{"id":631,"date":"2016-03-22T10:17:08","date_gmt":"2016-03-22T09:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/?p=631"},"modified":"2020-03-24T09:16:13","modified_gmt":"2020-03-24T08:16:13","slug":"animal-trainers-take-animal-emotions-into-consideration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/animal-trainers-take-animal-emotions-into-consideration\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal trainers: take animal emotions into consideration!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>revised May 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Is the dog fearful, or crouching?\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4384424_s-e1458635465440.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-635\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-635\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4384424_s-e1458635465440.jpg\" alt=\"4384424_s\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4384424_s-e1458635465440.jpg 267w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4384424_s-e1458635465440-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Does it matter, when you\u2019re training?<\/p>\n<p>The world of animal trainers is divided, and I find that some trainers avoid the subject of animal emotions altogether.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;There\u2019s no need to factor in and understand emotions, just deal with the observable behaviour&#8221;,<\/em> is the gist of what some trainers and animal professionals say.<\/p>\n<p><!--more-->No doubt their unwillingness to consider emotions stems from the Father of Behaviourism, influential to this day. Skinner said: <em>\u201cThe \u2018emotions\u2019 are excellent examples of the fictional causes to which we commonly attribute behavior\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not dwelling on what he actually meant by that <em>(\u2026fictional?).<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Anyhow, most modern animal trainers <a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/why-assume-animals-have-emotions\/\">don\u2019t question that animals have emotions.<\/a> It\u2019s just that when it comes to dealing with animals, many tend to address the observable behaviour rather than the emotion that goes with it.<\/p>\n<p>A simplified description of such an approach may be: <em>\u201cif crouching is an undesirable behaviour, let\u2019s make some changes to the environment so that the animal stops crouching.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>And it works, too. I\u2019m not disputing that. At least in some cases &#8211; and I&#8217;ll get back to when I think that approach completely misses the target.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m just compulsive about looking at everything from different angles.<\/p>\n<p>It works \u2013 <em>but is there a better way?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Can we improve wellbeing and reduce suffering of animals in our care by factoring in their emotions &#8211; on top of being good observers?<\/p>\n<p>I think so.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-636 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/bigstock-funny-kitten-portrait-with-smi-47892293.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/bigstock-funny-kitten-portrait-with-smi-47892293.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/bigstock-funny-kitten-portrait-with-smi-47892293-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/bigstock-funny-kitten-portrait-with-smi-47892293-768x533.jpg 768w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/bigstock-funny-kitten-portrait-with-smi-47892293-1024x711.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/bigstock-funny-kitten-portrait-with-smi-47892293-1200x833.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Taking emotions into account when interacting with animals in our care could:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prevent problem behaviour,<\/li>\n<li>Make it easier to care for them,<\/li>\n<li>Improve relationships with them, and<\/li>\n<li>Improve their quality of life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The secret\u2026:<\/p>\n<h5>A pinch of anthropomorphism<\/h5>\n<p>Anthropomorphism (the attribution of human traits, emotions and intentions to animals) is a word with extremely negative connotations. For many animal professionals, it\u2019s a no-no.<\/p>\n<p>For me, it\u2019s a tool.<a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/cayenne.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-637\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-637\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/cayenne.jpg\" alt=\"cayenne\" width=\"320\" height=\"152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/cayenne.jpg 810w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/cayenne-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/cayenne-768x367.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Or better yet, a spice.<\/p>\n<p>Like\u2026 cayenne pepper.<\/p>\n<p>Or tabasco.<\/p>\n<p>Overused, it can spoil everything.<\/p>\n<p>And yet &#8211; just a pinch can make all the difference.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t like sizzling hot food, so I use <em>very <\/em>little. Just to bring out the flavors and add that little extra something.<\/p>\n<p>OK, Karolina, very interesting. But how does cayenne relate to animal emotions and anthropomorphism?<\/p>\n<p>A pinch would be the equivalent of thinking: <em>I wonder what situations could cause this animal to be fearful. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Overuse would be comparable to thinking: <em>I\u2019m afraid of snakes \u2013 therefore this animal must be too.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Finding the right balance is important. Don\u2019t project your own emotions or intentions on the animal, but observe closely and think <em>\u201cis there an emotional state that could be involved in producing this behaviour?\u201d\u00a0<\/em>or even &#8216;<em>could this situation trigger some important emotional reaction, and if so, is it a desirable emotion or an undersirable one<\/em>?