Animal Training

A protocol for training group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to cooperate with husbandry and research procedures using positive reinforcement

There has been increased recognition of the 3Rs in laboratory animal management over the last decade, including improvements in animal handling and housing. For example, positive reinforcement is now more widely used to encourage primates to cooperate with husbandry procedures,...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Kemp, C., Thatcher, H., Farningham, D. et al. 2017. A protocol for training group-housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to cooperate with husbandry and research procedures using positive reinforcement. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 197, 90-100.

Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: A literature review

The methods by which dogs are trained vary between methods involving mainly negative reinforcement and positive punishment (aversive-based methods) and methods based essentially in positive reinforcement and negative punishment (reward-based methods). However, the use of aversive-based methods is highly controversial....

Year Published: 2017Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Fernandes, J. G., Olsson, I. A. S., Vieira de Castro, A. C. 2017. Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: A literature review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 196, 1-12.

Implementing a successful positive reinforcement training protocol in laboratory-housed dogs

Training is recognised as important for laboratory animals, both to improve welfare and increase the efficiency of conducting husbandry and regulated procedures. Despite the acknowledged need for such training in the laboratory-housed dog and the availability of training protocols for...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Scullion Hall, L. E. M., Robinson, S. 2016. Implementing a successful positive reinforcement training protocol in laboratory-housed dogs. Animal Technology and Welfare 15(2), 83-88.

Variation in behavioral reactivity is associated with cooperative restraint training efficiency

Training techniques that prepare laboratory animals to participate in testing via cooperation are useful tools that have the potential to benefit animal wellbeing. Understanding how animals systematically vary in their cooperative training trajectories will help trainers to design effective and...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bliss-Moreau, E., Moadab, G. 2016. Variation in behavioral reactivity is associated with cooperative restraint training efficiency. JAALAS 55(1), 41–49.

Refinement of habituation procedures in diet-induced obese mice

Orogastric gavage, while a common method for delivering experimental substances in mice, has been shown to induce stress. To minimize the associated stress with this procedure, sham gavage prior to the start of experiment is a common method for habiutating...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Animal Training, Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Karrberg, L., Andersson, L., Kastenmayer, R. J. et al. 2016. Refinement of habituation procedures in diet-induced obese mice. Laboratory Animals 50(5), 397-399.

The use of preferred social stimuli as rewards for rhesus macaques in behavioural neuroscience

Macaques are often motivated to perform in neuroscientific experiments by implementing fluid restriction protocols. Daily access to water is controlled and the monkeys are rewarded with droplets of fluid for performing correct trials in the laboratory. Although these protocols are...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Gray, H., Pearce, B., Thiele, A. 2017. The use of preferred social stimuli as rewards for rhesus macaques in behavioural neuroscience. PLOS ONE 12(5), e0178048.

The effect of previous experience on sheep movement through yards

Positive reinforcement such as barley reduced the amount of time needed to move sheep through a race system.

Year Published: 1980Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Hutson, G. D. 1980. The effect of previous experience on sheep movement through yards. Applied Animal Ethology (Applied Animal Behaviour Science) 6, 233-240.

The training of cynomolgus monkeys and how the human/animal relationship improves with environmental and mental enrichment

This paper will attempt to show the marked improvement in behaviour of a small group of female cynomolgus monkeys, after a period of routine training and human interaction. A relatively short, but predictable, course of routine handling and feeding enabled...

Year Published: 1989Topics: Animal Training, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Heath, M. 1989. The training of cynomolgus monkeys and how the human/animal relationship improves with environmental and mental enrichment. Animal Technology 40(1), 11-22.

Training non-human primates – Meeting their behavioural needs

Principles of training strategies are discussed. Although I have not heard data to support the view, I am certain that animals who are experienced with humans, are easier to train.

Year Published: 1990Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Scott, L. 1990. Training non-human primates - Meeting their behavioural needs. In: Animal Training. UFAW [Universities Federation for Animal Welfare] . Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) , Potters Bar, UK.

Training stumptailed monkeys to cooperate during in-homecage treatment

One to 14 training sessions, each lasting for 1-5 minutes, were required to train adult, pair-housed and single-housed stump-tailed macaques of both sexes to cooperate during topical treatment in the homecage.

Year Published: 1990Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V., Cowley, D. 1990. Training stumptailed monkeys to cooperate during in-homecage treatment. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 29(4), 9-10.