A horse takes new riders out on the trail. A dog guards a property, protecting
it from burglars. A dolphin performs tricks before a captive crowd.
In each case, animal trainers worked with the animals, adapting them to
human voice and contact.
Teaching obedience to animals or training them to assist people with disabilities
are other common training goals.
Animal trainers use different commands to communicate with animals. An
important tool for trainers is positive reinforcement. When an animal responds
correctly to its cues, the trainer rewards the animal with a treat. This could
be food, toys, kind words or a pat on the back.
Dogs, horses and marine animals, such as dolphins, are the three most commonly
trained animals in the United States. That's according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Some trainers show off their work during performances for the public. The
trainers might work at aquariums or zoos, or they might enter competitions.
The performances are often interactive and educational. Trainers talk to their
audience and answer questions.
Often audience members want to get close to the animals to learn more about
them.
"We can do that," says Michele Cossa. She's a dolphin trainer and assistant
supervisor of animal training at Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida. Discovery
Cove allows the public to interact with dolphins and other species of animals.
They also offer a "Trainer for a Day" program. It's an additional way guests
can experience animals up close and peek into the world of animal training.
Wild animals are trained to cooperate with workers who give them medical
care. This might include taking blood samples or giving medicine, X-rays or
dental check-ups.
Trainers look after the animals they train. They give them exercise and
are often responsible for preparing their diet and feeding them. The animals'
habitats must also be kept clean and safe. Depending on the size of the animal,
the work can range from picking up after a dog to shoveling thousands of pounds
of dung every day.
Jason Green works with rhinos and hoof stock at Busch Gardens in Tampa,
Florida. Green estimates that keepers lift about 1,500 pounds of manure each
day. They also handle bales of hay that weigh 60 to 80 pounds.
Although this might seem like back-breaking labor, Green says "tiny women
on the team do fine." But he warns that many of the duties of animal keepers
are similar to farm work. Keepers weed-whack fence lines and use rakes and
pitchforks to pick up hay and manure.
Green spends about half of his time working outdoors. Zoos are 24-hour
operations, since the animals live there. Keepers might work an early shift
starting at 6 a.m., or they might work a late shift ending at 11 p.m. During
morning shifts, there is a lot of cleaning to be done. Evening shifts might
involve more guest interaction, training or grounds-keeping duties, such as
grass mowing.
"We make sure keepers know that the majority of the work is done outside
in the elements," Green says.
Aubrie Dromarsky is a horse trainer. Her work day depends on the horses.
"They are like people in the sense that they have personalities and attitudes,
so they determine how long I'm riding," she says.
Dromarsky typically spends five to six hours per day on horseback. She
rides both inside and out, depending on the weather. She lifts weights and
runs to stay in good shape to meet the physical demands of horseback riding.
"People with limitations and special needs can certainly work with animals,"
she says. "Depending on the situation, there may be a few things they wouldn't
be able to do. But simple riding or exercising and taking care of them would
not be a problem."