As animal trainers we respond to behaviour. We create situations where specific behaviour is most likely to happen. In practice training session often look different. We think we need a clicker and a target to do our sessions. We need preparation time and work thought a proper plan. Which is not entirely true. 

We train all the time!

Training the animals already happens from the moment you have your very first interaction with the animal. From that moment on we are modifying behaviour. The moment the animal hears the buggy, the wheelbarrow, the keys and so on we are responding to behaviour. The moment we add an enrichment device or a food source we respond to behaviour. Essentially we can conclude we train all the time. 

This is challenging because do we now have to think about what we do whenever we interact with our animals? Well to a certain extend you should. If we don’t we get anticipatory behaviour which can be very problematic. At the other hand when we start to think more about action – reaction. Because for example this makes out animals to go indoors or outdoors a lot faster. 

Can we with changing an environment elicit the behaviour we like to see? 

The answer is simple, yes we can. The only thing is that this cost us quite some trials to figure this out. Obersvation is key to find out what behaviour happens in which situation. Over time we will become good at it. Behaviour happens all the time which makes it easy but because there are so many behaviours happning all the time it can be overwhelming. 

The Zebra onto the scale

Recently we decided that we should train our Zebra’s to go onto the scale. We have a scale that has pods. These pods we can add underneath any type of scale we build ourselves. 4 pods are needed for a scale that holds a large animal. This allows us to create any size for any animal. The only challenge is that these pods go per 200 grams. But for a zebra this will be good enough. The first step was to make a scale which I did. Then the next one was the trainer teaching one of the zebra’s to be separated and follow the trainer to whichever box the trainer would go. 

Now we had to figure out where the scale should be. At first this was in a far corner in the darkest box we had. The idea was not to put it there due to the darkness but more because the window to reinforce from was bigger and this position gave a corner which should help the animal to be straight on the scale. Or at least we thought this would happen. 

Strategy didn’t work.

We were wrong. The animal first of all was hesitant to go into this box. I suppose the darkness wasn’t helping. Then the zebra wouldn’t be straight onto the scale. The conclusion right away, we had to change strategy. Each box has a door to go into from the outside. This door also has feeding bucket attached which the zebra’s knew cause of the routine the keepers have. Why not add the scale straight in front of this door with the bucket? Easy choice you might say but surprisingly the outcome was the same as the first idea. The zebra stood on the scale but again not in a straight line, this meant that only 2 feet were on the scale. The question now was, are there any other options to try. One of the boxes had a side door. This door had a mess on top which made reinforcing the zebra easy. The trainer said we should try it there. 

We moved the zebra and replaced the scale. We train the zebras in protective contact. Anytime we have to change the position of the scale we have to gate the animal away first. We placed the scale it in front of the sliding door and tried again. Again the same outcome but then I observed something specific. Each box has bedding in the middle. Whenever they come inside and want to lay down they don’t have to do this on the concrete. This bedding was in the middle of each box. This meant that the zebra had to either walk over or walk around. Every time we asked the zebra to come to the scale he seem to avoid the bedding by walking around the bedding. This made the zebra go onto the scale from the side instead.

What about using the bedding to help the zebra get more success. 

This was the last idea I had. After this I really needed to go back to the drawing board. The scale was in place the bedding as well and we opened the opposite sliding door. The trainer called the zebra towards here and then in 1 straight line the zebra stepped onto the scale. 

Instead of using different targets, teaching the animal to give body parts to place the animal onto the scale. Or to place reinforcers differently in the environment we choose to see what the zebra was doing to then find away by changing the environment as a whole. This means that training is not just about clickers and targets. Through observations and placement of different items we are able to reach our behaviour goal in an easier way. Often the animal already has the answer for you. We just have to be open to this answer and willing to listen to them. Only then we can make great changes. 

We call this antecedent arrangement. 

When to add a Clicker?

Whenever we start to train any animal we actually do not use a clicker for a while. I often ask the trainers if they want to yes or no and what the pros and cons are by doing so. Often we add a clicker whenever we start more complicated behaviours. For example training a target no clicker is needed. Training a mouth open behaviour it would be good to add a clicker cause of the timing you need. A clicker is often added whenever a Start of session signal, follow, A-B, control and station are established. Only then do we start.

Mind you I’m aware to that the animal will understand through observing you when a reinforcer will be given. This means you might be teaching the animal a specific cue that gives away that you will reinforce anyway.


PeterGiljam

Peter is a passionate Animal Consultant that beside teaching you about Operant Conditioning makes sure you will go home motivated and inspired. Make sure you read his Bio!

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