Tips from the Pool Summer 2013

A quarterly training publication by

Phins with Fur Animal Training

Tips from the Pool Volume II, Issue III

Summer 2013

Otterly Refreshing Special points of interest: Otter Training Enrichment Benefits Training Certifications Proactive Training

Inside this issue:

Stationing

Certifications

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This summer, I had the pleasure of working with a variety of exotic animals including White-Cheeked Gibbons, Flying Foxes, orangutans, and tigers, at one of the world’s most respected zoological institutions. Technically, I guess we are not supposed to have favorites, but I quickly fell in love with a 7-lb Asian Small-Clawed Otter who I was also privileged to have in my care. While the science of animal training is universal, each species will require slight technical changes in approach. Java the otter both taught and reminded me of several things that are crucial to training any animal.

While I usually preach that breed doesn’t really matter much as opposed to individuals, species differences definitely require some attention. I had worked with North American River Otters (NARO) before, and was surprised at how it was nothing like working with

an Asian Small-Clawed Otter (ASCO)! NAROs are more dog-like in their disposition, whereas ASCOs are feisty and fast! Again, individual differences are the most important, but working with Java was much different than working with the NAROs I’d worked with Otters are highly intelligent, lightning-fast, and super fun! in the past!

When I teach puppy owners, I often notice how the puppies catch on so much more quickly than their owners!

When I worked with Java, I sympathized with the puppy owners I’d worked with in the past! I noticed how she was catching onto things much more quickly than I anticipated, and got a chance to see how fast an otter (even an otter who is 13 years old!) learns! Otters, especially ASCOs, true to their stereotype, can be a little spastic! Java definitely kept me on my toes and helped to hone my observation skills! It’s so important to be acutely aware of everything your animal is doing during training! It can definitely be an acquired skill, perhaps a skill that is newly acquired with each species you work with! While I was able to keep up with fast-learning puppies,

the fearful animals I typically work with require slow, careful training. I had to quickly learn how to keep up with Java!

Keen observation skills were not only essential to making sure I kept up with Java, but also to ensuring that she wasn’t training ME while I was trying to train HER! In her book Lads Before the Wind, Karen Pryor describes the tricks played by the otters at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. Her otters were notorious for playing what she called the “Otter Game,” where the otters quickly learned a behavior, then attempted to add their own spin. Java must have been (continued on pg. 2)

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Enrichment as a Pre-Training Tool Trick Corner: Say Your 3 Prayers Proactive Training

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Enrichment serves many purposes: mental stimulation, increasing activity levels, decreasing unwanted behavior, reducing boredom, and more!

Enrichment takes many forms, whether it is simply a toy that stimulates natural behavior or interests an animal, an environmental change, a food puzzle, or a training session.

Finding the right trainer, re-

searching how to tackle a behavior problem, or simply trying to free up time to train can all put beginning your pet’s training on hold.

There are certain situations where you may feel your pet needs a little “priming” before training begins. In these situations, using enrichment to enhance your pet’s problem-solving abilities while you put together a plan can be helpful!

For example, this summer I worked with two animals that

benefitted from “priming” before I began actually teaching behaviors. Both Java the otter (from the story above) and Hemingway the rabbit necessitated some problemsolving work.

Hemingway, for example, wanted nothing to do with me when I began training. A rescue bunny, he had practically (continued on pg. 3)

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T I P S FR O M T HE P O O L

Otter Training important to be picky and meticulous about some aspects of the behavior. Those that will be crucial to proper execution of the behavior once it is finished should be practiced from the beginning. Setting your animal up for success in these respects is important so that they do not practice doing it wrong for too long.

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in on this game! While teaching Java to hop on the scale, she quickly went from merely investigating the scale to jumping on with all four feet and tail. Once she accomplished this 3-4 times with confidence, she began to leave one paw hanging over the side! Once she realized I knew what she was up to, she tried a different tactic: hanging a paw off the back of the scale and blocking my view of it with her body! She always had me on my toes!

While “close enough is good enough” is often a policy employed during the ASCOs are feisty, fiery characters! learning stages, it is

Sit, Station!

Stationing is a behavior that is helpful to any animal trainer, and is actually crucial to being able to train any behavior at all!

A “station” is a “default” place for your pet to come to. Most dog trainers can take stationing for granted, since dogs tend to stay right with us, especially when we have treats! When it comes to working with other animals, however, the need to formally teach a stationing behavior becomes more important.

