This project helps students grasp the concept of recording data and creating graphs based on their findings. Purchase three different brands of puppy treats and three identical bowls. Label each bowl with the name of the treats in it. Help your child make a chart on poster board listing the days of the research on the left side and the names of the treats along the top. Change up the order of bowls each day and have the puppy approach them from the middle, so he will not just eat the first treats he sees. Have the child place an "X" under the treat he eats first each day. Once your research period ends, help your child create a bar graph showing the puppy's favorite treat.
Operant conditioning uses a system of rewards and punishments to reach a desired behavior. Your child can do a study with her puppy illustrating how operant conditioning works with the command "come." She will need puppy treats and a dog whistle. First, she should teach the puppy the spoken command and reward it with a treat. Then, pair the command with the dog whistle and reward with the treat when the puppy obeys. Finally, she will only blow the whistle and reward the puppy for coming. Conduct trials in different settings such as outdoors versus indoors and record all findings in a journal. She can then make a chart showing in which environment the puppy responded the fastest.
Older kids may want to set up IQ tests for their puppy. These tests may assess the puppy's problem-solving or memory skills. Your child should have a grading scale based on how quickly the puppy reacts to the test. For instance, he might score three points for an immediate reaction, two for a delayed reaction, and one for no response. One test he can use involves showing the puppy his favorite treat, then covering it with a can or box. Then, the child scores the puppy's response time. The results of each test should be recorded, tallied and compared to the total possible points.
Have your child pair a command such as "sit" with paper that has been rubbed with beef. Repeat this process for several days. Then, write the command "sit" on the scented paper and reward the puppy when it sits without the verbal command. Finally, present only the written command without the scent and reward the puppy when it sits. This tests the puppy's ability to recognize symbols for commands. The students should record all data and note the length of time it takes for the puppy to progress.