This episode Steve Martin, President and CEO of Natural Encounters, Inc., discusses training on a continuum by moving away from coercion and towards genuine choice. Steve starts the episode by giving a review of the concepts of choice and… control with some practical examples.  The discussion then turns to breaking down behavioral degrees of freedom, genuine choice, and coercion with many more great practical examples. The episode ends with Steve outlining that real-world animal training requires us to train on the continuum but always striving towards providing genuine choice in order to enhance an animal’s welfare.  Stay tuned in for Steve’s motivation and emotional "Training Tale" about a trainer from a show at the Singapore Zoo.  For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Steve email [email protected]⁠ Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!

• 3:45 Introduction to Steve Martin 

• 9:25 Review of Choice and… Control 

• 18:55 Degrees of Behavioral Freedom

• 28:20 Free Choice

• 30:35 Genuine Choice

• 44:05 Coercion 

• 56:15 Training on the Continuum

• 1:04:15 “Training Tales”

This episode Mel Paynter and Alyse Stitt, Georgia Aquarium, discuss motivation in the context of animal behavior and training.  In part 1 of this two episode discussion Mel and Alyse discuss what motivation is, what it looks like in practice, and give some o-fish-ally great examples from the many aquatic species that they work with in the Ocean Voyager habitat at the Georgia Aquarium.  They both dive deeper into breaking down and discussing some of the numerous stimuli and events that can affect motivation.   The discussion finishes with their advice on how to productively and effectively use motivation as a tool in our training toolbox and not as a label.  Stay tuned in for Mel and Alyse’s “Training Tales” that focus on how the fish they have worked with have taught them and changed their perspective. You can also learn more information about the 2025 ABMA annual conference by visiting www.abma.org For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Mel and Alyse email [email protected] or [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 

3:25 Introduction to Mel Paynter and Alyse Stitt

8:15 Overview of Ocean Voyager habitat at Georgia Aquarium 

10:15 Definition of Motivation 

13:45 Definition of Motivating Operations 

Affects on Motivation: 

17:10 Food and Enrichment 

24:00 Breeding/Courtship 

34:00 Social Structure/Situations 

39:50 Environment

43:35 Weather/Seasonality

45:00 Learning History 

47:50 Animal’s physical ability to do something

48:50 Previous access to resources

50:35 Differences in motivation among individuals 

59:25 Advice for using motivation productively and effectively, not as a label

1:05:35 “Training Tales”

This episode Shane Gorbett, Philadelphia Zoo and host of the podcast, discusses and breaks down fading. Shane first discusses examples of what fading looks like in practice and how we can apply the artful application of the science of behavior change in order to know when and how to fade.  Shane also discusses the challenges of fading too quickly, too slowly, or not at all.  Stay tuned in for Shane’s "Training Tale" about Nile crocodile crate training and the importance of paying attention to the communication that we provide to animals.  Visit www.theabma.org for more information and for questions or suggestions about the podcast or to contact Shane, email ⁠[email protected]⁠ Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 

5:35 Introduction to Shane Gorbett 

14:10 Definition of Fading and Examples 

25:10 Fading to change a behavior’s cue. 

28:00 How do we know when to fade? 

31:50 What happens if we fade too quickly? 

37:35 What happens if we fade too slowly? 

39:05 What happens if we never fade at all? 

42:55 “Training Tale”

This episode Tricia Dees, the second vice president of the ABMA, continues on with the discussion from Episode 59 and goes deeper into primary/unconditioned and secondary/conditioned reinforcers.  Tricia gives some common examples of primary/unconditioned and secondary/conditioned reinforcers but also talks about how individual preference plays a role in determining what is actually a reinforcer for each individual.  The discussion then turns to why and how we can condition a reinforcer and the importance of watching the animal’s behavior to ensure that a conditioned reinforcer maintains its effectiveness. Stay tuned in for Tricia’s “Training Tale” about how she used learning from a presentation at an ABMA conference about zebra training with an otter. You can also learn more information about the 2025 ABMA annual conference by visiting www.abma.org For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Tricia email [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 

4:05 Introduction to Tricia Dees 

6:10 Definition of a Primary/Unconditioned Reinforcer 

8:50 Definition of a Secondary/Conditioned Reinforcer 

11:50 Are primary and secondary reinforcers the same for every individual in a species? 

