Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA

This episode Sue Pasquine, ZooTampa at Lowry Park and an ABMA Board Member, helps to define and break down “Schedules of Reinforcement”. This episode is Part 2 of a two part series breaking down the most commonly heard and used schedules of reinforcement. The episode aims to break down and discuss the four main types of intermittent reinforcement schedules.  Sue explains and gives examples of Fixed Ratio (FR), Fixed Interval (FI), Variable Ratio (VR), and Variable Interval (VI) Schedules.  To end the episode, we discuss two “flavors” of schedules of reinforcement which are not found in the literature but are used in practice.  These “twists” to traditional reinforcement schedules include Variable Ratio of Reinforcement Variety (VRRV) and a continuous schedule that utilizes secondary reinforcers.  Stay tuned in for Sue’s "Training Tale" about reimagining the zoo’s macaw flight and how they implemented a variable schedule od reinforcement. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠abc@theabma.org⁠⁠. To learn more about the ABMA visit: https://www.theabma.org/

6:50 Overview of the four main types of intermittent schedules of reinforcement
9:15 Fixed Ratio Schedule (FR)
17:35 Fixed Interval Schedule (FI)
22:55 Variable Ratio Schedule (VR) 
33:50 Variable Interval Schedule (VI)
40:00 “Flavor” of Schedule of Reinforcement: Variable Ratio with Reinforcement Variety (VRRV)
45:45 “Flavor” of Schedule of Reinforcement: Continuous Schedule Utilizing Secondary Reinforcers 
58:30 “Training Tales”

This episode Sue Pasquine, ZooTampa at Lowry Park and an ABMA Board Member, helps to define and break down “Schedules of Reinforcement”. This episode is Part 1 of a two part series breaking down the most commonly heard and used schedules of reinforcement. The episode starts with definitions of schedules of reinforcement and the two categories nonintermittent and intermittent.  Next, continuous reinforcement is discussed.  Continuous is the best schedule to utilize when teaching a new item. Sue then provides some learning into non-intermittent schedules of reinforcement. The importance of knowing what schedules of reinforcement and consistency across team members was discussed.  Sue also discusses how schedules come into play when shaping a new behavior.  The discussion ends with advice for transitioning from a continuous reinforcement schedule to an intermittent schedule.  Stay tuned in for Sue’s "Training Tale" about the power of asking why something is done and the benefits of well conditioned bridging.For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠abc@theabma.org⁠⁠ and to reach Sue email. 
3:55 Introduction to Sue Pasquine 
9:45 Definition of Schedules of Reinforcements
12:10 Definition of Non-Intermittent schedules and Continuous Reinforcement 
17:20 Definition of Intermittent schedules 
25:55 The importance of knowing what schedule we are using and that a team is using the same schedule in the same situations 
28:20 How schedules come into play when shaping a new behavior 
33:50 Advice for moving from a continuos schedule to an intermittent schedule 
41:00 “Training Tales”

This episode Heidi Hellmuth, an ABMA founder, provides some great learning and advice for building resiliency, or coping skills, with animals.  This podcast is a companion to Heidi’s presentation at the 2026 ABMA-IAATE annual conference titled “Building Resiliency in Animals from Anemones to Zebras”. The episodes starts with defining resiliency and practical applications to building resiliency in animals while also explaining what resiliency is not.  Next Heidi discusses the importance of proactively vs reactively building resiliency and the positive effects it can have on an animals welfare and mental state.  The episode ends with advice on how to start resiliency building, ideas for parts of an animal’s life and environment to focus on, and the benefits of giving animals more control and agency in their life.  Stay tuned in for Heidi’s "Training Tale" about a hippo who learned to go on a scale in a unique way! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠abc@theabma.org⁠⁠ and to reach Heidi email heidi.hellmuth@yahoo.com
6:55 Introduction to Heidi Hellmuth 
13:50 Definition of resiliency 
18:50 The importance of proactively vs reactively building resiliency
20:35 How an individual’s resilience can be an indictor of an animal’s welfare and mental state
24:00 What resiliency is not
27:40 The positive effects that building resiliency can have
31:35 Aspects of an animal’s life to focus on building resiliency
45:00 How can giving animals more control and agency in their life positively affect their resiliency 
49:30 Potential risks involved in resiliency building 
53:00 Ideas to start resiliency building 
58:35 “Training Tales”

This episode continues on "The Behaviors of..." series which dives into the people side of the animal care field. This episode Megan Sanders, BehaviorWorks, discusses the behaviors of training the trainers and advice on coaching people through the science and practical application of training.  This podcast is a companion to Megan’s presentation at the 2026 ABMA-IAATE annual conference titled “Training the Trainer: Behavior Skills Training Using PORTL to Improve Accuracy with Animal Trainers”. Megan starts the episode by demonstrating how we can take our knowledge of the science of training animals and apply that to training and coaching humans.  Next, Megan discusses the importance of practicing skills in the “classroom” beforehand and advice on how to teach those skills.  Finally, Megan provides some advice on giving and receiving feedback and how to best set yourself up for success if you are the one being training. Stay tuned in for Megan’s "Training Tale" about the simple way spider monkeys were recalled from the rainforest. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠abc@theabma.org⁠⁠ and to contact Megan email mms@behaviorworks.org
4:10 Introduction to Megan Sanders 

13:00 How do we use the knowledge that we have about behavior modification in animals and bring that into how we teach people

16:30 Information on resources related to the science of behavior change and people 

19:15 The importance of practicing skills before training an animal 

30:35 Behavior Skills Training and how to apply that to teaching training 

34:30 Teaching training skills in a classroom setting using PORTL 

40: 25 Advice on giving feedback 

45:45 Modeling as an effective teaching strategy 

47:30 How to set yourself up for success if you are the one being trained 

57:05 The behaviors of being effective at training trainers 

1:02:40 “Training Tales”

This episode Gerry Creighton, Global Elephant Care, discusses the importance of and advice for creating reinforcing and challenging environments for animals.  Gerry starts the podcast by detailing his journey and the evolution of the Dublin Zoo and then discussing what it means to “borrow animals” for training.  He gives advice on creatinine environments where animals aren’t looking to us for reinforcers.  Gerry also provides learning on giving animals appropriate, biological challenges and allowing animals to make their own decisions.  The podcast ends with advice on how to effectively message to guests, and leadership, when environments are created that may limit the guest view of the animal. Stay tuned in for Gerry’s "Training Tale" about an elephant who learned the joy of positive reinforcement training! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠abc@theabma.org⁠⁠ and to reach Gerry email ⁠gerry@globalelephantcare.com To learn more about Global Elephant Care and Gerry’s book “Raised by the Zoo: My Life with Elephants and Other Animals” visit https://globalelephantcare.com/
5:20 Introduction to Gerry Creighton 

21:50 “Borrowing Animals” for training 

33:25 How can we give animals appropriate challenges in their life? 

40:45 Creating environments where animals aren’t looking to us for reinforcers 

50:15 Letting animals make their own decisions and how to listen to those decisions 

1:01:40 Effectively messaging to guests and leadership if environments cause an animal to not be readily seen

1:08:40 “Training Tales”