Your heartwarming link for the day

[viedma]

Shedd Aquarium rescues dogs and trains them like a dolphin or whale


Doing stuff for humans is neat!

"In their new lives as performers, the dogs do tricks, play with handlers and demonstrate new talents like ferreting out contraband.

To teach them, the Shedd used training methods it helped pioneer.

"A lot of animal training used to be based on coercion, force and punishment . . . with owners establishing themselves as the alpha members of the group, yanking on leashes and tightening collars to dispense discipline," Ramirez said. "You can't put collars and leashes on marine mammals like whales and dolphins, so trainers had to develop a new training regimen, positive reinforcement."

Trainers encourage desired behaviors by giving the animals little rewards—a tasty snack, a pat or caress, jolly "good boy!" or "good girl!" praises. Punishment is never used."

***

No word on whether "Pet Training the Shedd Way" will be subtitled, "Suck on this, Cesar Millan."


ETA: Special bonus heartwarming article just for you, Connecticut court overturns same-sex marriage ban.

Comments

[cyprinella]

"Suck on this, Cesar Millan."

I'd sign an internet petition in support of this.

[viedma.livejournal.com]

I'll second that. I mean, there's a difference between being the adult in charge and being a dickweed about it.

[traveller.livejournal.com]

okay, but I want my dog to not pee on the rug, I don't care if he can balance a ball on his nose...

[viedma.livejournal.com]

Damn, I already sent Aquarium tickets to you and everything!

[traveller.livejournal.com]

ooh, but I like sharks! I'll bring the dog.

[viedma.livejournal.com]

Watch out for the dreaded dog shark!

[traveller.livejournal.com]

I will!

in all seriousness, my dad and I like to watch Cesar and cheer when he gets bit. if that tells you anything. :p

[viedma.livejournal.com]

~_^

Sweet.

[la-smartie.livejournal.com]

I thought this was from The Onion at first. It took me a couple reads to realize that training domestic dogs is not a joke . . . (Boo hiss to training dolphins, though. That gives me the creeps.)

[viedma.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I used to love the dolphin show at the Baltimore aquarium, but now it just makes me sad. They should go to training dogs full-time, write a best-selling dog training manual, etc.

[la-smartie.livejournal.com]

Dammit . . . I totally forgot what I intended to write: I watched the N.Y. "Life on Mars" last night and I sort of liked it. Michael Imperioli is great (he always is) and the captain looks like that guy from "Mean Streets," but old. Heh.

[viedma.livejournal.com]

That's what Vali heard-- I was against it on general principle because why do we remake everything?-- but if it's good then I'll watch.

[koshiroryuu.livejournal.com]

RE: your ETA, I am so so happy about the Connecticut decision. So happy. But I refuse to read anything else about the dissenting opinions, because from what I've read they're almost shockingly ignorant, and I don't think I need that kind of anger right now.

[viedma.livejournal.com]

Understood. Also, your icon maketh me squee, thankee.

[annlarimer.livejournal.com]

They should train them the way Mom trained Dad -- by withholding sex.

[viedma.livejournal.com]

Which makes you wonder what the reward would then be.

[annlarimer.livejournal.com]

I'm just sayin'.