19:25 Why would we condition a reinforcer? 

22:00 Example of how to condition a reinforcer and how to tell if it is an effective reinforcer

30:45 How to tell if a conditioned reinforcer has lost its effectiveness as a reinforcer 

36:30 “Training Tales” 

Welcome back for the first episode of 2025!  This episode Shawna Spencer, Coral World Ocean Park, dives deeper into breaking down reinforcers and punishers.  This episode is full of examples and practical applications.  Shawna starts with a brief introduction to primary and secondary reinforcers before listing examples of common reinforcers and punishers.  The episode finishes with a discussion about how reinforcers can change over time and how to tell if something is no longer a reinforcer for an animal.  Stay tuned in for Shawna’s two doggone great “Training Tales”, one featuring dog training in German.  You can also learn more information about the 2025 ABMA annual conference by listening or visiting www.abma.org For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Shawna email [email protected]⁠ Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 

3:20 Introduction to Shawna Spencer 

13:10 Information about the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference in Galveston, Texas 

19:50 Definitions of Reinforcers and Punishers 

23:05 What can be a reinforcer or punisher 

25:10 Definition of Primary Reinforcers

25:45 Definition and application of Secondary Reinforcers

34:10 Examples of common reinforcers 

42:10 Examples of common punishers

52:35 If something is a reinforcer will it always be a reinforcer?  

57:40 How to tell if something is no longer a reinforcer?  

1:01:00 “Training Tales” 

This episode Jose Bello, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, discusses superstitious behavior. Jose starts with breaking down what it means for a behavior to be superstitious and examples of what that looks like in a practical application.  Next, Jose educates about the “potential danger” in labeling behaviors as superstitious and how taking the blame away from the animal and placing it on us as the trainers, can give us a better understanding of what is accidentally reinforcing or punishing a superstitious behavior. The episode ends with a discussion and a reminder that all behavior has function and how that mindset can help trainers and teams have a cohesive understanding of superstitious behaviors.  Stay tuned in for Jose’s o-fish-ally great "Training Tale" about a guest’s reaction to water kenneling fish.  For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to contact Jose email J[email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 

7:00 Introduction to Jose Bello 

10:05 Definition and practical application of superstitious behavior 

14:55 What does it look like if something is accidentally reinforced? 

16:15 How to identify a superstitious behavior? 

19:10 What is the potential “danger” in labeling a behavior as superstitious? 

21:25 If there is a “potential danger”, should we still call behaviors superstitious? 

23:50 How can having extra communication about superstitious behaviors arising from accidental reinforcement help with any labels that may come with the term? 

25:50 Advice for recognizing that a behavior has been accidentally reinforced and isn’t just “something the animal always does” 

28:05 Recognizing what is actually the reinforcer(s) or punisher(s) for a superstitious behavior?  

29:30 All behavior has function

33:45 “Training Tales”

In a special ABMA Behavior Month 2024 episode, Jonelle Mason, California National Primate Research Center - UC Davis, discusses training and behavior in a research setting. Jonelle educates about the similarities and differences between training, cooperative care, and enrichment programs in a zoo compared to a research setting. Additionally, Jonelle talks about some of the unique challenges that arise and the future of behavior management within a research setting. Stay tuned in for Jonelle's "Training Tale" about training her pet corn snake to help with a regurgitation issue. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to contact Jonelle email [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!

