Otto Fad on the Power of Positive Reinforcement

Courteous Canine, Inc. DogSmith of Tampa Presents

Otto Fad on The Power of Positive Reinforcement

Sunday June 9th, 2013 1pm to 5pm $60

Using Positive Reinforcement to Train Elephants: Operant and Respondent Strategies

 Otto Fad is the Manager of Elephants at Busch Gardens Tampa’s Pachyderm Palace. He is known worldwide for his evangelical advocacy for positive reinforcement training for all animals but especially elephants. Elephants at Busch Gardens are trained with an open economy, meaning they have food available at all times, and still choose to engage with their trainers, and frequently initiate interactions with them.  Trained behaviors range from unrestrained complex veterinary procedures to playful activities developed only to build strong relationships and to have fun together.

Otto will be presenting on:

• Use of open economies – Elephants choose to work with trainers they have access to food at all times
• Operant strategies to allow medical procedures
• Respondent Strategies to shift emotional states
• And more!
• Presentation followed by question and answer.

Otto Fad is Elephant Manager at Busch Gardens Tampa, where he helped develop a progressive new program in 2004, distinguished by its focus on positive reinforcement, its unparalleled success in conditioning voluntary husbandry behaviors, and its extraordinary team of creative, positive, and passionate trainers. Previously, Otto was a Senior Trainer at SeaWorld. In his career, he has endeavored to raise the professionalism and pride of those around him, to increase research output, and to build ties with institutions of higher learning. He has written on subjects including anthropomorphism, assisted reproduction, behavioral enrichment, natural history, husbandry training, safety, and staff development.

Location Courteous Canine, Inc. DogSmith of Tampa, 3414 Melissa Country Way, Lutz, FL 33559

Please make checks payable for $60 to: Courteous Canine, Inc. and mail to addy above. No dogs will be attending as this is presentation only seminar. Continuing Education Units available for PPG, IAABC and APDT. For more info contact Info@CourteousCanine.com or call 813 949 1465