C08: Advanced Operant

The Advanced Operant Conditioning Class is a continuation of the training learned in the Basic Operant Conditioning Class. Everything detailed in the Basic Operant Conditioning Class still pertains to the advanced levels of operant training.  Big cats referred to in this class include: all lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, and lynx.

Level 1 & 2 Training of Small Cats: In the Basic Operant Conditioning Class you learned how to Click and Treat as well as to elicit basic behaviors using hand signals with the small cats.  You will continue using these techniques as you begin to work with the big cats.

Level 3 Training of Small Cats and Advancement to Big Cat Training: Moving forward you will begin using more advanced commands in Level 3 training with both small and big cats.  Level 3 training with small cats must be completed before you can advance to Level 1 training of big cats.

Levels of Training: Big Cat Rescue’s Animal Training Program is broken into 4 levels. These levels refer to the type of training being taught and the level at which the animal and or trainer has reached in their training. Volunteers are evaluated by the Operant Committee and approved for training specific levels of behaviors. Yellow Level Keepers and Interns participate in Level 1 & 2 Operant Training with Small Cats (excluding lynx and quarantine). Green Level Keepers participate in Level 3 Operant Training with Small Cats and Level 1-3 Operant Training with Big Cats that they are certified to clean (ie. quarantine, Reno, and Cheetaro).  Master Keepers and Coordinators participate in Level 4 Operant Training with all cats.

LEVEL 1: Click and Treat – Fishing for Cats

In this level the trainer will be:

• Working with the animals that are more timid and are very new to the training program

• Desensitizing the animals to the operant conditioning stick

• Introducing the animals to the click (bridge)

• Learning timing of the click and reward

Criteria for animal to advance to Level 2: To have the animal consistently come to a spot at the side of the cage where the trainer is located, and remain throughout the training session.

Criteria for volunteer to advance to Level 2:

• Fine-tune click and treat skills.

• Training will be done at the side of the cage near the lockout.

• The volunteer must consistently deliver the correct timing of the click and the treat for the correct behavior. Cat is at side of cage all feet on ground, head inside cage.

LEVEL 2: Hand Signals and Behaviors

In this level, the trainers will be:

• Working with animals that are familiar with the bridge and operant conditioning stick.

• Using verbal and/or hand signals (commands) for desired behaviors.

• Working on the following behaviors:

  • Lockout

  • Down

  • Up

  • Sit – this one is a bonus behavior, not required for cat to move to level 3

• Working in pairs whenever possible to acclimate animals to multiple keepers being present.

Criteria for Animal to advance to Level 3: Animal must consistently do all commands regardless of trainer.

Criteria for Volunteer to advance to Level 3:

• Exhibit the patience, consistency, commitment and ability to train new behaviors.

• Must consistently give the command correctly, and deliver the bridge and treat.

LEVEL 3: Advanced Behaviors and Training Volunteers

In this level, the trainers will be:

• Teaching and observing the trainers from Levels 1 and 2.

• Fine-tuning behaviors that the animals learned in Level 1 and 2.

• Working on these advanced behaviors/commands:

• Right/Left

• Open mouth

• Right /Left Paw

• 4. Get the animals to be comfortable in their lockouts with the door closed.

LEVEL 4: Veterinary Care Training

In this level, the trainers will be:

• Working with the animals in the cat hospital or in quarantine.

• Desensitizing the animals to topical sprays.

• Train target behavior for specific veterinary procedures.

• Working with the vet care staff.

• Teaching and observing the trainers for Levels 1, 2 and 3 training.

• Evaluating the animals and trainers progress.

General Guidelines:

• Trainers will only be working at or below their approved level of training.

• Always check with the Coordinator prior to planning a session.

• Training sessions should be well planned out before starting.

• Training sessions will be logged on the Operant site on the .me site

• Training sessions should be short.

• If an animal acts aggressively towards any trainer it is the trainer’s responsibility to discontinue working with that animal and to report the incident to the Coordinator.

• Use only approved verbal and hand signals.

• “No” is never to be used during training sessions. Never draw attention to errors. Ignore what you don’t want. Reward what you do want.

• If the animal is not cooperating step back and reset then resume training session. Do not repeat commands. Say it once and be patient.

• Training sessions should be with a partner as often as possible. This will allow the animals to be accustomed to more than one person during the training sessions. This will also allow the other person to observe and to give their input on the session.

• If there is more than one animal in a cage, two trainers must be present or the animals must be separated without causing stress.

• Training sessions should take place when the environmental conditions are most favorable. Training sessions are not recommended in the rain or heat of the day.

• Avoid food reinforcement immediately after feeding time. However, it would be optimal shortly before feeding.