4:35 Intro to Jonelle Mason 

7:35 Comparison of behavior and training in a research vs zoo setting

16:45 Comparison of husbandry and cooperative care training 

20:25 Considerations for research related training

29:10 Creating positive human-animal relationships 

30:50 Enrichment programs in a research setting 

33:30 Lessons from a research setting 

35:10 The future of behavior management in a research setting 

39:00 “Training Tale”

This episode Sam Meinke, Palm Beach Zoo, and podcast host, Shane Gorbett, discusses what it means to be a modern zookeeper. The definition of what a zookeeper is and does has drastically changed and is constantly evolving as we continue to progress animal care forward. Some other modern zookeepers were kind enough to share what being a modern zookeeper means to them so Sam and Shane dissect those answers as we redefine what it means to be a zookeeper. The discussion wraps up with the importance of redefining what a modern zookeeper is and does both for the knowledge of the public but also for those currently in the field or hoping to start their careers. Stay tuned in for Sam's "Training Tales" which involves a ground hornbill and a "long cheetah turd". For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to reach Sam you can message him on Facebook or Instagram. Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!

3:20 Introduction to Sam Meinke 

4:40 Definition of a Zookeeper and redefining into a Modern Zookeeper

13:40 Using the past as a baseline to grow from and do better 

20:20 A Modern Zookeeper…. Adapts to new information 

22:50 Progressive, Use the artful application of scientific principles 

23:45 Knows the individual animals 

25:20 Creative, thinks outside the box for enriching the lives of animals 

28:20 Responsible for providing each individual animal the best life possible 

30:22 Creates a bond with the animals, knows each of their personalities 

32:00 Eager to share their special connection with everyone 

32:50 Strives to create positive connections in all interactions, changing the mindset from making to asking 

36:46 Does research, looks to natural history of animals 

38:15 Selfless, puts the animals’ needs above their own, open to feedback 

39:20 Prioritizes behavioral management as a necessity

41:30 Focuses on animal wellbeing 

43:10 Importance of redefining the modern zookeeper

45:40 Advice on changing the mindset of a team into striving to be modern zookeeprs 

49:00 “Training Tales”

This episode Rick Hester, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and BehaviorWorks, discusses a free operant approach to behavior management. Rick starts with explaining the practical application of free operant behavior and, in order to get the full scope, also discusses discrete trial training and the relationship between the two. Breaking down some of the science, Rick educates about Lindsley's (1996) Four Free Operant Freedoms and the considerations for providing and maintaining a free operant environment (depletion, satiation, and dosage of resources). Rick finishes the episode with giving advice on how to start curating free operant environments by celebrating each approximation. Stay tuned in for a "dam" great "Training Tale" about creating a free operant environment for beavers using the sound of running water. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to contact Rick email [email protected] Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!

6:40 Definition and application of “Free Operant” 

10:05 Definition and application of Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

14:10 Connecting the dots between environmental enrichment and free operant principles 

16:55 The Freedom to Present Stimuli 

17:20 The Freedom to Repeat Responses Many Times to Each Signal 

17:50 The Freedom to Form Responses 

18:20 The Freedom to Slow or Speed Responses 

19:15 Considerations for providing and maintaining a free operant environment

20:40 Resource Depletion 

23:20 Satiation of Resources 

24:50 Dosage of Resources 

28:00 Advice for Getting Team Buy-In; Using Approximations 

35:35 The balance between free operant and discrete trial training 

39:50 “Training Tales” 

This episode continues on "The Behaviors of..." series which dives into the human side of the animal care field. In this episode Scott Trauger, Natural Encounters, Inc., dives deeper into a discussion centered around his presentation at the 2024 ABMA Annual Conference titled "Expanding Our Feedback Loop: Evolving the Way that We Give Feedback to Our Peers". Scott discusses the different types of feedback and considerations to think about in order to effectively give specific and honest, but also kind, feedback. Scott also discusses the thought of also giving choice and... control to people while providing feedback. Stay tuned in for a "Training Tale" about how Scott used his tree climbing skills and relationship to rescue a pied crow. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email [email protected] and to reach Scott contact him on the ABMA Community or email [email protected] If you are an ABMA member you can watch Scott's presentation on animalprofessional.com Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!