ABC'S: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
CONCERNS & SOLUTIONS
A Question & Answer Forum For Animal Professionals
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How To Develop An Animal Training Program
QUESTION
How long does it take to develop a training program? And can you
suggest what some of the steps are?
ANSWER
This is not a simple question to answer since there are a lot of
variables that can apply and because there are a number of influencing
factors that come into play. To implement a good training program
can be as simple or as complex as you or your facility want to make
it.
In house and existing staff programs will require good planning and communication. They will also need to function within the confines of established routines and seniority systems. In addition, solid record keeping, consistency in application, solid education about training concepts and principles, and practical experience in applying those are the cornerstones of a solid foundation.
Contracted services are another option. Ideally they will come into implement a program while integrating zoo staff into it, and enable the zoo staff to maintain the program once it is established. Program time would vary according to how many of their staff are onsite to assist and how in-depth the programming is.
Adaptability or sensitivity of the animals in the collection and the exhibit or facility design are additional influences. So, you can see that there is a lot to consider. Some of the steps you might want to take are listed below.
Planning
To be successful you will require a good roadmap. To develop this
map you should ask some of the following questions:
Who will be involved?
This list should include those from management, keeper staff, trainers
and others. Is everyone as enthusiastic or would it be more advantageous
to divide duties according to interest and aptitude?
Will there be a chain of authority?
Who will make a final decision in the event of disagreement? If
someone has training aptitude will they be enabled to be successful
if there is disagreement? If this is to be a team effort, how will
decisions be made?
What resources will be needed?
How can staff get their education on principles of training? Can
this come through an existing keeper-training program? How can staff
develop their training skills? Who will be able to answer their
questions? What tools will be needed? What effect will this have
on other keeper duties? How can staff successfully handle training
and other duties?
How do you set training goals?
Can staff state the final objective and then go back and develop
the steps to reach it? What is the time estimation of completion?
Is this based on the aptitude of the animals and the keepers/trainers?
AND is it reasonable? Has it been done before elsewhere? If so,
have you sourced that information and strategies?
How can you obtain clear communication?
Written and verbal exchanges are critical to maintain consistency
and avoid frustration of animals and staff. Daily communication
is important and more formal weekly meetings or other regular efforts
should be planned. This will be an important element in gaining
ongoing success while avoiding mistakes that could create serious
setbacks.
Will this work in your current system or routine?
Will there need to be adaptations? For instance can you function
within the confines of established routines and seniority systems?
What records will you need to keep?
How can you obtain reliable records between subjective participants?
How can you streamline this process? You might want to categorize
by animal for ease of application. Be sure you have written clear
criteria for the behavior. Consistency is needed for both the verbal
and written cues and for the performance by the animal. Consistency
in how many requests for the behavior are allowed and other such
matters should be developed in the training goal area but fall into
this category too!
How will you gain additional skills?
Solid education about training concepts and principles might be
acquired through a staff behaviorist, through a consultant, or through
a college course. If you want to make yourself crazy there is a
computer program called Sniffy the Virtual Rat.
Notes
I have found that most people will take about 30 days of consistent
application in training to begin to drop old habits and acquire
the skills needed for training. By 60-90 days (Depending on how
many practice and application opportunities they experience.) most
people are fairly comfortable with basic training.
The integration periods for staff that I have encountered within the private animal and zoo industry have always been between three to six months. This allows integration and familiarization with animals and routines. So, I would think that would be a reasonable window to shoot for in your getting a comprehensive program pulled together.
Resources of Interest
(These books can be purchased through our link below.)
Chance, P. 1998. Learning and behavior. Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Houpt, Katherine. 1998. Domestic animal behavior for veterinarians and animal scientists. Iowa State University Press.
Kazdin, A.E. 1994. Behavior modification in applied settings. Brooks/Cole
Publishing.
Mazur, James. 1997. Learning and behavior. Prentice Hall.
McFarland, David, ed. 1987. The Oxford companion to animal behavior. Oxford University Press.
Pryor, K. 1999. Don't shoot the dog! Bantam Books.
Ryan, Terry. 1998. The toolbox for remodeling your problem dog. Howell Book House.
Are you a reader with a question? Be sure to submit it--and good luck in all your training endeavors!
About the columnist: Since 1978 Diana L. Guerrero has worked professionally with both wild and domestic animals. Guerrero has been affiliated with, and certified by, a variety of animal programs in the USA and Europe. Based in California, she writes, consults, and speaks. Information on her animal career programs, training courses, and her books {What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality (SkyLight Paths, 2003), Blessing of the Animals (Sterling, 2007), Help! My Pet is Driving Me Crazy (Guerrero Ink, 2007), Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals (Guerrero Ink, 2007)} can be found in this web site and in the shop. Questions for Guerrero should be submitted via the blog comments or membership forum.
