Page 21 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

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Foreword

I was delighted to be asked to write the for- of animal training to me. Through my inter-
ward for this important book and, as I read actions with other tutors and our students it
through the chapters, that delight turned to quickly became apparent to me that the the-
sincere appreciation for the wealth of knowl- oretical knowledge of animal learning and
edge presented by all the authors and editors. how it could best be practically applied to
Time and time again I would write in my training was still at an early stage. I was also
notes ‘clearly explained’, ‘really great applied made painfully aware of my own lack of
examples’, and ‘good use of relatable real‐life training ability; put bluntly, although I had a
situations’. What makes this even more good grasp of the theoretical knowledge I
impressive is that the experiences and exam- struggled with the practical skills to quickly
ples are drawn from across the world. This see nuances in behaviour and then adjust my
not only demonstrates the widespread utili- timing to respond effectively and provide a
sation of training but, also where there are good learning environment for the animal.
commonalities and differences in approaches. Having now read this book, I have been given
I cannot recommend this book highly enough new hope and inspiration that I would be
and hope the readers will allow me a few able to do better if I tried again.
paragraphs to expand on why …. The authors provide an excellent range of
Many years ago, at the start of my career I applied examples across varied species and
was employed to be a course manager for a situations. They are able to take complex
new BSc (Hons) in Applied Animal Behaviour topics and write about them in an easily
and Training. This degree was one of the first accessible way. We are quite rightly reminded
of its kind and reflected the increasing inter- that as the field of animal training expanded
est in not only understanding why animals so did the range of terms and techniques
behave in the ways that they do, but also how being used. This has the potential to be at
we can use that knowledge to shape and train the least confusing, and at the worst con-
different behaviours. Although this course flicting. In turn this will result in poor tech-
focused mainly on training of companion nique and negative welfare, and that is before
animals it was also forward thinking enough you even get into the complexities of transla-
to include modules on wild animals as well; tion into different languages. This provides
and oh, what myself and my fellow course me with yet another reason to recommend
tutors would have given for this book to be this book; in addition to consistency of terms
available at that time! used and clear explanation of them (the
Managing that course not only reinforced differences between positive and negative
my deep fascination with animal behaviour reinforcement and punishment being just
(and my enjoyment at having opportunities one example), there is also an excellent glos-
to be able to pass that fascination onto oth- sary that I am sure will be utilised again and
ers) but also opened up the brand new world again by readers.