Being variable and unpredictable during training is as important as the reinforcer itself. Although Java was mightily reinforced by the food I gave her, if I wasn’t unpredictable enough for her, she would begin to play games with me! What that told me was that Java was beginning to grow

bored with our session, even though she was not leaving. I made the session unpredictable for her by not working on the same aspect of the behavior all of the time. Sometimes, I reinforced her for promptly getting into position on the scale. Sometimes, I reinforced her for staying on the scale for long periods of time. Sometimes, for only short periods. Sometimes, I changed it up and reinforced her for coming with me when I changed position. Keep it fun, interesting, and different!

Working with different species can enhance your abilities to work with whatever pet you have at home, whether it is your dog, your cat, your horse, or your bird! Gaining a variety of experiences with different species has opened my eyes to many different ways of interacting with my own animals, and with client’s pets. The more species you work with, the better you can work with the one of your choice!

There are a variety of ways to example, Animal A’s station may always be define a station. Stations can be to the left of Animal B. positions on or near an object (as Establishing a station is simple. Simply assoin the picture to the right). They ciate the station with lots reinforcecan also be posiment. When establishing my guinea tions relative to pigs’ stations on their lids, I began by you. For example, simply placing food on the stations and my rabbit’s station moving them around. Do not feed aniis directly in front mals anywhere except the station (in of me. When workthe beginning). Stations also prevent ing with multiple competition for food. Never feed an animals, stations animal at another animal’s station! are sometimes Stationing is the one of the most imestablished in reference to other Panda awaiting a treat at her station! portant cooperative behaviors your pet can learn! animals. For

Certifications: What Do They Mean?

There are a variety of certifications available for trainers, especially dog trainers. However, not all certifications are created equal. When trying to find a trainer, make sure to research the requirements of the certifications that each trainer possesses. Some certifications require demonstration of skills, some require passing a written test, and some simp-

V O LU M E I I , I SS U E I II

Some things just aren’t what they seem!

search takes you right to the “requirements” section of an organily require a fee! Many certi- zation’s website. It usually only fications can disguise train- takes about 5 minutes to determine ers that use inhumane whether a certification is credible or methods, while the organi- not! zation itself claims the methods used by its trainers Remember, you are your pet’s best and ONLY advocate. No matter a are all humane. trainer’s experience or credentials, Make sure to look closely at if you are ever not comfortable with a trainer’s affiliations and a training practice, stand up for research for yourself what it your pet! Anything that makes you takes to be affiliated in that uncomfortable means it’s time for a way. Usually, a brief Google new trainer!

V O LU M E I I , I SS U E I II

T I P S FR O M T HE P O O L

Enrichment

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fore your training gets started!

Whether you plan to train your small pet or not, enrichment still benefits your pet. Providing adequate mental as simple as placing them in open given up on people. He stayed out of Easter egg or as complex as requiring stimulation is just as important as everyone’s way and coolly refused them to remove knobs to find food un- providing your pet proper nutrition, interaction. Building a relationship veterinary care, and ample space to derneath, these exercises enhance was paramount in beginning trainproblem-solving abilities without labor move around. Mental stimulation in ing with him, but it required more the form of enrichment is the equiva-intensive training sessions. trust exercises than problemlent of reading a book or doing a solving abilities.

Most small animals crossword puzzle. Our pets count on So, while I worked will benefit greatly us to provide them with an excellent on gaining Hem’s from enrichment puzquality of life, and mental stimulation trust, I provided zles before training is an important part of that! him with little begins. As you put puzzles he could Luckily, enrichment doesn’t have to together a training do without me eveplan, gather training be expensive, labor-intensive, or diffiry night. cult! However, the more creative you materials that are are, the more YOU will enjoy watchsuitable for small All of my small ing your pets solve their puzzles. pets, and perform pets receive vegCheck out our Spring 2013 issue, our preference assessgies every night, YouTube channel, or our Facebook ments, enrichment and I usually pair page for enrichment ideas for your activities can work them with some on your pet’s problem small pet! sort of puzzle deEven fish benefit from enrichment!

-solving abilities bevice. Whether it’s

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Trick Corner: Say Your Prayers Maddie, my Labrador Retriever, loves to learn new tricks. In the Trick Corner, we’ll discuss our recent trick-training adventures, and give you some tips on teaching them to your dog.

