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Top two photos courtesy of Darryl Atkinson taken in 1981. As there are a number of animal people, and experienced circus viewers like Raffaele as well as animal lovers like Mary Ann who view this blog, I would like to address again "what is the standard" As the thoughts are tossed about maybe we will find a direction. We all know of Ursula Bottcher and her creation. I am not sure but I believe originally the act had at least 11 male Polar Bears. On her bio, Ursula is listed as a Polar Bear Trainer. The individual in the last two photos, assisted with the presentation of a bear act with 3 Polar Bear, and 4 brown bears for one year in 1991, and on her bio is listed as a Polar Bear Trainer. Is that the industry standard? What qualifies someone to practice a craft? 
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
What is the Standard???
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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5 comments:
If, Ursula trained the initial behaviors on the bears. I would consider her a Polar Bear trainer. That does not tell me how good she is at training, just that the job got done. I have seen a lot of animal being trained, or in cases tried to be. The best that I can come up with is this. The person that applies the least amount of negative stimulus to achieve the desired behavior, is a better trainer then the one using more negative stimulus, and achieving less or same result. All trained behavior starts with intent, and knowing wich to reinforce to achieve, shape desired behavior. Proper stimulus, proper response. These our some of my humble thoughts over here in the big city of Cut and Shoot, Tx. On standard/trainer.
Mike,
If we look at what was done, we can tell. How many different Polar Bears would she have to work with to be considered a Trainer. What is an behavior on an elephant, a sit up on a tub or a one foot stand. Do you not think negative stimulus depends on the desired behavior. Is inconsistency negative stimulus? Is the lion left on its seat to sit up, instead of on the floor with the other 8 is that the least amount of gentle negative stimuli. Is removing animals from the act, positive stimuli. If you don't own the animals and are told they can't be taken out, is that negative stimuli. The two individuals posted should compensation be the same. Should one not be considered be cause the other accepted the position?
Wade
I don not think there should be a number on the amount of bears trained. If you can train the first should improve on the next knowing what to look for as far as intent. More importantly knowing right stimulus to get right intent to achieve desired behavior. As for the shaping of different behaviors and negative stimulus. No there should not be any more negative stimulus to get a one leg stand or hind leg stand. Rigging should be different. It is the same reinforce the right intent. Inconsistency is poor animal training. The cats are trained and one is left on seat. Just doing differant behaviors. No more or less negative stimulus. The cats in or out should not be negative for them to be in. Compesation should be greater for trainer then the handler
Wade - if anyone has the guts to train bears they can call themselves whatever they want to!!!
Steve,
Ursula was great at what she did.
Wade
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