Animal Training and Research Intl.

We hope you have enjoyed taking the Animal Training 101 class and that it has been beneficial to you and your animals.  Warmest congratulations on earning the AT 101 Behavior Modification Coursework Certificate!  The next level of certification available is to demonstrate the application of these principles with live animals.

Animal Training 101: Live Animal Certifications 

You may choose to be certified in any or all of the following categories:

Dog

Horse

General Domestic

Exotic animals

Cost:  Standard: $75 per certification or Discounted: $50 per certification!!

*If you agree to allow ATR to use your videos for teaching purposes we will happily give you a $25 discount, making each certification only $50!!

Video requirements:

Each specialization requires sending all 4 of the following videos of specific behaviors you have trained with an animal or a particular singular species.  The trainer and animal must be more or less fully visible in each video. You may choose to complete one at a time and submit them for comments to get feedback but please try to submit only what you consider to be completed versions of each requirement, as this certification does not include “coaching or consultation.”  If you would like coaching from Dr. Zeligs you are welcome to contract for hourly rates to get troubleshooting advice.

Condition a bridge stimulus.  Evidence for “proof of concept” must be demonstrated in at least 3 separate recorded instances.  “Proof of concept” can be demonstrated using an already trained extended behavior (such as a target or a sit) which is successfully terminated by the bridge stimulus.  Alternatively or in conjunction, you can test the bridge when the animal is distracted or looking away from the trainer. In this proof, after hearing the bridge, the animal should abruptly terminate the distracted current behavior and turn suddenly to the trainer in expectation of reinforcement.  It is vital that the trainer does not reach into the food container or pouch in any way until after the animal has responded to the bridge so that we can discern that they are purely responsive to the noise, not the movement of the trainer.

Condition a targeting behavior where the animal touches some designated part of its body to an object or part of the trainer’s body.  Evidence of successful target training must be provided in two forms 1) extension of at least 5 secs in duration 2) moving to the target.  The behavior should be demonstrated on a clear S^D , be maintained in nearly continuous contact and involve the animal moving to touch the target, not the target moving to touch the animal.  You may use encouragement such as IBs or KGS or other, but re-cuing is not full criterion.

Condition a caging or trailering behavior where the animal on S^D enters a restricted space that can be used to transport and or examine the animal. No tethers should be used in this process so that the animal clearly enters on a cue alone. The animal should wait calmly and voluntarily while the cage is closed before receiving reinforcement.

Demonstrate the use of DRI, DRA or DRO.  To do this there must be some conflicting behavior that the animal could be seen to be drawn towards but that is restricted by the redirection.  The animal stationing in a nearby location or using a backup behavior while food is placed into its environment is a great universal example.  The animal when released from the behavior by the bridge stimulus should show interest in the food to demonstrate the effect of the DRI.  Alternatively, showing a situation with and without the intervention of the redirection could also prove concept which will be evaluated on a case-dependent basis as each situation is unique.   Please note that no restraint, force or other manipulative control mechanism will be acceptable, for this demonstration the animal must cooperate completely voluntarily.

-Dr. Zeligs will review your submissions.  She will send you an email with comments and any modifications or questions she may have.  You may need to do further work to improve the behavior or the behavior may be satisfactory for certification on first submission.   Don’t worry if you have to resubmit, you can do this as many times as needed to earn the certification.