<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1923" title="bhc_training_tales" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/bhc_training_tales.jpg" alt="bhc_training_tales" width="642" height="262" />

<em>By Virginia Valentine, Apprentice Keeper
Oakland Zoo, Oakland, CA</em>

<strong>Introduction</strong>
Over the summer and fall of 2010, I participated in the paid apprentice program at the Oakland Zoo in Oakland, CA.  This six-month position focused on teaching new keepers the skills necessary to effectively care for exotic animals.  Paid apprentices work with many keepers in multiple areas of the zoo, allowing a wide variety of animal experience.  In addition to the physical tasks associated with feeding and maintenance of animal areas, we are trained in using operant conditioning in order to facilitate husbandry needs and reduce stress for the zoos animals.

The paid apprentices also staff the Contact Yard during zoo hours, working with 4.2 Pygmy goats (Capra hircus), 4.1 Nubian goats (Capra hircus sp.), 1.0 Boer goat (Capra hircus sp.), and 2.3 Blackbelly-Katahdin sheep (Ovis aries).   The Contact Yard keeper gives the paid apprentices the opportunity to hone their operant conditioning skills by practicing with the goats and sheep—in effect training new trainers on how to train an animal.  For one hour a week after work, we are taught how to use our body movements to guide a behavior, how to use the placement of food rewards to affect the placement of the animals (without baiting), chaining multiple behaviors, and appropriate timing of a bridge.

<strong>Planning</strong>
All of the Contact Yard animals are currently restrained for their hoof trims.  Gaylord, a four-year old pygmy goat, is the most distressed while restrained and the most in need to be trained for a cooperative hoof trim behavior.  The behavior’s purpose is to allow regular, low-stress maintenance of hoof health without restraint or sedation, so it should have a positive impact on Gaylord by decreasing the stress he experiences during hoof trims.  As a paid apprentice I was provided the opportunity to train this complex behavior while being supervised by an experienced keeper.

Before writing the behavior plan, I researched the existing cooperative hoof trim protocols currently in use at the Oakland Zoo.  African veldt keepers regularly utilize cooperative hoof trimming on the collection’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), with the help and guidance of a volunteer Ferrier and volunteer training consultant.  Shaping a hoof trim behavior was also part of the regular training sessions for a Grant’s zebra (Equus quagga boehmi).  The keepers allowed me to observe and participate in both of these existing training programs.  Using these experiences, online hoof trim videos, watching trimming done on our goats (using restraint), and studying goat anatomy, I wrote my first training plan. Knowing that my colleagues’ experience and knowledge were my biggest assets, multiple keepers were asked to read over the plan.  Their feedback was invaluable and greatly improved the plan’s chances for success.

<strong>Implementing the Plan</strong>
Though Gaylord was conditioned to a clicker, a mechanical whistle was more appropriate for this behavior because it allowed the use of both hands while working.  The rewards were limited to one cup of grains and/or cereals per day to minimize weight gain, with half of a horse cookie used for a jackpot.  As my other duties allowed, I was able to work with Gaylord four days a week.

The first step was to condition Gaylord to the mechanical whistle as a bridge, which was easily done in a few minutes.  Then Gaylord was trained to station on a mat with the trimming tools in a basket nearby.  These quickly became the visual cue to him that we would be training soon and he became very excited whenever he saw them out before a session.  Next, another person was needed as a feeder while I sat on the ground adjacent to Gaylord’s left or right side.  At first it was necessary to be a few feet away from him, but after two sessions I was able to move within arm’s length while he remained calm and facing forward, towards the feeder (see Fig. 1).

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1924" title="hoof_trim" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/hoof_trim-1024x840.jpg" alt="hoof_trim" width="717" height="588" />

<strong>Figure 1.  Stationing on mat.</strong> <em>(Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Abram, Oakland Zoo)</em>

The original plan included increasing the duration of time Gaylord stood in this station position, but Gaylord’s impatience became obvious by his repeated jumps on the feeder and continued “resetting” on the mat (backing up off the mat, and then moving forward back onto the mat).  His primary keeper suggested that these behaviors showed Gaylord’s excitement to do more and that the training plan could be re-written in response to his individual needs and progress.  It was also suggested that I break the session into ……….

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