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Beagle neonates, 1 or 2 days old at the start and 6 or 7 days old at the end of training, received 25 or 35 trials, 5 trials per day, in a cloth vs. wire discrimination apparatus, with milk as a positive reinforcer. All dogs attained 80-100% correct nipple approaching and cloth-positive dogs attained 100% correct nipple latching within 25 trials. Approach remained stable but latching did not. Initial cloth preference was overcome in all animals by milk reinforcement. The findings support the view that neonatal mammalian learning conforms to the same principles that apply to adult mammalian learning. Prior failures to find evidence of the presence and stability of neonatal learning and the effectiveness of food reinforcement appear attributable to use of restricted or inadequate procedures.

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