Which training technique involves manipulating the animal or its environment to elicit a response?

• A. Prompting
• B. Capturing
• C. Prompting
• D. Targeting

Answer: (C)

Prompting is the training technique that involves manipulating the animal or its environment to elicit a response. It works by providing cues, guidance, or prompts that make the dog perform the desired behavior in the moment—things like a verbal cue, a hand signal, a leash guide, or a light touch. The idea is to set up the situation so the dog is more likely to respond, then gradually fade the prompt as the dog learns to do the behavior independently.

Capturing, on the other hand, reinforces a behavior after it occurs naturally, without actively guiding it to happen. Targeting is about teaching the dog to touch a specific object with the nose or paw, which is a particular task rather than a general method to elicit any response. So prompting best fits the scenario of intentionally eliciting a response through antecedent manipulation.