| Today, many animal lovers and horse trainers alike | | | | training ground for animals and also served as a |
| employ clicker training with their horses. They use this | | | | training facility in itself. The popularity of the IQ Zoo |
| strategy to help train their horses better and faster. | | | | brought Keller and Marian to the mainstream and they |
| Like humans, animals such as horses also need some | | | | also grabbed the attention of the major commercial |
| reliable trainings and one way of achieving such is | | | | animal training industries. In the 1950s, they developed |
| through clicker trainings. But how did this idea came to | | | | the first ever operant-based marine mammal and bird |
| be? To know the history of clicker training, read further | | | | shows for Marineland of the Pacific, Marine Studios, |
| on the article below. | | | | and Parrot Jungle. |
| Burrhus Frederic Skinner, was an American | | | | Bob Bailey was the US Navy's first Director of Training |
| psychologist. He was the Edgar Pierce Professor of | | | | and later got married to Marian. Together, they |
| Psychology at Harvard University from 1958 until his | | | | continued their work at ABE when Keller Breland died |
| retirement in 1974. He is the person who came up with | | | | in 1965. They then created the so-called radio-carrying |
| the operant conditioning chamber and founded his own | | | | cats, as well as, dolphins that are able to locate targets |
| school of experimental research psychology, the | | | | from many miles away. Likewise, they also devised |
| experimental analysis of behavior. | | | | ravens and other birds that are equipped with intricate |
| Operant conditioning is the use of consequences to | | | | cameras, which were directed by lasers. Gulls, who |
| modify the occurrence and form of behavior. It deals | | | | are expert sea searchers by nature, could now |
| with the modification of operant behavior. His two first | | | | effectively locate and report missing life rafts and |
| students, Marian Kruse and Keller Breland saw the | | | | swimmers who were swept away far offshore. In a |
| possibilities for animal training as a business. Hence, | | | | similar manner, the facility was later used to train at |
| clicker training came when these two students trained | | | | least 140 different species of animals including whales, |
| pigeons to be used during wars when they participated | | | | bears, lions and domesticated dogs or cats and even |
| in military research during World War II. | | | | humans beings. |
| When they left the B.F Skinner School, they formed | | | | The clicker is only used to train and acquire a new |
| the first company that used operant conditioning which | | | | behavior. A clicker is just one example of a |
| was known as the Animal Behavior Enterprises or | | | | conditioned reinforcer. In this sense, any other sensory |
| ABE. The said institute trained the first free-flying bird | | | | mode can become a conditioned reinforcer. |
| shows and served as a host of commercial animal | | | | Nevertheless, the animal training programs at most |
| exhibits. | | | | major theme parks and oceanariums today can be |
| In 1955, Keller and Marian opened IQ Zoo that featured | | | | traced back to Keller and Marian Breland's efforts. |
| a showcase of animals. This center has become a | | | | |