Comments on: Animal Training to Target, Station, or Place

By: Ark Lady

Ark Lady — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:42:43 +0000

Hi Jane, so happy to see that you stopped by. I really enjoyed your articles and look forward to reading more–you are in my RSS too since I don’t always have time to get out into cyberspace!

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:30:21 +0000

Thanks for the comments on my blog Diana and thanks for “linking” us, Mary! I have added your blog to my reader Diana. Another advantage of stationing animals is that it adds to their self control which is very helpful with enthusiastic learners!

By: Ark Lady

Ark Lady — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:18:34 +0000

LOL It is really frustrating on this end because I cross between a lot of different types of facilities and critters.

It gets very niche-centric which drives me crazy. Principles ARE the same but people don’t seem to get it.

When I wrote my behavior column for the zoo world they always wanted to know about the species–and although that helps–it is not really necessary to train if you are astute enough.

The problem as I have identified it is that there are two types of people are involved in animal management. Those that can train and those that can caretake. They are not always mutually exclusive but those that train can get out of the box…

I think it is more of a social style aptitude of how people move through life.

Unfortunately many people like routine and animal training is usually better if you are consistent but not predictable when it comes to more involved techniques.

BTW: the AP wire put out an article on cat training this week. Go figure!

By: Mary H.

Mary H. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:39:32 +0000

Glad you liked them!

Your right, stationing isn’t often used in the horse or pet world, but I think it could have lots of practical uses.

The principles and science of training are universal. However, I find trainers focus on different behaviors and come up with different tricks and exercises depending on the species. These things can often easily be applied to other species, it’s just that a lot of times the horse trainers don’t talk to the dog trainers and the dog trainers don’t talk to the zoo trainers, and so on.

I know I’ve learned a lot of ideas and exercises for my horses by watching people train species other than horses. I’ve recently started reading a few bird training blogs, and have found them very interesting so far! (even though I have no bird nor any intention of getting one.)

Mary H.

By: Ark Lady

Ark Lady — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:11:02 +0000

Thanks for the links. Those were fun posts.

Stationing is often overlooked or not discussed between pet owners so I am glad to hear that this was timely and to see someone figuring it out without much assistance!

By: Mary H.

Mary H. — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:40:37 +0000

How timely!

It seems like this past week, stationing keeps coming up in blogs and conversation.

Here are 2 neat posts you (and your readers) might enjoy about a horse trainer using stationing with two eager horses.
http://bookendsfarm.blogspot.com/2009/10/advanced-targeting.html
http://bookendsfarm.blogspot.com/2009/11/advanced-targeting-2.html

Mary H.