Animals Can Do What?!?
| August 23, 2016
Photo: Shutterstock
The crowd is sitting in the bleachers waiting with bated breath… and then — a collective gasp! The impressive smooth-nosed dolphins are in the water swimming in synchronization jumping and flipping in the air following signals from the human trainer. The crowd is ecstatic with excitement — what an incredible show! What fascinating creatures!
But it’s not just dolphins. Here are some of the many ways animals around the world are being trained right now.
AT YOUR SERVICE
You might have seen a blind person crossing the street with a guide dog a hearing-impaired person with a hearing dog or a dog standing on its hind legs to press a button that opens an electric door for its wheelchair-bound owner. These animals who help people with their disabilities are known as service animals. Dogs can also be trained to stand on their hind legs and press a button to open. Service animals are usually dogs but can also be monkeys birds and horses.
EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT
As we see with the dolphins animals in zoos and aquariums are sometimes trained to “perform” their natural behaviors on demand. This educates people about the animal world; if not for zoos how many of us would ever see any of these creatures? Seeing these animals fills us with appreciation for the animal world and a desire to be more considerate about conservation and resources to help make sure these wonderful animals don’t become extinct.
“IF YOU PLEASE…”
You can’t just walk up to an animal and say “Excuse me Mr. Gorilla but I’d like to put you in a different pen so would you mind going in this tiny box that will transport you?” And try saying “Could you just stick out your flipper Mr. Whale? I want to stick a needle in it and take a vial of your blood so I can study it in the lab.” That’s just not going to work is it?
Animals need to be trained to enter crates for transportation in a way that keeps them and people safe. Husbandry behavior (nothing to do with getting married!) are actions that vets need animals to do to allow them to have physical examinations or care. For example they need animals to step on scales to get their weight to not lash out when they take their blood to be fine with getting their nails cut or accepting eye drops if they need it.
ANIMAL EMPLOYMENT
Many animals are trained to help humans get their work done. Before strong tractors and machinery were invented strong animals were used to do the hardest farm work and many people around the world still use horses elephants and oxen to pull carts and logs. Dogs have a great sense of smell and are used by the military and police to search for drugs or explosives. Camels donkeys horses and dogs are used to pull wagons and sleds. Some dogs help people hunt or herd livestock.
Oops! We could not locate your form.
