Animal Training

A longitudinal exploration of protected contact and positive reinforcement training in elephants

Training is an essential part of meeting the needs of elephants in human care. In particular, training in a protected contact environment inherently offers more control over the environment and the choice to perform requested behaviors, likely improving welfare. Here...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Wilson, M. L., Kelling, A. S., Perdue, B. M. 2026. A longitudinal exploration of protected contact and positive reinforcement training in elephants. Zoo Biology 45(2), 203–207.

Autonomy in action: Empowering animal-led choices

The concept of choice is increasingly recognized as a critical component of animal welfare, particularly within zoological settings. Despite its significance, the academic literature on empirically examined methods to allow zoo animals to actively communicate choice is limited. This paper...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Rust, K., Phillips, W. F., Fernandez, E. J. 2026. Autonomy in action: Empowering animal-led choices. Zoo Biology 45(1), 84–90.

Pecking up optimism: Learning opportunities improve mood for sanctuary-living Cornish Cross chickens

Understanding what influences mood (optimism/pessimism) is crucial in determining whether environments are conducive to positive welfare. This study explores the impact of learning opportunities on mood in Cornish Cross chickens (also known as “broiler chickens”), of which over nine billion...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Prasad-Shreckengast, S., Holakovsky, J., Torgerson-White, L. 2026. Pecking up optimism: Learning opportunities improve mood for sanctuary-living cornish cross chickens. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 29(1), 25–33.

Positive reinforcement training improves behaviour and welfare of captive Indian leopards (panthera pardus fusca)

Rescued animals, including leopards, often experience stress from routine husbandry practices such as feeding, movement, and regrouping. Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) has emerged as a valuable tool for reducing stress and enhancing the welfare of captive animals. This study investigated...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Mane, A. M., Deshmukh, A., Gupta, B. K. 2025. Positive reinforcement training improves behaviour and welfare of captive indian leopards (panthera pardus fusca). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(4), 715–729.

Behavioral management as a coping strategy for managing stressors in primates: The influence of temperament and species

Primates involved in biomedical research experience stressors related to captivity, close contact with caregivers, and may be exposed to various medical procedures while modeling clinical disease or interventions under study. Behavioral management is used to promote behavioral flexibility in less...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Animal Training, PersonalityAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Palmer, S., Oppler, S. H., Graham, M. L. 2022. Behavioral management as a coping strategy for managing stressors in primates: The influence of temperament and species. Biology 11(3), 423.

Report of the 2024 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting

The RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group has held a one-day meeting every autumn for the last 31 years. These meetings provide an opportunity for members to discuss current welfare research, exchange views on welfare issues and share their experiences of the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal Training, Drug/Substance Administration, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Imaging & Electrophysiological RecordingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Stevens, C., Robinson, E., Jackson, M. et al. 2025. Report of the 2024 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting. Animal Welfare and Technology 4(3), 219–226.

Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) husbandry and their welfare

A key diagnostic tool in breeding practice is systematic observation: by identifying abnormalities in natural behaviour, it can highlight early signs of reduced welfare or physical and mental health issues in livestock and other animals. The aim of this paper...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Pilarczyk, R., Bąkowska, M., Pilarczyk, B. et al. 2025. Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) husbandry and their welfare. Animals 15(21).

Participation in a short-term socialization and training program improved kennel-raised dog welfare

Kennel-raised dogs are exposed to more stressors and fewer positive experiences than dogs raised in homes. We created a Dog Socialization and Training class to enrich the environment of university teaching dogs. Undergraduate students (103 total) were assigned a dog...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Ing, N. H., Richardson, R., Lamon, T. K. et al. 2026. Participation in a short-term socialization and training program improved kennel-raised dog welfare. Animals 16(3).

The constructional approach to zoo animal training: Enhancing welfare through emerging evidence-based behavioral science

Animal welfare has become a cornerstone of modern zoo and aquarium animal care practices. This paper introduces the constructional approach to animal training as an evidence-based framework that can enhance the welfare of zoo animals. Developed through decades of behavioral...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Heidenreich, B., Pedersen, A. 2025. The constructional approach to zoo animal training: Enhancing welfare through emerging evidence-based behavioral science. Animals 15(21), 3221.

Evaluating behavioral management practices for laboratory nonhuman primates: An international survey

The largest survey to date of behavioral management practices among facilities breeding and housing nonhuman primates (NHPs) for research was conducted from 2019 to 2020. Its primary objective was to analyze and compare practices across the European Union (EU), the...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Baker, K. C., Sewell, F. R., Prescott, M. J. 2026. Evaluating behavioral management practices for laboratory nonhuman primates: An international survey. Animals 16(1).