Animal Training

Exposure to video images between 3 and 5 weeks of age decreases neophobia in domestic dogs

Restricted experience in early life is known to contribute to long-lasting predispositions to fear and anxiety in mammals. It is commonplace for young domestic dogs not to experience many features of the environment in which they will spend their adult...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Pluijmakers, J. J. T. M., Appleby, D. L., Bradshaw, J. W. S. 2010. Exposure to video images between 3 and 5 weeks of age decreases neophobia in domestic dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 126(1-2), 51-58.

Swine enrichment techniques that increase efficiency and promote animal welfare in the laboratory environment

Obtaining accurate body weights for swine is important for calculating anesthetic drug dosages as well as an indicator used for tracking overall health. Scales used for acquiring such weights require that the pigs stand still in order to get an...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Pell, C., Armellino, K., Williams, A. et al. 2010. Swine enrichment techniques that increase efficiency and promote animal welfare in the laboratory environment. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 716 (Abstract #P109).

Operant training differences between male and female group-housed nonhuman primates

Operant training of animals is a widely accepted practice to train or condition animals to cooperate with technical procedures or perform certain tasks in a laboratory setting. This type of training has been proven to reduce stress on the animal...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Egeler, J. L. 2010. Operant training differences between male and female group-housed nonhuman primates. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 15(6), page numbers missing.

The use of positive reinforcement training to reduce stereotypic behavior in rhesus macaques

Stereotypic behavior is a pervasive problem for captive monkeys and other animals. Once this behavior pattern has started, it can be difficult to alleviate. We tested whether or not using positive reinforcement training (PRT) can reduce this undesired behavior. Subjects...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Coleman, K., Maier, A. 2010. The use of positive reinforcement training to reduce stereotypic behavior in rhesus macaques. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 124(3-4), 142-148.

Videotaped demonstrator improves efficiency of training chimpanzees to urinate on cue

Studies have shown chimpanzees can learn to perform tasks by watching live or videotaped demonstrators. The present study assessed whether female chimpanzees exposed to a videotaped demonstrator would learn a husbandry-related task, urinating into a receptacle on cue, faster than...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal Training, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Perlman, J. E., Lambeth, S. P., Horner, V. et al. 2010. Videotaped demonstrator improves efficiency of training chimpanzees to urinate on cue. American Journal of Primatology 72(S1), 52. (33rd Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #84)

To squeeze or not to squeeze? A Discussion on LAREF, September, 2009

The discussion was started by the following questions: "Is the squeeze-back mechanism more or less stressful than the pole and collar system for removing a macaque from his cage for an IM (intramuscular) injection?" and "How are stress levels being...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal Training, Handling, Human-Animal Interaction, RestraintAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Moreau, E. 2010. To squeeze or not to squeeze? A Discussion on LAREF, September, 2009. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 49(2), 3-4.

Human-directed contra-aggression training using positive reinforcement for indoor-housed rhesus macaques

The quality of human-animal interactions can be an indicator of well-being in laboratory primates and increased anxiety-related behavior, such as aggression, may compromise an animal's ability to provide research outcomes reflective of normal function. The objective of this study was...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Minier, D. E., Tatum, L., McCowan, B. 2010. Human-directed contra-aggression training using positive reinforcement for indoor-housed rhesus macaques. American Journal of Primatology 72(S1), 53. (33rd Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #87)

The use of positive reinforcement during pole and collar training of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

The pole and collar method enables safe transfer of a monkey from their home environment to a restraint chair without sedation. The ability to conduct procedures with a conscious and cooperative subject is cost effective, labor saving, promotes animal welfare,...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal Training, HandlingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: McMillan, J. L., Galvan, A., Wichmann, T. et al. 2010. The use of positive reinforcement during pole and collar training of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 705-706 (Abstract #P78).

Improving the efficiency of positive reinforcement training by testing food item preference

Positive reinforcement training relies on identifying an effective reinforcing consequence, often food, to be presented contingent on the performance of the desired behavior. Prior to training sessions, we used a multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference test to identify the...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Martin, A. L., Franklin, A. N., Bloomsmith, M. A. 2010. Improving the efficiency of positive reinforcement training by testing food item preference. American Journal of Primatology 72(S1), 27. (33rd Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #6)

Laser lixit training: An alternative form of target training that can be utilized in the daily husbandry care of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Rhesus and cynomolgus macaques are some of the most frequently utilized laboratory nonhuman primates, and it is common for one facility to have a significantly large colony of either or both species. Daily care needs to be efficient and effective,...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal Training, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Haba Nelsen, S. L., Bradford, D., Houghton, P. 2010. Laser lixit training: An alternative form of target training that can be utilized in the daily husbandry care of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). American Journal of Primatology 72(S1), 27. (33rd Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists Scientific Program, Abstract #5)