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As an applied ethologist working to improve captive animal welfare, I\u2019m biased to especially considering fearful behaviour, foraging behaviour and social behaviour \u2013 all related to different core emotional states.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll focus on fearful behaviour in this blog post. In core emotion lingo, the emotion is FEAR, written in caps.<\/p>\n<h5>Prediction.<\/h5>\n<p>If we take emotional states into account, we can predict where problematic situations might occur. Different species tend to have different reactions when they\u2019re afraid, for instance.<\/p>\n<p>Rabbits hide.<a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Holland-lop-bunny-log.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-638\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-638\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Holland-lop-bunny-log.jpg\" alt=\"Holland lop bunny log\" width=\"177\" height=\"277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Holland-lop-bunny-log.jpg 2364w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Holland-lop-bunny-log-191x300.jpg 191w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Holland-lop-bunny-log-768x1204.jpg 768w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Holland-lop-bunny-log-653x1024.jpg 653w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Holland-lop-bunny-log-1200x1881.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 177px) 100vw, 177px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Zebras run.<\/p>\n<p>Monkeys typically climb a tree.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, prey species tend to be more fearful than predators. They\u2019re generally more easily startled, and respond to a wider range of stimuli \u2013 different depending on the species.<\/p>\n<p>Armed with this knowledge, we can prepare escape routes: set up the environment so that the <em>animals get the opportunity of doing what they evolved to do when they\u2019re fearful<\/em>. I discuss\u00a0 and illustrate this in my senior lecturer&#8217;s exam lecture, <a href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/crash-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">part 2 about ethology,<\/a> but here are some pointers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Give the bunnies hide-outs. Make sure they have two exits, and that every individual has somewhere to go so that there\u2019s no unfriendly rabbit blocking the entrance.<\/li>\n<li>Provide the zoo-housed zebras with a big corral so that they can obtain a suitable flight distance from all spectators. If they\u2019re spooked, they can have somewhere to run that\u2019s far enough away from the scary object or person.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure that the monkey exhibit contains many climbing opportunities, so that they can use vertical space. Monkeys usually have strict dominance hierarchies and the highest ranking individuals tend to monopolize the higher levels. For this reason, there need to be enough levels so that even the lowest ranking individuals have the chance of performing the behaviour of jumping up to an empty spot when someone sounds the alarm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before you ask: <em>yes<\/em>. Dominance is a very important mechanism when it comes to monkeys&#8217; social lives. The dominance concept may be severely misunderstood and misused with regards to dog or horse behaviour, but many species, including most monkeys, show distinct dominance hierarchies, especially in captivity.<\/p>\n<p>Ensuring that animals have opportunities of reducing fear by performing species-typical behaviour is key.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, they may get frightened. Such is life. But if they do, they can do something to reduce that fear. They\u2019re <em>in control<\/em>, as it were.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/does-your-animal-have-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Animals in control have higher welfare<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<h5>Prevention.<\/h5>\n<p>One of the reasons why core emotions are so powerful is that they have tremendous survival value.<\/p>\n<p>An animal that doesn\u2019t respond with FEAR\u00a0to danger will likely not survive long. So, animals need to come prepared to respond fearfully to relevant stimuli.<\/p>\n<p>There are innate fears. Almost all mammals and birds, regardless of species, will respond with a fear reaction to the following triggers \u2013 without prior learning:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_639\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-639\" style=\"width: 184px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/9422593_s-e1458636754169.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-639\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-639\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/9422593_s-e1458636754169.jpg\" alt=\"9422593_s\" width=\"184\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/9422593_s-e1458636754169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/9422593_s-e1458636754169-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 184px) 100vw, 184px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-639\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Restraint implies lack of control and may cause FEAR.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Pain<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Sudden movement<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Loud noises<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Certain smells<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Lack of control<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Novelty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition to these innate fear triggers, there are learned fears.<\/p>\n<p>The cat learns that the transport box predicts going to the vet to get a shot, which includes exposure to loud noises, novelty, lack of control and pain. The transport box thus predicts innate fear stimuli. A whole bunch of them. Trigger stacking, so to speak.