Episode 05 -  September 2019

Host: Barbara Heidenreich

Guest: Annette Pedersen: Animal Training Coordinator - Copenhagen Zoo

Target training is often considered a basic animal training behavior, but once you start looking closely, there is quite a bit more to it. How you introduce the target, what behavior you reinforce, how the target moves, and what the animal has learned to do in its presence can quickly turn this seemingly simple behavior into something much more complex.

In this episode, I talk with Annette Pedersen of Copenhagen Zoo about some of the details that can make target training more effective. We discuss how to introduce a target to an animal showing a fear response, what to do when an animal grabs or bites the target, and some common mistakes trainers make when teaching and using targeting.

We also share real-life examples of creative ways target training has been used with different species, including sharks, rhinos, giraffes, and crocodilians. Sometimes the goal is contact with the target, but that isn't always where training needs to begin. For some animals, simply orienting toward the target may be an important first step, particularly when contact is likely to trigger biting or other behavior we don't want to reinforce.

Targeting may be one of the first behaviors many animal trainers learn to teach, but understanding the details can make this “basic” behavior an incredibly versatile training tool. If you use targeting in your training—or have encountered challenges getting the behavior you want—this episode offers plenty of practical examples to consider.

Recommended Citation:

Heidenreich, B. (Producer/Writer). (2019, September). Target Training: A Complex “Basic” Behavior [Audio Podcast] Animal Training Fundamentals with Barbara Heidenreich. https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/podcasts/target-training-a-complex-basic-behavior/

Here are some videos related to the topic of this episode:

Crocodillians can easily learn to bite targets. This can be avoided by reinforcing for orienting towards the target. Avoiding triggering biting responses with limited movement of the target and making sure animals will take food but are not overly eager. Removing the target before contact also avoids reinforcing for biting. Adding contact and duration can be added later if desired once the animal understands the concept of targeting without biting.

Here is a clip of a shark targeting over the neodymium

Guest Bio:

Annette Pedersen started working in Copenhagen Zoo in 1989 as a part of the Danish keepers’ education. After finishing her education in 1992, she got hired for the marine mammal section (Harbor Seals and California Sea lions), which also housed other animals like penguins, Malayan tapirs, barbirusa, etc. Here she helped developing the marine mammal training program until 2008, where she moved to the Elephant section working on transferring the Elephants from free contact to protected contact (PC). Later that same year she got the position as Animal Training Coordinator of Copenhagen Zoo.

Since 2008 her job has been to develop/expand the training skills of the keepers at Copenhagen Zoo, as well as managing animal behavior and training within a variety of species and challenges.

Since 2009 she helped develop the Danish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (DAZA) animal training course, which is still held once a year in Denmark.

She serves the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) as Chair for the Animal Training Working Group and as member of the Animal Welfare Working group. She is also an instructor for the EAZA animal training courses under the EAZA Academy.

2014-2016 served on the board of the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), and today serves as ABMA EU liaison helping planning another European ABMA conference in 2020 in Beekse Bergen, Holland!

Links:

Copenhagen Zoo

Copenhagen Zoo on Facebook

Copenhagen Zoo on Instagram

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