A Comparison of Fixed-Time Food Schedules and Shaping Involving a Clicker for Halter Behavior in a Petting Zoo Goat

This study examined two procedures for establishing halter behavior (i.e., acceptance of wearing and being led via a halter) and decreasing undesired behavior in three petting zoo goats: a fixed-time 15-s (FT-15-s) schedule and shaping involving a clicker. The FT schedule was successful in training initial approximations, but over a longer period for the one goat presented in this article. The shaping procedure rapidly advanced the final approximations to the target behavior and resulted in a large reduction in undesired responses once the target response was reached. The procedures were also equally effective at reaching the target response and greatly reducing undesired responses for the other two goats not presented in this article. This study is one example of an effective way to experimentally examine shaping procedures, as well as promote the use of force-free halter training and behavior in goats.