.

Time Sunday, February 26
9:00-10:10 Steve White
Training in 3-D: Embracing duration, distance and distraction
(description)
10:10-10:30 Morning break
10:30-12:00

How to maintain behavior

Part 1: Ken Ramirez
Teaching duration behaviors: Creating lengthy behavior chains
(description)

Part 2: Emily Larlham
The show must go on! An investigation into maintenance of behaviors for competitive sports and dogs with jobs
(description)

Part 3: Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz
Conditioned reinforcers are worth maintaining
(description)

12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:45 Barbara Heidenreich
Maintaining behavior the natural way
(description)
2:45-3:00 Break
3:00-4:20 Alexandra Kurland
Putting behavior to work
(description)
4:20-4:35 Break
4:35-5:00 Karen Pryor: Closing remarks