What is shaping in the context of animal training?

Shaping is a fundamental technique in animal training that involves reinforcing an animal for successive approximations toward a desired behavior. This method allows the trainer to guide the animal step-by-step to achieve more complex behaviors that it would not naturally perform in a single attempt.

In shaping, the trainer starts by rewarding the animal for any behavior that remotely resembles the desired action. As the animal learns, the criteria for reinforcement become more specific, requiring closer and closer approximations to the final behavior before the reward is given. This gradual process not only helps in teaching specific tasks but also encourages the animal's learning and engagement.

The other options describe different training methods or concepts. Manipulating the animal into position implies physical guidance rather than using positive reinforcement. Preventing unwanted behaviors focuses on discouragement without fostering new skills, and providing feedback on incorrect behaviors doesn't promote the gradual learning process that shaping emphasizes.