<\/p>\n<p>So kitty starts fearing the transport box.<\/p>\n<p>Is there anything you can do about these fears, innate or learned?<\/p>\n<p>Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Consider what type of stimuli or situations that may occur that could potentially trigger fear reactions, and make sure to teach the animal<a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/the-golden-combination-sdcc\/\"> (through for instance systematic desensitization and counter conditioning)<\/a> that they\u2019re not harmful \u2013 <em>before they even show fearful behaviour. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>In other words, by carefully and gradually presenting stimuli that could trigger innate FEAR, you reduce their power as triggers <em>and\u00a0<\/em>you eliminate the learned fears that could otherwise be associated with them.<\/p>\n<p><em>Animals who are not overly fearful have higher welfare.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_640\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-640\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Thomas-di-Lucio-flickr.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-640 \" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Thomas-di-Lucio-flickr.jpg\" alt=\"Thomas di Lucio flickr\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Thomas-di-Lucio-flickr.jpg 640w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Thomas-di-Lucio-flickr-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-640\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">photo by Thomas di Lucio, flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5>Problem solving.<\/h5>\n<p>Animals who are fearful may show a whole range of behaviour. The fearful crouching dog may tremble, shed hairs, blink, lift a front paw, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>Also, as FEAR escalates, behaviours change. If the animal is cornered, FEAR may switch over into RAGE, another core emotion.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t want that. That\u2019s when things could get dangerous. That\u2019s when animals desperately try to break free using the weapons at their disposal.<\/p>\n<p>By focusing your attention on the emotional state rather than on individual responses that may or may not be shown for any length of time, you can cut to the core of the problem.<\/p>\n<p>By helping the animal change his emotional state, you will change the behavioural manifestations too.<\/p>\n<p>Let me re-phrase that sentence, because it carries some extremely important implications.<\/p>\n<p><em>When emotions change, so does behaviour. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Behaviour can change, not because the animal learned something, but because emotions changed.<\/p>\n<p>See what I\u2019m getting at?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m getting at the fact that <em>people may be fooled to think the animal has learned something, when in fact, all that has happened is that the animal has changed emotions, for instance, by becoming fearful.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/punishment-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">main problems with punishment<\/a> as a learning tool.<\/p>\n<p>Say that the\u00a0dog pulls on the leash. The owner\u00a0punishes the\u00a0dog, say, by kicking him and saying \u201ctsssst!\u201d as some dog trainers on TV advocate. The dog stops pulling, and the owner\u00a0thinks it\u2019s because he\u2019s learned that pulling leads to unpleasant consequences.<\/p>\n<p>That may be so. The owner will likely\u00a0find out on the next walk.<\/p>\n<p>Or, it could simply be that the dog is now frightened and no longer in that SEEKING mode (another core emotion!) that lead him to pull in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a double whammy, by the way.<\/p>\n<p>SEEKING is a wonderful feeling, FEAR sucks.<\/p>\n<p>The problem with FEAR is that as arousal escalates, learning goes out the window. The animal may stop responding to known cues, become frantic \u2013 or flip into RAGE.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s vital to recognize when there\u2019s a FEAR component in a behavioural problem.<\/p>\n<p><em>Problem solving is facilitated by considering emotional states<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h5>Precision (nerd warning).<\/h5>\n<p>Skip this part if you\u2019re not a training nerd.<\/p>\n<p>Still here? Well, I did warn you.<\/p>\n<p>Ever wonder why a VR2 is the optimal Variable Ratio Schedule to keep an animal engaged? In other words, delivering a reinforcer on average on every second response?<\/p>\n<p>Because that ratio essentially implies the maximum amount of unpredictability. There\u2019s 50% chance of getting a reward, and 50% of not getting one. That\u2019s as unsure as it can get.<\/p>\n<p>That type of unpredictability of appetitive stimuli completely hijacks the dopamine system involved in the SEEKING response, that other core emotion. Professor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/robert_sapolsky_the_uniqueness_of_humans\">Robert Sapolsky talks about this in this brilliant TED talk<\/a> \u2013 start looking at 26.30 and keep going for about 5 minutes. Then try to stop watching.<\/p>\n<p>If I were a dude, I\u2019d want a beard like that.<\/p>\n<p>Woops. This was going to be about FEAR, not SEEKING. Or beards.<\/p>\n<p>Sorry for deviating, I\u2019ll get back to the subject.<\/p>\n<h5>Priorities.<\/h5>\n<p>One of the tenets of captive animal husbandry is to allow animals to express species-typical behaviour.<\/p>\n<p>Animals in the wild show an enormous number of different behaviours, easily numbering the thousands if detailed.<\/p>\n<p>How do we prioritize? Which of all those are important?<\/p>\n<p>I would argue that behaviours associated with core emotions are important. Core emotions are tightly linked to behaviours necessary for survival and reproduction.<\/p>\n<p>Which are the core emotions, then?<\/p>\n<p>Well, renowned affective neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp has identified seven of them (and he writes them all in caps). Four of them lead to improved welfare, and three of them may have negative impact on the animal&#8217;s long-term health.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5721 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/promote-positive-welfare.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"2505\" height=\"1653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/promote-positive-welfare.png 2505w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/promote-positive-welfare-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/promote-positive-welfare-768x507.png 768w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/promote-positive-welfare-1024x676.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<h5>Perils.<\/h5>\n<p>What are the risks of addressing emotions rather than behaviour?<\/p>\n<p>By assigning an emotional state, we move away from observing and start interpreting. \u00a0The main risk (among several) in doing so is that of misinterpretation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_641\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-641\" style=\"width: 604px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/three-emotions_crouching.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-641\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-641\" src=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/three-emotions_crouching.png\" alt=\"three emotions_crouching\" width=\"604\" height=\"141\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/three-emotions_crouching.png 1769w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/three-emotions_crouching-300x70.png 300w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/three-emotions_crouching-768x179.png 768w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/three-emotions_crouching-1024x238.png 1024w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/three-emotions_crouching-1200x279.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-641\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The cats are crouching, but they experience different emotions: PLAY, FEAR versus SEEKING.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Don\u2019t lose track of what the animal is actually doing. It takes a keen experienced observer to know the emotional state associated with a specific behaviour for a particular species. For this reason, it\u2019s often a good idea to keep track of actual behaviours (crouching, ears back, large pupils, wide eyes, weight distribution) in addition to the probable core emotional state &#8211; and of course, the context in which they occur, and whether they diminish or intensify as a result of changes in the environment.<\/p>\n<h5>Why addressing observable behaviour isn&#8217;t enough<\/h5>\n<p>Getting back to why I think it&#8217;s not enough to just look at observable behaviour &#8211; to me it&#8217;s problematic in several ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When prioritizing, we may focus our efforts on observable behaviour that is troublesome <em>to us<\/em> (such as a barking dog), even though the situation may be troublesome <em>to the animal<\/em> (for instance, the dog may be quiet but still very uncomfortable).<\/li>\n<li>We don&#8217;t realize the importance of certain core emotional states (SEEKING and PLAY, for instance) with regards to brain development, personality, stress coping abilities and social competence &#8211; and even stifle them.<\/li>\n<li>We may fail to notice subtle behavioural signs; the early indicators of unease, unless we&#8217;re specifically looking for them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5533\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5533\" style=\"width: 1080px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-5533 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/worth-his-weight-in-gold.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/worth-his-weight-in-gold.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/worth-his-weight-in-gold-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/worth-his-weight-in-gold-768x555.jpg 768w, https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/worth-his-weight-in-gold-1024x741.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5533\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">fedupfred.com publishes sarcastic and educational images about how we treat horses. This one captures the problem of the animal not doing anything noticeable \u2013 so we miss the subtle signs of unease.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h5>Conclusion.<\/h5>\n<p>It is my firm belief that as trainers we can <a href=\"http:\/\/illis.se\/en\/how-to-become-a-better-animal-trainer\/\">be inspired by different scientific disciplines<\/a> &#8211; and the field of emotions is one of them.<\/p>\n<p>By taking core emotions in animals into consideration, animal trainers may better <em>predict<\/em> responses, <em>prevent<\/em> undesirable behaviours, <em>problem solve<\/em> more efficiently, increase <em>precision<\/em> in their training, and <em>prioritize <\/em>more effectively.<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p>I teach about all aspects of behaviour management &#8211; and my <a href=\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/courses-menu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">online courses<\/a> are wildly popular. They&#8217;re only available occasionally, though &#8211; sign up and I&#8217;ll notify you! You&#8217;ll also learn whenever I offer a free webinar, masterclass &#8211; or publish a new blog post.<\/p>\n<p><b>[embed_popupally_pro popup_id=&#8221;14&#8243;]<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Panksepp (1998). Affective neuroscience: The foundations of human and animal emotions.<\/p>\n<p>Skinner (1965).\u00a0Science and human behavior.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You may better predict responses, prevent undesirable behaviours, problem solve more efficiently, and prioritize more effectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=631"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5808,"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631\/revisions\/5808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.illis.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}