Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA

• 63: Training on the Continuum: Moving Away from Coercion and Towards Genuine Choice with Steve Martin, Natural Encounters, Inc.

  This episode Steve Martin, President and CEO of Natural Encounters, Inc., discusses training on a continuum by moving away from coercion and towards genuine choice. Steve starts the episode by giving a review of the concepts of choice and… control with some practical examples.  The discussion then turns to breaking down behavioral degrees of freedom, genuine choice, and coercion with many more great practical examples. The episode ends with Steve outlining that real-world animal training requires us to train on the continuum but always striving towards providing genuine choice in order to enhance an animal’s welfare.  Stay tuned in for Steve’s motivation and emotional "Training Tale" about a trainer from a show at the Singapore Zoo.  For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Steve email [email protected]⁠ Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!3:45 Introduction to Steve Martin 9:25 Review of Choice and… Control 18:55 Degrees of Behavioral Freedom28:20 Free Choice30:35 Genuine Choice44:05 Coercion 56:15 Training on the Continuum1:04:15 “Training Tales”

  --------  

  1:11:48
• 62: Motivation and its Affect on Behavior with Mel Paynter & Alyse Stitt, Georgia Aquarium

  This episode Mel Paynter and Alyse Stitt, Georgia Aquarium, discuss motivation in the context of animal behavior and training.  In part 1 of this two episode discussion Mel and Alyse discuss what motivation is, what it looks like in practice, and give some o-fish-ally great examples from the many aquatic species that they work with in the Ocean Voyager habitat at the Georgia Aquarium.  They both dive deeper into breaking down and discussing some of the numerous stimuli and events that can affect motivation.   The discussion finishes with their advice on how to productively and effectively use motivation as a tool in our training toolbox and not as a label.  Stay tuned in for Mel and Alyse’s “Training Tales” that focus on how the fish they have worked with have taught them and changed their perspective. You can also learn more information about the 2025 ABMA annual conference by visiting www.abma.org For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Mel and Alyse email [email protected] or [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 3:25 Introduction to Mel Paynter and Alyse Stitt8:15 Overview of Ocean Voyager habitat at Georgia Aquarium 10:15 Definition of Motivation 13:45 Definition of Motivating Operations Affects on Motivation: 17:10 Food and Enrichment 24:00 Breeding/Courtship 34:00 Social Structure/Situations 39:50 Environment43:35 Weather/Seasonality45:00 Learning History 47:50 Animal’s physical ability to do something48:50 Previous access to resources50:35 Differences in motivation among individuals 59:25 Advice for using motivation productively and effectively, not as a label1:05:35 “Training Tales”

  --------  

  1:09:24
• 61: Fading with Shane Gorbett, Philadelphia Zoo

  This episode Shane Gorbett, Philadelphia Zoo and host of the podcast, discusses and breaks down fading. Shane first discusses examples of what fading looks like in practice and how we can apply the artful application of the science of behavior change in order to know when and how to fade.  Shane also discusses the challenges of fading too quickly, too slowly, or not at all.  Stay tuned in for Shane’s "Training Tale" about Nile crocodile crate training and the importance of paying attention to the communication that we provide to animals.  Visit www.theabma.org for more information and for questions or suggestions about the podcast or to contact Shane, email ⁠[email protected]⁠ Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 5:35 Introduction to Shane Gorbett 14:10 Definition of Fading and Examples 25:10 Fading to change a behavior’s cue. 28:00 How do we know when to fade? 31:50 What happens if we fade too quickly? 37:35 What happens if we fade too slowly? 39:05 What happens if we never fade at all? 42:55 “Training Tale”

  --------  

  51:20
• 60: Primary/Unconditioned & Secondary/Conditioned Reinforcers with Tricia Dees, Second Vice President of The ABMA

  This episode Tricia Dees, the second vice president of the ABMA, continues on with the discussion from Episode 59 and goes deeper into primary/unconditioned and secondary/conditioned reinforcers.  Tricia gives some common examples of primary/unconditioned and secondary/conditioned reinforcers but also talks about how individual preference plays a role in determining what is actually a reinforcer for each individual.  The discussion then turns to why and how we can condition a reinforcer and the importance of watching the animal’s behavior to ensure that a conditioned reinforcer maintains its effectiveness. Stay tuned in for Tricia’s “Training Tale” about how she used learning from a presentation at an ABMA conference about zebra training with an otter. You can also learn more information about the 2025 ABMA annual conference by visiting www.abma.org For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Tricia email [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 4:05 Introduction to Tricia Dees 6:10 Definition of a Primary/Unconditioned Reinforcer 8:50 Definition of a Secondary/Conditioned Reinforcer 11:50 Are primary and secondary reinforcers the same for every individual in a species? 19:25 Why would we condition a reinforcer? 22:00 Example of how to condition a reinforcer and how to tell if it is an effective reinforcer30:45 How to tell if a conditioned reinforcer has lost its effectiveness as a reinforcer 36:30 “Training Tales” 

  --------  

  42:04
• 59: Reinforcers and Punishers with Shawna Spencer, Coral World Ocean Park

  Welcome back for the first episode of 2025!  This episode Shawna Spencer, Coral World Ocean Park, dives deeper into breaking down reinforcers and punishers.  This episode is full of examples and practical applications.  Shawna starts with a brief introduction to primary and secondary reinforcers before listing examples of common reinforcers and punishers.  The episode finishes with a discussion about how reinforcers can change over time and how to tell if something is no longer a reinforcer for an animal.  Stay tuned in for Shawna’s two doggone great “Training Tales”, one featuring dog training in German.  You can also learn more information about the 2025 ABMA annual conference by listening or visiting www.abma.org For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Shawna email [email protected]⁠ Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 3:20 Introduction to Shawna Spencer 13:10 Information about the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference in Galveston, Texas 19:50 Definitions of Reinforcers and Punishers 23:05 What can be a reinforcer or punisher 25:10 Definition of Primary Reinforcers25:45 Definition and application of Secondary Reinforcers34:10 Examples of common reinforcers 42:10 Examples of common punishers52:35 If something is a reinforcer will it always be a reinforcer?  57:40 How to tell if something is no longer a reinforcer?  1:01:00 “Training Tales” 

  --------  

  1:10:32

Mais podcasts de Crianças e família

Podcasts em tendência em Crianças e família

Sobre Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA