Are there any animals that cannot be trained?
Photo by Krzysztof Niewolny on Unsplash
I already talked about training dogs, cats, horses, tigers, giraffes, hyenas and many more. Can you imagine meerkats jumping onto a scale and sit there until you take the measurement? I can assure you, it is simply incredibly cute and absolutely doable! How about other species?
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
Mine detecting rats
Have you heard about Magawa? The first rat who received PDSA gold medal for his life-saving bravery.
Magawa is one of the HeroRats trained by non-profit organisation APOPO to detect landmines using scent. Magawa works in Cambodia and clears the ground from this life-threatening danger. Scent detecting is popular in dogs but why rats? Rats are too light to trigger the mines hence they stay safe. They have an incredible sense of smell which makes them equally good for the job as dogs are. APOPO project not only shows that any animals can be trained, but they can also help save lives. All through positive reinforcement with utmost care for their HeroRats.
Photo by Laura Barry on Unsplash
Snakes
Have you ever heard about snake training? Have you ever considered that snakes can be intelligent? There is a widespread misconception that snakes are untrainable. Yet, the behavioural principles are the same across the species. When you use reinforcement, you strengthen the behaviour that preceded it. You can train snakes to touch the target by providing them with food for it. By teaching target, you can then reinforce the behaviour of moving in different directions. Not only snakes are trainable and learn new behaviours, but they can also be trained in a force-free way. See a video from Reptelligence showing snake following a target. You can also learn from one of their courses.
Photo by Alex Guillaume on Unsplash
Butterflies Training
Ken Ramirez one time got asked a question - can you train 10000 butterflies to fly from point A to point B on cue with music? Ken was not only up for the challenge, but the training was successful and thousands of butterflies divided into smaller groups were flying on cue with the music in the background. What a show!
Ken Ramirez, once again, showed that you can train any animal "whether training an earthworm or a Harvard graduate!" and it's the same principles of training, based on positive reinforcement. Read more about this amazing project.
All of the above projects are showing that there are no animals that cannot be trained. I urge you to not just believe people who say "it cannot be done". Look further, ask around and prove them wrong!
Be a superhero for all of your pets, they will love you for it!
