Animal Training Is More than Just Tricks - Published in Piedmont Post

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Have you ever seen a dog shake someone's hand or sit on command? Believe it or not, keepers at Oakland Zoo work with our animals to train them to behave similarly. If you are at the Zoo at the right time, you might see a bear standing up with their front paws on the fence, a macaw being asked to put their wing out, or any other interesting behaviors from the Zoo animal residents.

Our animals are trained to exhibit different behaviors to help us better care for them. For example, a bear standing up with paws on the fence allows Keepers to check their belly and feet for injuries. This helps ensure our animals are happy and healthy in a safer, more frequent, and less stressful manner.

Activity: Animal Training Game

Using a ‘bridge’ signal during training helps animals understand what action is rewarded, reducing confusion. This signal, such as a whistle or clicker, bridges the gap between the desired action and the reward, which is usually a yummy treat.

For this game, you (or a group of people) will “train” another person to act. First, send the person who will be the trainee into another room, so the person (or group) guiding them can decide on a task. Once the trainer chooses the action, the trainee re-enters the room, and the people guiding use claps to direct the trainee. The claps are slow at first and then speed up as the person gets closer and closer to the correct action. The clapping acts as your ‘bridge’ guiding the person to the proper action.

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