School starts tomorrow and this spring is going to be busy! I’m taking some really neat classes this semester in my Behavior Analysis program at UNT. I am hoping to blog more about my classwork–last semester was filled with neat articles and interesting discussions and I’d like to discuss some of the more interesting ideas [...]
The Columban Simulations: How Smart Are Pigeons?
I found two wonderful youtube clips recently. I highly recommend taking the time to watch them! They are the first and second halves of a short 1980s film about the Columban Simulations. The Columban Simulations were a series of research studies where pigeons were taught to perform complicated behaviors that we usually think of as [...]
An Elephant Never Forgets (Ever?)
Does an elephant forget what she’s learned? Do other trained animals forget what they’ve learned? What implications does this have for training dogs, horses and other domestic animals? Elephant Memory Tests In 1964, Leslie Squier used operant conditioning to train several elephants at the Portland Zoo. He presented his findings that year at the meeting [...]
If you give a horse a cookie…
Many riding instructors and horse clubs will tell you NEVER to hand feed treats to a horse. This will spoil the horse and teach him bad manners by encouraging him to be pushy, rude and to beg for treats. Even worse, you’ll encourage your horse to nip and bite. At least, that was what I [...]
10 Reasons Why You Need To Go To ClickerExpo
Last year I had a fantastic time when I attended ClickerExpo. If you’re not familiar with ClickerExpo, it is the world’s largest gathering of positive animal trainers. The event is hosted by Karen Pryor Clicker Training and features 3 days jam packed full of fascinating lectures, hands-on learning labs and countless opportunities to interact [...]
Temple Grandin Movie: My Review
Have you seen the Temple Grandin movie yet? I finally got a chance to see it early this week. I thought HBO did an excellent job chronicling Temple Grandin’s many accomplishments, as well as some of the huge obstacles she has faced throughout her life. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Temple Grandin, [...]
When do I start clicker training?
Can all horses be clicker trained? Does the horse need to know anything before we start clicker training? Can clicker training work for shy, scared, abused or aggressive horse? This is a revised version of something I originally posted on the clickryder yahoo discussion group. (Message number 80910). Some horses aren’t ready for clicker training. [...]
What’s the best way to train an animal?
Stale Cheerios will help you learn new knowledge and techniques to take your training skills to the next level. So stick around, your animals will be grateful!
I'm a graduate student studying the science of behavior and training. On this blog I share stories of my animal training adventures, as well as tips, techniques and tricks to help you improve your training. Although most of this blog centers around training rescue horses, the ideas discussed apply equally to all species. The other animals I work with, including dogs and rats, also appear occasionally on the blog.
Mary Hunter
cheeriotrainer@gmail.com
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