Official Kids Mag www.kidscoop.com © Vicki Whiting September 2021
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Read "How to Train
a Dolphin."Then
circle the word that
best describes each
picture below.
"For dolphins, training sessions are great exercise and a lot of fun," says
DolphinTrainer.com's marine mammal consultant, Terry Samansky.
Dolphins aren't the only ones learning
in animal park training programs. The
trainers are learning about dolphins.
In fact, much of what we know
about dolphins has been learned at
marine parks.
"The first step is for the dolphin and
the trainer to get to know and trust each
other," Samansky says.
A trainer may start by sitting by the
pool, dangling feet in the water, feeding
and playing with the dolphin. This fun
process helps the dolphin and trainer get
to know each other and build strong bonds
of trust.
As trust is established, the trainer
introduces a "bridge" such as blowing a
whistle or saying "good job," each time
food is given.
Soon the bridge is paired with other
things the dolphin likes, such as a rub on
the skin, a toy, some ice or a squirt of water
on the tongue. After a while the dolphin
learns that the bridge goes with a reward
and means "good job."
Next the trainer will usually train the
dolphin to follow a target, such as a hand
or other object. If a hand is the target, the
trainer puts up a hand and waits for the
curious dolphin to touch it. As soon as that
happens, the trainer blows the whistle and
"bridges" the behavior to let the dolphin
know, "yes, that's what I wanted you to
do." Eventually the dolphin knows to
touch and follow the target.
Next the trainer must pair the
behaviors with a signal or "cue" so the
dolphin knows what behaviors to do and
when to do them. Cues can be hand or body
movements, special sounds or words.
