viedma: I will rule the world! Emperor Cupcake! (Default)
Bill Rebane, Moviemaker and Feminist ([personal profile] viedma) wrote2008-10-10 11:32 am

Your heartwarming link for the day

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.
ext_6373: A swan and a ballerina from an old children's book about ballet, captioned SWAN! (Default)

[identity profile] annlarimer.livejournal.com 2008-10-10 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
They should train them the way Mom trained Dad -- by withholding sex.

[identity profile] viedma.livejournal.com 2008-10-10 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Which makes you wonder what the reward would then be.
ext_6373: A swan and a ballerina from an old children's book about ballet, captioned SWAN! (Default)

[identity profile] annlarimer.livejournal.com 2008-10-10 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm just sayin'.