It is amazing how often people assume that ClickerExpo is all about dog training. Certainly there are many options for dog trainers, but Expo provides many opportunities for trainers of all species. As someone who has worked in the zoological profession for much of my career, I wanted to help colleagues in the zoo and aquarium world recognize how much there is for them to enjoy and learn at ClickerExpo 2017.
Direct zoo applications
There are many ClickerExpo faculty members who have direct experience working in the zoo world. Often, their talks have examples that apply to zookeepers and trainers. In addition to my own experience as a zoo trainer, others with significant zoological experience include Dr. Susan Friedman, Kathy Sdao, Eva Bertilsson, Lindsay Wood, and Laura Monaco Torelli. A few of the Sessions and Labs that directly refer to zoo and aquarium training include:
- Full House? Working & Living with Multiple Animals, led by Ken Ramirez and based on his experiences working with large numbers of zoo animals
- We Just Have to Dish: Training, Science & Nerdy Stuff with Kathy & Susan, a discussion with Susan Friedman and Kathy Sdao—who are sure to share some fascinating zoo stories
- Dr. No: How Teaching an Animal to Say “No” Can be the Right Prescription, a new topic from Ken Ramirez based on a project started in an aquarium setting
- Love it! Effective Non-Food Reinforcement, focusing on techniques developed by Ken Ramirez in the zoo world
- Animals in Control: The Choice Is Theirs, a Session presented by Eva Bertilsson, Emelie Johnson Vegh, and Peggy Hogan that directly pertains to training behaviors for medical procedures in the zoo world
- Ideas that Should Die: Outdated, Outmoded & Misunderstood Behavior Science, a new Session presented by Susan Friedman
- Consuming Research Without Indigestion, a Session and a Lab offered by Susan Friedman
Working with veterinarians
The relationship between trainers and veterinarians or veterinary technicians is central to the health and well-being of our animals. However, trainers often don’t know how to make that relationship stronger. Two ClickerExpo presentations focused on this topic are new for 2017 and are essential for all trainers. Zookeepers and trainers should find both of these Sessions beneficial:
- The Animal Behavior Healthcare Team: Real-World Trainer & Veterinary Collaboration Models, with Debbie Martin
- Crossing Chasms: Understanding Trainer & Veterinary Perspectives on Animal Care, a joint presentation by Debbie Martin and Ken Ramirez
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People skills
Sometimes trainers are so focused on the animals that they forget the importance of honing people skills. So much about working with animals necessitates working with people. These people include, but are not limited to, coworkers, managers, and the public. Many trainers would benefit from new skills and knowledge in this area. There are several Sessions designed to help improve teaching and augment people skills at ClickerExpo 2017:
- Wanted: Training Consultant (Those Good with Animals Need Not Apply!), a broad look at the importance of people skills, presented by Ken Ramirez and based on many of his zoo consults
- Keep Your Candle Burning: Avoiding Professional Burnout, a new offering from Kathy Sdao that should be helpful to all trainers
- What a Pithy: Making Classes Memorable, a fun look at instructional tools with Kathy Sdao
- Help Your Teacher Help You, a new way to think about student-teacher communication shared by Theresa McKeon
- Turn Me On… (or Not): Inspiring Others to Choose Positive Reinforcement Training, an important presentation about the process of change from Michele Pouliot
Understanding the science
Although I have been training for more than 40 years, I am constantly surprised by the new things I learn from the science of behavior analysis and the skilled instructors at Clicker Expo. The science behind how animals learn applies across all species; I encourage all zoo trainers to consider attending these fascinating Sessions and Labs:
- A Moment of Science: Clicker Training 101, a great overview from Kathy Sdao
- The Great Divide: Is it Operant or Classical? an important discussion of classical and operant treatments for behavior modification plans from Lindsay Wood
- Consuming Research Without Indigestion, both a Session and a Lab from Dr. Susan Friedman
- Effective Affection: How to Get it Right, a new and thought-provoking talk from Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz
- Poisoned Cues: Diagnosis, Analysis & Repair, an up-to-date review of an important concept with Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz
- Ideas that Should Die: Outdated, Outmoded & Misunderstood Behavior Science, a new Session presented by Dr. Susan Friedman
- The Rat Is Never Wrong: Training with an Errorless Learning Mindset, a presentation from Dr. Susan Friedman, giving a great overview of this classic concept.
Core skills
Because the science of training applies across all species, I always encourage trainers to revisit the basics. Many of these ClickerExpo Sessions may focus on dog training, but the skillset required to use shaping, put a behavior on cue, or to build a behavior chain are universal. I also recommend Sessions about horse training to zookeepers, because a great deal of what works with horses is applicable across species of hoofstock. In addition to the Expo offerings already mentioned, here is just a smattering of courses where I think zookeepers could benefit:
- Building Behavior: Shape the Future, a Session and a Lab focused on shaping behavior led by Laura VanArendonk Baugh
- When Good Training Goes Badly: Troubleshooting Your Training Sessions, a Session and Lab offering training solutions from Lori Chamberland
- What a Cue Can Do: Developing Cueing Skills, a Session and Lab pairing about effective cues, with the Session led by Kathy Sdao and the Lab led by Sarah Owings
- Train That Chain! Behavior Chains, another Session and Lab focused on a fundamental skill, presented by Laura VanArendonk Baugh
- From Fear to Near: Behaviors that Change Horse Husbandry, a topic of interest for all zoo trainers, presented by Peggy Hogan
- Baby's First Steps: Foal-Raising, a Session with great information about training young animals just after birth, presented by Jen Digate
- Fear Factors: Understanding and Reducing Fear across Species, another excellent Session from Jen Digate, focusing on animals’ differing expressions of fear and the tools to reduce fear
- All Aboard! Trailer-Loading Made Easy, a Session from Peggy Hogan that outlines the training steps to achieve trailer-loading
No matter what species you work with—a pet bunny, a large horse, or any number of exotic animals in the zoo—ClickerExpo always offers seminars that can improve your training. ClickerExpo 2017 is a particularly strong conference with many elements that will benefit my colleagues in the zoo world. I hope to see many of you there!
