Animal Training

Using positive reinforcement training to refine daily medical treatment of a cynomolgus macaque

Medical care of nonhuman primates in a laboratory setting can be challenging due to the safety concerns inherent in handling conscious animals. A mature, adult male cynomolgus macaque presented with a chronic foot condition that required daily treatment by the...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Animal Training, Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Andrews, C. 2014. Using positive reinforcement training to refine daily medical treatment of a cynomolgus macaque. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 565-566. (Abstract #P63).

Positive reinforcement training in a research setting: An introduction to sling training the Ossabaw pig

Over the past year, the large animal care staff at our institution was introduced to an unfamiliar breed of pig, the Ossabaw Island pig. Not only were they tasked with adapting to this unique research model in their facility, but...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Animal Training, Handling, RestraintAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Roller, J. E., Meyers, M. 2014. Positive reinforcement training in a research setting: An introduction to sling training the Ossabaw pig. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 539. (Abstract #PS51).

Training is enrichment – And beyond

With regards to the issue of animal training in the zoo community, there is some debate as to whether or not it should be considered a type of environmental enrichment (EE). This article suggests four criteria by which an intervention...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Westlund, K. 2014. Training is enrichment - And beyond. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 152, 1-6.

Behavioral management approach to facilitate use of pen-housed nonhuman primates for toxicology studies

Housing laboratory primates in large pens can improve welfare by providing ample opportunity to express normal social and locomotor behaviors. This type of housing, however, can present great challenges in terms of manipulating animals for study procedures. The use of...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Animal Training, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Strittmatter, R. R., Ferraro, A., Tiano, D. 2014. Behavioral management approach to facilitate use of pen-housed nonhuman primates for toxicology studies. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 539 (Abstract #PS53).

Factors affecting initial training success of blood glucose testing in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Type 2 diabetes can be a problem for captive chimpanzees. Accurate blood glucose (BG) readings are necessary to monitor and treat this disease. Thus, obtaining voluntary samples from primates through positive reinforcement training (PRT) is critical. The current study assessed...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Animal Training, Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reamer, L. A., Haller, R. H., Thiele, E. J. et al. 2014. Factors affecting initial training success of blood glucose testing in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Zoo Biology 33(3), 212-220.

Refining the pole-and-collar method of restraint: Emphasizing the use of positive training techniques with rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

The pole-and-collar method is one of several techniques that enable the safe transfer of a nonhuman primate from its home environment into a restraint chair without the need for sedation. It has been used within the scientific community for decades....

Year Published: 2014Topics: Animal Training, Handling, RestraintAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: McMillan, J. L., Perlman, J. E., Galvan, A. et al. 2014. Refining the pole-and-collar method of restraint: Emphasizing the use of positive training techniques with rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). JJAALAS 53(1), 61-68.

Training pair-housed Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) using a combination of negative and positive reinforcement

When training animals, time is sometimes a limiting factor hampering the use of positive reinforcement training (PRT) exclusively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of negative and positive reinforcement training (NPRT). Twenty nave...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Wergrd, E., Temrin, H., Forkman, B. et al. 2015. Training pair-housed Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) using a combination of negative and positive reinforcement. Behavioural Processes 113, 51-59.

Positive reinforcement training: a tool for care and management of captive vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops)

In modern zoos, training should be an integral component of the animal care and management. The benefits of training include the opportunity for positive interactions with caretakers. This study was carried out with a group of vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops)...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Spiezio, C., Piva, F., Regaiolli, B. et al. 2015. Positive reinforcement training: a tool for care and management of captive vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops). Animal Welfare 24, 283-290.

Positive reinforcement methods to train chimpanzees to cooperate with urine collection

Positive reinforcement training can be used in many ways to enhance the welfare of captive primates. Training for biologic sample collection is one application of positive reinforcement training. In this study, 35 adult female chimpanzees were trained to cooperate with...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Animal Training, Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bloomsmith, M., Kim, N., Franklin, A. et al. 2015. Positive reinforcement methods to train chimpanzees to cooperate with urine collection. JAALAS 54, 66-69.