1 A A b b s s o o positively, l l u u t t e e l l doubt! y y Without a do , , Wi po YES, YOU CAN TRAIN CATS! Circuscats.com (The Acro-Cats) CHERYL KOLUS, DVM, KPA-CTP 2 IF THIS CAT CAN BE TRAINED… …so can yours! Courtesy of the Denver Zoo 3 1
WHY IS TRAINING CATS IMPORTANT? • Mental stimulation • Strengthen human- animal bond • Decrease unwanted behaviors • Physical stimulation • Develop confidence • Make handling easier • Fun! https://www.travelblog.org/Photos/377776 4 CLICKER TRAINING • Marker training, R+ • Marine mammals, zoo, fish, people • The click Event marker o Bridge o Secondary (conditioned) o reinforcer Caution: scary? Precise o Distinct o 5 CLICKER SKILLS • Observation • Timing • 1 click = (at least) 1 reinforcer • Separate the click from the reward • Motivators 6 2
7 8 GETTING BEHAVIORS •Luring/prompting •Shaping •Capturing 9 3
FIRST THINGS FIRST • Loading the clicker • Target Why? o • When do you add the verbal cue? Behavior performed o reliably 8/10 times Predict moment o behavior is about to be performed 10 11 Practice Video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 4
USEFUL BEHAVIORS • Go into carrier • Come when called • Go to mat (station) 13 DESENSITIZATION & COUNTERCONDITIONING Used to change underlying emotions Desensitization • Presenting a negative (scary) stimulus at a low enough intensity that it doesn’t elicit a negative (fearful, aggressive) response, and gradually increasing intensity, still avoiding a negative response. If it’s boring, you’re probably doing it right! 14 DESENSITIZATION & COUNTERCONDITIONING Counterconditioning • Providing something pleasant in the presence of something negative (scary) • And/or teaching an incompatible behavior in the presence of something negative Most effective when used together! 15 5
COOPERATIVE CARE • Stationing Courtesy of Ayoe Hoff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6P1jzHEV10 16 POSITIVE HANDLING EXAMPLES • Distraction vs. training 17 POSITIVE HANDLING EXAMPLES 18 6
19 THE END 20 7
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