Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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A Blog designed for discussion of topics related to, but not limited to, Circus, Zoos, Animal Training, and Animal Welfare/Husbandry. Sometimes opening up the dialog is the best starting point of all. And if for nothing else when people who agree and don't agree, get together and start discussing it, it will open up a lot of peoples minds. Debate and discussion even amongst themselves opens a window where there wasn't one before.
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3 comments:
Wade, I understand that this is a behavior that you are not fond of in any case, but I am a bit puzzled by the mechanics of doing it with hands free. I was under the assumption that the trainer had to hold the cat's jaws open, or at least cover his teeth in order not to have his face punctured. Would you like to explain please?
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
First of all we should point out, so there are no cries of "asshole, asshole" LOL the reason I am not fond of the behavior is my personal philosophy. I don't like any behavior that pretends to show fearlessness or dominance over an an animal, just as I personally don't like behaviors that ridicule or make an animal appear as a clown or stupid, but I do like a behavior that makes it seem the animal "got one over on the trainer."
That said, look at the pictures I have posted of Alex Lacey and others doing the behavior. The hands free, is the norm. The teeth are not sharp, lest we forget they pick up new born cubs and carry the fragile bodies. Much like a retracted pen laid against you arm, it is unnoticeable until pressure is applied. Then it hurts like hell. Those teeth/fangs which can carry an infant can cause death to a 400 ob animal if the pressure is applied. They have to want to apply it, or hurt or kill something. In the case of the "head in the mouth", the don't want to hurt something, that is why a particular animal is chosen. Some will do neck carries, some will do shoulder stands, some will permit themselves to be touched, and some don't want you with 4 foot of them, and will apply the pressure with the teeth, if the claws didn't get the message across.
The don't do these behaviors because they love you, they do them because the want to, and you have convinced them they don't want to hurt you.
If you recall there was a statement made, by Alex that was relayed here, that he sometimes did the behavior and sometimes he didn't, it depended on Massai. I stated at that time, and I will state again, that is the first time I have ever heard of that, and I have to question what is going on.
Wade
Addendum to Mary Ann,
If he really wanted to bit/hurt you, if a wildebeest kicking him in the face is not going to get him to let go, would you assume a man could pull those jaws apart? Holding on to the jaws/teeth seems like an exercise in futility, if he choses to exercise his physical superiority. LOL If you take cute and cuddly, and human love, out of the equation, felines are a pretty complete killing machine.
Wade
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