• Anytime we are feeding, interacting, cleaning, giving tours, etc we need to keep in mind that we are affecting how that animal interacts with us. Do not ever reward/reinforce bad behaviors.

• We will need to work as a team for this program to work. Everyone will get to train animals they really like, but we need to make sure that the animals’ needs come before our needs.

• Advancement to the next Level of training for animals and trainers will be decided after an

• evaluation by the Operant Committee.

• A master chart indicating each animal’s and trainer’s level of training will be maintained by the Operant Committee and will be posted on the Operant .me site.

• Do not use the clicker to call the cat.

Training Program: Ideally we would like to have all animals and eligible keepers participating and helping us achieve the goal of the Operant Training program. That goal is to make feeding and caring for the animals including observations, medical exams, and vet procedures as safe and efficient as possible. This program is designed with the animals’ and sanctuary’s needs in mind. This is a very strict program that requires a lot of dedication and work to ensure success. Trainers should be prepared to commit a minimum of 2 days per week to participating in this program.

OPERANT CONDITIONING COMMANDS FOR LEVEL 1 & 2

Please use only the commands listed below. These are the approved commands that we will need for general husbandry. As the animals progress, additional commands and behaviors will be added.

LEVEL 1

Click and Treat – Animal: Animal comes to the side of the cage and takes reward off the stick without swatting, stick biting, or any part of their body out of the cage. Trainer: Trainer will use operant stick to deliver reward, clicking before the cat takes the reward. Make sure timing is such that cat is not getting anxious or walking away.

LEVEL 2

DOWN – Animal: Animal should have all 4 feet on the ground inside the cage, crouched so belly and chest is on the ground. Animal should be sternal and facing Trainer. Trainer: Verbal command “down” simultaneous with flat palm moving down. At the same time the trainer drops to one knee. Fingers should be closed, as with all hand signals hand should be well away from the cage and the reach of the cat.

UP – Animal: Animal should have back feet on the ground, front feet preferably flat on the side of the cage. Animal should not be reaching out or swatting at stick. Trainer: Verbal command simultaneous with palm facing up and raising palm appropriate to the  height of the animal. (We don’t want the animal climbing the cage or having all 4 feet on the cage wire) Fingers should be closed together, as with all hand signals hand should be well away from the cage and the reach of the cat.

LOCKOUT – Animal: Animal should have all 4 feet in the lockout and remain until given several treats or another command. (Running in and grabbing a treat and running out is progress towards but not considered lockout) Trainer: Verbal command given while pointing to or walking towards lockout

SIT – Animal: Butt on the ground, front legs straight, both front paws on the ground facing the trainer. Trainer: Verbal command simultaneous with Open palm facing animal, i.e. stop signal. As with all hand signals hand should be well away from the cage and the reach of the cat.

LEVEL 3

PAW – Animal: Sitting and raise correct paw and place it on the cage wire. Not reaching out towards reward or Trainer. Trainer: Verbal command simultaneous with closed fist facing the animal. Use your right hand to indicate the left paw, and your left hand to indicate the right paw. As with all hand signals hand should be well away from the cage and the reach of the cat. Tip: If the cat continually raises the wrong paw, try moving the reward one way or the other to encourage the animal to shift their weight and bring up the correct paw.

LEFT/RIGHT – Animal: Walking in correct direction with entire side parallel to the side of the cage, preferably close to the cage. Trainer: Verbal command with hand moving in the direction you want them to go. The right/left side of the cat will be opposite to the direction your hand is moving. As with all hand signals hand should be well away from the cage and the reach of the cat.

OPEN MOUTH – Animal: Animal with mouth open like in a yawn. The goal is to see the interior of the mouth (i.e. teeth gums, roof of mouth). Trainer: Verbal command simultaneous with an open hand then closing and opening fingers moving the hand back and away from the cat. (Think the motion of a closed then open gator mouth) As with all hand signals hand should be well away from the cage and the reach of the cat.

CLOSING CAT IN LOCK OUT (2 trainer minimum) – Animal: Animal comes into lockout stays calm while lockout door is shut. Trainer: One trainer focused on the animal, one trainer closing the lockout door. Make sure that when closing the lockout door the door is lowered slowly and safely so no animals extremities are closed in the door.

QUALIFIED TEACHERS FOR THIS CLASS ARE: Angie.Gabor@BigCatRescue.org, Barbara.Frank@BigCatRescue.org, Jennifer.Ruszczyk@BigCatRescue.org, Kathryn.Quaas@BigCatRescue.org, Lynda.Licht@BigCatRescue.org, Marie.Schoubert@BigCatRescue.org, Maureen.Calderon@BigCatRescue.org, Regina.Rinaldi@BigCatRescue.org

Print Advanced Operant Certification form.