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I do not believe there is an "old School" and a "New School" in animal training. Un less it would be some of that far out clicker crap and of course idiots who think that these animals love them and take no precautions in what they are dealing with and end up getting killed. Among them are friends and associates that we worked with over the years, and the young lady that was killed by Winkie in Tennesse. HER DEATH WAS UNCALLED FOR AND cAROL bUCKLEY SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER for allowing her to go among those elephants that have behavior problems and she was aware of that fact. What a horrible white wash that episode was and to believe that her parents go along with that reasoning is rediculous. Just saw the thing on 20-20 TV. What a farce.
But anyway the methods of general animal training have always been handed down and its up to the person to use them for best advantage. Certainly they can be added to or improved on, but the essentials are there. Some of previous generations have done superior work, so we certainly cannot say we are better. I suppose it could be called the "old school", but I would call it the traditional school and it is excellent. No need to re-invent the wheel. I speak of alltypes of animals.
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.
Johnny,
ReplyDeleteCorrect me if I am wrong,(as if you needed a special invite) but I believe the wheel was originally an irregular round shaped stone, fashioned by cave men by chipping it's "round" shape, with other stones. It made Fred Flinstones car wobble when he accelerated by running fast. I think what we use today, excluding retreads of course, is a vast improvement, and I am glad they worked the bugs out of the original.
Wade
If this was the case. Someone please quit hogging all the cat act pictures from before say 1960 with hind leg walks and more then one cat at a time doing tricks.
ReplyDeleteShit thats probably to picky.....
Show me one that is not a bunch of cats doing a pyramid.
No disrespect intended to the "old school" but we really shouldn't be promoting it like it was some kinda disney land of well trained and cared for animals. It was what it was. And it has improved (not because it wanted to I might add) Do we really need to keep glamorizing it and taking shots at how it has gotten worse?
Lets reflect on what has changed...
Can't whack on something in broad daylight in front of a crowd anymore.
Has this hindered or helped animal training?
BOTH!
Hindered the people who know how and when to discipline an animal it has made them head shy to correct problems firmly rite when the arise, so instead the animal is disciplined later when it has gotten way out of hand.
Helped in the sense that getting frustrated and whaling on something day after day will usually land you out of this business if not in jail somewhere.
I would say the quality of life for captive animals now days is better by ten fold. Because everyone at least knows someone is watching most of the time. Obviously there are still huge improvements to be made, and many have gone on with business as usual, but I am certain eventually it will get rite, or won't exist.
Johnnny,
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify "white wash" and the new "manslaughter" law that you may have suggested to the Supreme Court, in the case of the trainer that was killed a few years ago in Ft. Wayne Indiana at the circus,(you know the one. He apparently "fell" and hit his head, no wait a minute that isn't it, that was the one a year before, now I remember, he hit his head on the slid bar ducking out the door of the elephant truck) any way that one. Should the owner of the show been charged with manslaughter? In the "good old day's they used to hang an elephant, or shoot them "with a barrage of gunfire and bullets", because the elephant was guilty of manslaughter. The elephant that killed the trainer in Hawaii, and injured others that has become the poster child for mismanagement of captive animals, got executed, but the owner of the animal didn't. Injustice? What say you Lord Herriott. A very well know and revered circus elephant killed a girl back in the 70's/80's when the girl after crawling out of the sleeper was told by the trainer, to go in the truck and take a leak. Who got charged with manslaughter, the trainer or the owner of the elephant, or the elephant. None Lord Herriott, it got one of those paint jobs that you frown upon. This kind of rant at someone else really damages this profession more and more, and there will be nothing left for the "new school" if the "old school" continues with those narrow minded, defensive oracles.
Wade
WADE! You broke the most sacred circus oath. The girl taking a leak in the trailer must NEVER be mentioned. Never!!
ReplyDeleteThat's the most UN-'with it and for it' statement I've ever read.
Ian