Case in point--You can think what you want if you are uninformed

I hope at least some of the public is starting to see by the interesting post about training/operant conditioning that the animals trainers/handlers are trying to stay as far away
from negative reinforcement/unpleasantness as possible, aware that it is there and a necessary although unpleasant part of the world of animal training. Like raising children or the family pet. Fluffy the dog, when your voice is raised is trained the same way. Some Fluffy's need a spritz with a squirt bottle, and some Fluffy's need to have their chain jerked. The smart, compassionate trainer go no further then the raised voice for any reason if the action ceases. The problem for the profession of animal/horse training is the ones that usually are in a hurry for many reasons, and jerk the chain as quick as they can thinking that will speed up their job. Wrong. The animal becomes what it is, and you will never know what he could have been.

This is the opposite way of thinking from a compassionate knowledgeable trainer because you don't know what you are talking about:

BeverlyT

20 hours ago

Report Abuse
Of course the circus is cruel! How else do you think they get wild animals to perform unnatural tricks?When will we evolve and banish this exploitation once and for all? Boycott the circus!

Reuben

6 hours ago

Report Abuse

Honestly, this isn't journalism, it's a circus puff piece, complete with circus music for the slideshow. Anything but cruel? YOU try being stolen away from your family in the wild as a baby, and then condemned to a life of being transported around the country for most of the year chained in trucks, or in tiny cages in trucks, deprived of anything that would be part of your natural life! These animals never get to move, except to perform, and they are taught to perform through punishment and domination. How anyone, particularly someone who is supposed to be a neutral reporter of facts, can look at these animals leading these completely unnatural lives and NOT see cruelty is beyond my ability to comprehend. Read up on the Animal Welfare Act violations by this circus.