What You’ll Need: A stool, chair, or object your dog can put it’s front paws on

Prerequisites: “Paws up” (2 paws up on an object)

There are few things as cute as a dog who prays! There are many spins you can put on this behavior, such as “Pray for forgiveness,” “Pray for (person),” or even “You’re in time-out!” This trick brings a smile to everyone’s face, and is my grandma’s personal favorite!

are two ways to approach this trick.

The first is to put a cookie underneath and between your dog’s front legs, causing him to put his head between his legs. Click and give the treat!

Maddie in her most reverent state!

Maddie, however, was not comfortable with that approach, and would jump down every time. So, we tried something different. I would place a treat on the floor underneath and between her legs. When she would glance down between her legs to look at the treat, I If your dog already knows “paws would click and allow her to get it! Gradually, up,” or how to put his front paws up as she understood what I wanted, she stuck on an object while keeping his back her face further and further between her legs! feet on the ground, you’re a step ahead! If not, it’s a simple trick to As Maddie understood the behavior, I began teach. Your dog should also be able to take away the treat. At first, I backtracked to hold its “paws up” for an extend- and reinforced her for just glancing between ed period of time. her legs, and she quickly caught onto the fact that we were doing what we’d been doing beOnce your dog gets “paws up,” there fore! Slowly, I lengthened the time before I

clicked, beginning with 1 second and building it up, requiring her to “pray” for longer and longer periods!

Finally, I added the cue just before she hopped up on the chair!

We generalized to several different objects, from a chair, to an ottoman, to a couch cushion, to my arms!

This trick is most difficult to teach in the beginning stages, and gets easier as you progress. Just be careful not to reward your dog for peeking!

This publication is proudly brought to you by Phins with Fur Animal

PHINS WITH FUR ANIMAL TRAINING Serving the Tampa community with positive, force-free, and effective methods and providing educational resources and consulting for pet owners around the globe!

Training. At Phins with Fur, we believe in humane, effective training. We rely on the science-based training that is used with dolphins. The best thing about these techniques is that it doesn’t matter what breed or species you are working with, because all animals learn the same way! We also focus

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on developing a positive relationship to ensure that you and your best friend have a happy life together.

We offer a variety of services in areas such as basic manners, puppy, trick training, problem solving, and more! We also offer services for non-canine pets!

Call us today to start your fun, energetic journey to a well-trained dog!

It’s Dolphin Training...for Dogs! overall healthcare. Husbandry training is the majority of what zoo and aquarium trainers do.

Husbandry behaviors include voluntary blood draws, presenting body parts for examination, accepting the touch of a stethoscope, jumping on a scale, and opening the mouth. In the world of marine mammal training, the trainer is the one who performs the majority of basic medical procedures, such as collecting urine and fecal samples, collecting blood, and obtaining measurements. The veterinarian is typically poolside, and has trained the trainer on how to perform those tasks. The trainer is the one the animal trusts, so the trainer is the one who must maintain the animal’s cooperation and ensure the animal is calm and having a good time!

Training Proactively In the Spring 2013 issue, I discussed the benefits of training and briefly touched on proactive training. Proactive training simply means that you “train it before you need it,” making it easy to tackle tough situations before they arise!

In the zoo and aquarium world, proactive training is the name of the game, not an afterthought. The majority of training that occurs takes place in the form of building cooperative and husbandry behaviors. Cooperative behaviors are those that enable you to train your animal in the first place, and also those that allow you to handle and take care of the animal. Examples of cooperative behaviors include stationing and accepting touch. Husbandry training refers to training those behaviors that are Kona the guinea pig weighs herself! important in the animal’s

Training our dogs to voluntarily offer a paw for nail clipping and teaching our cats to load themselves in a crate help to keep them calm when the time comes for the actual procedure to take place. Of course, it also helps strengthen the bond we have with our pets, and reduces the stress they experience when they are at the vet or groomer.

We also have the ability to “play pretend” with them, and help them view the procedure as a fun, positive experience.

It is similar to playing doctor with your child at home before taking them to an actual appointment. While most kids still find the shot unpleasant, they are usually happy while getting their ears, eyes, and nose looked at, their chest listened to, and their temperature taken, despite the fact that stethoscopes are cold and having a light shined in your eyes or up your nose isn’t really that fun!

Knowing behaviors ahead of time allows When it comes to our your pet to practice something familiar pets, most of us must in an unfamiliar place. Proactive trainrely on our own or the ing is hugely helpful in reducing your vet/vet techs’ ability to pet’s and your own stress when it comes restrain our animals. to vet visits!