This episode Rick Hester, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and BehaviorWorks, discusses a free operant approach to behavior management. Rick starts with explaining the practical application of free operant behavior and, in order to get the full scope, also discusses discrete trial training and the relationship between the two. Breaking down some of the science, Rick educates about Lindsley's (1996) Four Free Operant Freedoms and the considerations for providing and maintaining a free operant environment (depletion, satiation, and dosage of resources). Rick finishes the episode with giving advice on how to start curating free operant environments by celebrating each approximation. Stay tuned in for a "dam" great "Training Tale" about creating a free operant environment for beavers using the sound of running water. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email abc@theabma.org and to contact Rick email rph@behaviorworks.org Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!

6:40 Definition and application of “Free Operant”

10:05 Definition and application of Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

14:10 Connecting the dots between environmental enrichment and free operant principles

16:55 The Freedom to Present Stimuli

17:20 The Freedom to Repeat Responses Many Times to Each Signal

17:50 The Freedom to Form Responses

18:20 The Freedom to Slow or Speed Responses

19:15 Considerations for providing and maintaining a free operant environment

20:40 Resource Depletion

23:20 Satiation of Resources

24:50 Dosage of Resources

28:00 Advice for Getting Team Buy-In; Using Approximations

35:35 The balance between free operant and discrete trial training

39:50 “Training Tales”

This episode continues on "The Behaviors of..." series which dives into the human side of the animal care field. In this episode Scott Trauger, Natural Encounters, Inc., dives deeper into a discussion centered around his presentation at the 2024 ABMA Annual Conference titled "Expanding Our Feedback Loop: Evolving the Way that We Give Feedback to Our Peers". Scott discusses the different types of feedback and considerations to think about in order to effectively give specific and honest, but also kind, feedback. Scott also discusses the thought of also giving choice and... control to people while providing feedback. Stay tuned in for a "Training Tale" about how Scott used his tree climbing skills and relationship to rescue a pied crow. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email abc@theabma.org and to reach Scott contact him on the ABMA Community or email michael.scott.trauger@gmail.com If you are an ABMA member you can watch Scott's presentation on animalprofessional.com Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!

• 2:10 Introduction to Scott Trauger

• 6:05 “Expanding Our Feedback Loop: Evolving the Ways we Give Feedback to Our Peers”

• 7:55 Using the word “Feedback” vs “Criticism”

• 12:05 Different Types of Feedback

• 18:40 Importance of Individual Relationships

• 23:30 Being honest and specific but also kind

• 27:15 Reinforcing the behaviors/responses you want to see happen again

• 29:30 Recapping or following up after feedback

• 31:15 Starting with heart and the human, not evidence

• 35:10 Giving choice and… control to people

• 43:00 “Training Tales”

This episode we are joined by Tegan Noel, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, to discuss some practical applications and examples of providing choice and... control. This episode is a continuation of Episode 50 where Ken Ramirez broke down the science of choice and... control. The episode starts with Tegan commenting how the focus of those two topics have changed and shaped behavior in recent years. Additionally, she educates about what it means to remove "forced" choice and providing control through the use of encouraging animals to say now. Tegan gives thoughtful examples of providing choice and... control and why it is not only important for animal care professionals to have an understanding but also the public. Stay tuned in for Tegan's interesting "Training Tale" about a pygmy falcon who decided to create an awkward ending to a show. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email abc@theabma.org and to reach Tegan you can email tnoel@sdzwa.org Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!

2:45 Introduction to Teagan Noel

5:40 How has the focus on choice and control evolved and changed the way we care for animals?

11:30 Giving animals control and encouraging animals to “say no” while still receiving active participation

16:00 Practical examples of providing choice and control: Squirrel Monkeys

28:35 Practical example: Control over putting on a harness (coati, wombat)

31:10 Giving more control and removing “forced” choice

40:35 Importance of providing choice and control from the view of the pubic

49:40 Advice for starting the process of providing more control

54:35 “Training Tales”