ABC'S: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
CONCERNS & SOLUTIONS
A Question & Answer Forum For Animal Professionals
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Welcome to the ABC's! Animal Behavior Concerns & Solutions is an animal behavior column written by animal behaviorist and animal trainer, Diana L. Guerrero. This section is dedicated to animal training techniques for all animals and pets, and topics related to operant conditioning and reinforcement. This column is about leash training exotics.For pet training please visit the pet sections, see our pet behavior booklets in the shop, or click here for enrollment information for classes and teleseminars.
Leash Training Exotics
QUESTION:
Is there a specific recommendation you have for teaching an animal
to accept a leash and collar and walk on lead?
LEASH TRAINING SUGGESTIONS:
Depending on what species you are working with will determine what
type of leash and what approach you will use. Training an animal
to accept a leash and the restraint on one is important for a variety
of reasons. Why?
Teaching an animal to accept leash restraint allows you all more
freedom. It makes life much easier to do the normal activities and
some of the not so normal ones! If you have to go to the veterinarian,
move the animal safely from one environment or cage to another,
desire the animal travel with you, or just want to enrich their
life with walks or experiences outside their normal environment
then this is a must!
This control is also best introduced at a young age in "short &
sweet" sessions. Go too fast and the animal will never be cooperative
or will dislike the leash. Once trained it won't be an issue and
actually will be pretty well accepted. Primates usually will be
kept on a waist chain or belt. Carnivores range from having harnesses
(like skunks) to collars. Each has their own peculiar needs but
since the question was specific for a felid, that is what will be
discussed.
If leash work is started as a kitten or cub, leave the collar on
them a lot while you are in attendance. Once they are fairly comfortable
with it on, introduce attaching a light chain to it. I prefer to
construct my own chains with pieces from a hardware store, but a
light chain-type dog leash could work. Leather or fabric is not
recommended since it will not last and they will tend to want to
chew and play with it.
To construct a "exotic animal chain" you will need:
- passing link chain (links that don't knot up but pass by each other)
- 2 pieces of 3 foot (small animals) or 2 pieces of 4 foot lengths (big cats, bears)
- one well constructed swivel (especially for the big animals, you don't want one that breaks or will pull apart!)
- 3 French links (this connects the chain to the handle and the swivel)
- 2 double clips or 1 double clip
- 1 one-sided clip (I like the double clips since you can replace them easily if the springs wear down or don't close right)
- Steel ring for a hand piece (marine supply stores will have some if your hardware store doesn't)
Once you have constructed your chain you will introduce it by clipping
it on the collar. Don't allow them to think that it's a toy, it's
not to be played with. Walking them at a young age, which basically
consists of letting them walk while you hold the leash and follow
them "will help you immensely".
Later you will stop once in while and let them feel the pressure
at the end of it. If they fight it, distract them and then when
they stop, get down and coax them to you. This gives them a positive
association with not fighting the leash and often makes them forget
or stop fighting it. The reinforcement here can be considered to
be relief of pressure and praise.
When they get a little older you will want to stake them out in
an enclosed area. You will need to make sure you a very secure and
deep stake since this is very valuable lesson and you will not want
anything to go wrong! Staking out an animal teaches them they cannot
move against the chain. It reinforces the lesson of yielding
to the end of the line. Once they understand they must yield to
the pressure, they can be guided easily when walking on the lead.
When they get bigger (in the case of lions and tigers especially)
this psychological lesson is critical!
When walking, if the animal is going in the right direction, stay right
with them by their side. Remember, you pick the direction you are
walking at this stage. If they begin to go in the wrong direction,
stop or take up the slack and hold the line taunt. The only direction
that they are allowed a "free rein" is in the correct direction.
If the young animal balks or lays down, never pull! Stop and wait or crouch
and see if you can coax them. If they learn to fight it they may
slip right out of the collar or learn to hate it. Some cats will
even imitate a feline helicopter on the end of a leash. It may be
amusing but it is not fun!
If they balk, sometimes to get them motivated, you can get behind
them and encourage them by a little nudge. Sometimes just getting
behind them will be enough motivation or you can try lightly touching
them on the rump or tail with your toe to prompt them on. Remember
to reinforce all these things with vocal praise and commands (not
repetitively or they learn to ignore you). If appropriate, use tactile
reinforcement when a goal has been reached or when they have made
a "good decision." Food is not something you use with wild animals
for this behavior. They should do it because it is a normal day
to day requirement. Many animals will become possessive or focus
their attention only on the food if you use it.
Another thing worth mentioning might be how to "pick them up". This
is the term used when you attempt to collect them from a cage or
put the lead on them once they are older and on a stake-out chain.
Hold the clasp in one hand (right) with the end (with the ring handle)
in the other (left) hand, this other hand (left) is also holding
a section of the chain down about a foot or so from the clasp end,
where you will hook the clasp to itself to form the collar. Once
connected I like to use the extra clip, also already attached on
one side of the first clip, as a safety measure. Clip it on so that
if one releases the other clip will hold the chain collar intact
and prevent escape. Lassos are also popularly used when working on a movie set. Once the animal is "picked up" the chain is secured around the neck.
Picking up an animal in a cage is a technique that is a good one
to learn. Once you are ready with the chain and clips, have the
backup open the door and allow the animal to walk right into the outstretched
foot long section between your hands, going across the chest. Then
quickly bring your hands together above the head and connect it.
When you are in the cage and while they are greeting you is another
time this can be done. Remember though, most problems occur in their
territory on the entry or exit.
You will have the most control this way if the animal walks into
the chain. The head should be facing away from you. Once you get
quick and fluid at this, the animal doesn't pay attention to what you've
done. They just know that somehow they are instantly on a chain
when their cage door is opened.
On a final note, one of the private cat facility directors suggested
I cover the role of the back-up with a pick up line or chain. This
is a strategy she uses for difficult cats or for chain-breaking
an adult. The back-up trainer has an identical chain setup with
a clip on the end that can quickly clip onto the collar and center
the cat between the back-up and main trainer. This is important
if the cat gets over affectionate since it can get the animal under
control before the behavior can escalate or develop into full aggression.
Hope this helps you with some ideas regarding leash training.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Special thanks to Ms. Dawn Simas of "Wild
About Cats" for her review, comments and additional suggestions.
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.
