I’ve been meaning to take a video of the keepers and animals doing a training session and finally remembered last week. The keepers each work with a specific animal or group of animals:
The red ruffed lemurs are working with Cassidy.
The ring tail lemurs are working with Kristen
The bears are working with Katy
The barred owls are working with Jill
Max the steer is working with Kent
Lightning the donkey is working with Erin
Chummix goat is working with Marilyn
The animals and keepers are making great progress. A few of the behaviors being worked on are: the lemurs are starting to sit in carriers on their own, Ursula bear is now walking easily on the scale, the donkey is holding still, and Chummix is learning how to get his halter put on without headbutting.
The video below is 3 minutes long and you can see Marilyn working on getting Chummix to Stay, some target training as well as some desensitization to touch and halter. Our behavior consultant was watching and commenting to Marilyn during the session, so it’s her voice you will hear. I’ll spotlight Julie at the end of the month so you can learn about her.
That's really cool. I've been wondering about what exactly you all are teaching them to do. I need to get a treat bag that goes on my arm like hers for working with my puppy. Great idea!
Thanks Troy,I actually thought that my training seesion seemed quite boring (no offense to Sherry's video skills, just offense to me!), but I'm glad you enjoyed it. The treat container on the arm has helped a lot because I found that when I had a bag around my waist, it was perfect nose height for Chummix. He would continuously nudge the bag in an effort to get a treat instead of doing the actions I wanted him to do. Having the treats out of his reach has helped a lot for his focus. 🙂
Marilyn – I don't think your training sessions are boring! I know I'm a training dork, but I get very excited any time I see an animal and a keeper developing a relationship and learning from each other. I thought you did a great job with Chummix. He has made some great progress since you've started working with him! Good work!
Very Impressive Marilyn. Can you teach me to use that technique for Brianne? Maybe then she will learn to listen to me…or a clicker, haha!