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ABI Newsletter,
Fall 2008
""A house is not a home without a pet." ~ Anonymous
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Director's Corner: New Year, New opportunities |
At this time of year we're all preparing for the whirlwind of holidays ranging from Thanksgiving to New Years Day. At ABI we'll be ringing in the New Year with an additional certificate program and two new courses: Canine Behavior & Enrichment and Wildlife Management.
 The effective training and husbandry of dogs requires that we understand their communication signals, recognize signs of stress and aggression, and take a proactive stance in preventing the development of stereotypical or self-destructive behavior. Canine Behavior & Enrichment focuses on canine body language, communication and behavior. We review how enrichment and socialization can be used to address behavioral issues in a variety of captive settings from laboratories to dog day care. Canine Behavior & Enrichment is an elective course in three certificate programs: Laboratory Animal Behavior, Animal Training & Enrichment, or Animal Assisted Therapy.
 Proper management of wild animals in captivity requires a thorough knowledge of natural history, population management, and habitat management. Wildlife Management covers these areas with an emphasis on topics relevant to the release and reintroduction of wildlife, including habitat assessment, population estimates and human--wildlife conflict. Wildlife Management is a required course in our Wildlife Rehabilitation program.
Winter Registration for all courses is currently underway, register soon to reserve space in the course of your choice. One course (Therapeutic Riding) is already filled and no longer available for registration next semester. Avoid disappointment - register now!
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New program available in Laboratory Animal Behavior! |
Over the last several years, we have had increasing numbers of animal technicians from laboratory science enroll in our Animal  Training & Enrichment program. In response to their requests, we have now added a more specialized certificate in Laboratory Animal Behavior. This program is tailored to the needs of animal care staff with a particular interest in behavior and enrichment. After completing basic courses in Animal Training and Animal Enrichment, students may select from courses that offer in depth coverage of species' behavior and enrichment techniques developed for those species. An ideal program for members of AALAS.
Laboratory Animal Behavior Certificate: requires the two courses below and three additional behavioral classes chosen from the Program Electives.
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
CEUs |
| ABI 233 |
Animal Training |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 222 |
Animal Enrichment |
3 |
6 |
*Students may choose any three of the four behavioral courses below to complete their certificate program.
| Course |
Name |
Credits |
CEUs |
| ABI 271 |
Canine Behavior & Enrichment |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 272 |
Feline Behavior & Enrichment |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 378 |
Behavior & Enrichment of Primates |
3 |
6 |
| ABI 375 |
Behavior of Rabbits & Rodents |
3 |
6 |
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Ask the Trainer: This little piggy... |
 Q: I have a beautiful, young pot-bellied pig named Luke that had been raised in the house until this fall, when we began letting him spend time in our fenced yard. While he loves to frolic outdoors, he has started to snuff and paw at one corner of our flower bed (which has its own fence). While it isn't particularly destructive right now, what can I do to nip this in the bud (ha ha!) before he becomes full grown?
A: By "snuff" I assume you are referring to rooting behavior. Rooting is a very natural behavior in all pigs and an important component of foraging. Even if pigs are given all the food they desire they will still be very motivated to root in the soil. A pig's snout and the rooting-disk is the main source of sensory input, like the beak of a parrot. The rooting-disk has huge numbers of tactile receptors used in exploration - more than in the human hand! Luke may be particularly interested in your flower bed area because the soil is looser in this area, the fertilizer provides an interesting smell, or the plants and bulbs may attract him as potential food items.
You're right to be concerned, since pot-bellied pigs can easily grow to 150 lbs or more Luke will probably be able to root/dig his way in eventually. While you could try sprays, etc. to make the area less desirable, you may only drive him into performing the same behavior elsewhere. Instead, help him to satisfy this urge in a way that doesn't aggravate you. One simple solution is to provide hay, pigs love hay! Is there a portion of the yard that could be partially dug up for Luke to root in? You could make the area more attractive by hiding treats in the soil for him to root out. Similarly, a box filled with mulch, soil, other substances can have hidden treats to encourage Luke to root in an area you find acceptable. Finally, if this isn't possible try an enrichment toy or feeder that simulates rooting, such as a buster cube, while providing food treats.
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