LIMA FAQ
Purpose The Humane Hierarchy serves to guide professionals in their decision-making process during training Least Systematic and Intrusive behavior
Problem modification , Minimally Solving . Additionally
and Aversive Strategies , it assists ( LIMA owners ) Effective and animal Behavior care professionals Intervention Policy in understanding The trainer / consultant the standard is responsible of care to be for applied ensuring in determining learner success training through practices a consistent and
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1 . and Health to understand , nutritional the , and impact physical of each factors action : Ensure on the that learner any , indicators as well as for sensitivity possible toward medical the trainer or behavior consultant who uses the least intrusive , minimally aversive , strategy out of a learner nutritional ’ s experience , or health . factors are addressed by a licensed veterinarian . The consultant set of humane and effective tactics likely to succeed in achieving a training or behavior change should also address potential factors in the physical environment . objective Preventing with Abuse minimal risk of producing aversive side effects . LIMA adherence also requires
2 . consultants We Antecedents seek to prevent to : Redesign be adequately the abuses setting and educated events potential , change and repercussions motivations skilled in of order , and inappropriate add to ensure or remove , poorly that the applied least , and intrusive and aversive inhumane discriminative procedure uses of stimuli punishment ( used cues ). 1 and for the of overly-restrictive problem behavior management . and confinement strategies . The potential effects of punishment can include aggression or counter-aggression ; suppressed
3 . Positive Reinforcement : Employ approaches that contingently deliver a consequence to LIMA behavior does ( preventing not justify the the trainer use / consultant of punishment from adequately in lieu of reading other the effective animal ); interventions increased and increase the probability that the desired behavior will occur . strategies anxiety and . In fear the ; physical vast majority harm ; a of negative cases , association desired behavior with the owner change or can handler be ; affected increased by focusing on
4 . the unwanted Differential animal behavior ’ s environment Reinforcement ; and new ,, of physical unwanted Alternative well-being behaviors Behavior . 5 ,: and Reinforce operant acceptable and classical replacement interventions such as
differential behavior and reinforcement remove the maintaining of an alternative reinforcer behavior for the problem , desensitization behavior . , and counter-conditioning , Choice and Control for the Learner
5 . and Negative in no cases Punishment are intentional , Negative Reinforcement use of aversive , or equipment Extinction ( these justified are not . listed in any LIMA guidelines require that trainer / consultants always offer the learner as much control and order of preference ): choice as possible . Trainer / consultants must treat each individual of any species with respect and LIMA Is Competence-Based awareness of the learner ’ s individual nature , preferences , abilities , and needs . 6 LIMA a requires ) Negative trainers Punishment
/ consultants – Contingently to work withdraw to increase a positive the use reinforcer of positive to reduce reinforcement and the probability that the problem behavior will occur . eliminate What Do the You use Want of punishment the Animal when to do ? working with animal and human clients . In order to ensure best We practices focus b ) Negative on reinforcing , consultants Reinforcement desired should behaviors – Contingently pursue , and and always withdraw maintain ask the an competence question aversive , antecedent “ What in animal do you want behavior the consulting and animal training to do stimulus ?” through Relying to increase continuing punishment the probability education in training that , and the does hands-on right not behavior answer experience this will question occur . Trainers . , and therefore / consultants should not offers advise no acceptable behavior for the animal to learn to replace the unwanted behavior . These c ) Extinction on problems – Permanently outside the remove recognized the maintaining boundaries reinforcer of their to suppress competencies the and experience . 2 LIMA guidelines do not justify the use of aversive methods and tools including , but not limited behavior or reduce it to baseline levels . to , the use of electronic , choke or prong collars in lieu of other effective positive reinforcement
Positive interventions Reinforcement and strategies . and Understanding the Learner
6 . Positive Punishment : Contingently deliver an aversive consequence to reduce the Positive When probability making
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behavior change program understand considered and follow , the and Humane should Hierarchy be applied of consistently Behavior Change . Positive – Procedures reinforcement Humane is associated with and Effective the lowest Practices incidence , 7 outlined of aggression in the diagram , attention . seeking , avoidance , and fear in learners . 3
Only For these learner reasons , determines we , strongly what support may the humane be reinforcing and thoughtful . It is crucial application that of the LIMA trainer / consultant understands protocols , and and we has applaud the ability those individuals to appropriately and organizations apply this working principle with . animals This fact and may humans mean that the within LIMA guidelines . trainer / consultant assesses any handling , petting , food , tool , and environment each time the learner experiences them . Personal bias must not determine the learner ’ s experience . The measure of each stimulus is whether the learner ’ s target behavior is strengthening or weakening , not the trainer / consultant ’ s intent or preference .
LIMA Frequently Asked Questions
The APDT recently updated our position statement on Least Invasive , Minimally Aversive ( LIMA ) practices . We have received questions from members seeking further clarification , so we have created this FAQ . It will be updated over time as needed . Our position statement is available at https :// apdt . com / about / position-statements / and our LIMA education starter page is located at https :// apdt . com / about / about-lima /.
APDT clarified specific tools as not being LIMA compliant . Can ’ t any tool be aversive to a dog ? Yes . Any equipment , including flat collars , body harnesses , and leashes can potentially be aversive for some dogs . What a learner finds aversive is subjective . Dogs can be taught not to pull against flat collars , body harnesses and martingale collars to prevent discomfort so they may be used as management tools for safety . Shock , prong , and choke collars do not “ work ” without being aversive , or if not necessary can be avoided . LIMA is not entirely about tool usage , it ’ s about constantly monitoring the dogs we work with for undue stress , anxiety and fear and using the tools and techniques that minimize them . We called out specific tools and techniques that are commonly used that are well-established as intentionally causing pain , fear or startle responses , but a LIMA trainer should always be monitoring the dogs they work with , at all times . If a dog began to find a specific tool as aversive , such as simply putting on a collar , a LIMA trainer could modify the equipment or use counter conditioning to change the dog ’ s emotional response to the equipment .
Why is APDT limiting training equipment and methodology The APDT believes that efficacy is not sufficient to justify training equipment and methodology . Ethical and humane techniques are also paramount . There is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that aversive techniques are not required to achieve training and behavior outcomes . Even when these techniques are notably effective in reducing or increasing a target behavior , we also take into account the psychological and behavioral side effects they can cause as well as the ethical implications of using a specific technique when there are less intrusive methods available . The fact that less invasive techniques are available makes intentional use of a more aversive technique cruelty by definition .
What ’ s wrong with e-collars ? Can ’ t they be gentle stims ? Isn ’ t it similar to a TENS unit ? I ’ ve used one on myself and it didn ’ t hurt … Devices that deliver static shock as “ e-collars ,” “ stim collars ,” or “ shock collars ” work through pain and startle . TENS units contain directions to avoid placing them on sensitive areas like the neck and not use on human patients without explicit informed consent . In laboratory behavior conditions , mild static shock is the standard method of inducing pain and requires convincing an ethics review panel that it is absolutely necessary and that the experiment cannot work without shock . The use of e-collars at any stage of training cannot fit into a LIMA mindset . There is always a less aversive method that can be used such as teaching the dog the behavior you want instead of punishing the behavior you don ’ t want .
It is true that through conditioning one can change a learner ’ s negative emotional response to an uncomfortable situation or stimulus to a positive one . However instead of teaching the dog to accept equipment that was specifically designed to create discomfort or pain , these techniques can be used for example when teaching a dog to wear a muzzle or accept handling and injections at a vet visit .
42 Building Better Trainers Through Education