TY - JOUR
T1 - A Comparison of Positive Reinforcement Training Techniques in Owl and Squirrel Monkeys
T2 - Time Required to Train to Reliability
AU - Rogge, Jessica
AU - Sherenco, Katrina
AU - Malling, Rachel
AU - Thiele, Erica
AU - Lambeth, Susan
AU - Schapiro, Steve
AU - Williams, Lawrence
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Positive reinforcement training (PRT) techniques enhance the psychological well being of nonhuman primates by increasing the animal's control over his or her environment and desensitizing the animal to stressful stimuli. However, the literature on PRT in neotropical primates is limited. Here PRT data from owl monkeys and squirrel monkeys are presented, including the length of time to train subjects to target, present hand, and present foot, important responses that can be used to aid in health inspection and treatment. A high percentage of the squirrel and owl monkeys were successfully trained on target and present hand. Present foot, a less natural response, was harder to train and maintain. Although squirrel monkeys did learn to target significantly faster than owl monkeys, the 2 genera did not differ on time to train on subsequent behavior. These data demonstrate that although owl monkeys may require slightly more time to acclimate to a PRT program, it is still possible to establish a PRT program with neotropical primates, and once animals have been introduced to the program, they can learn new responses in a relatively few short sessions.
AB - Positive reinforcement training (PRT) techniques enhance the psychological well being of nonhuman primates by increasing the animal's control over his or her environment and desensitizing the animal to stressful stimuli. However, the literature on PRT in neotropical primates is limited. Here PRT data from owl monkeys and squirrel monkeys are presented, including the length of time to train subjects to target, present hand, and present foot, important responses that can be used to aid in health inspection and treatment. A high percentage of the squirrel and owl monkeys were successfully trained on target and present hand. Present foot, a less natural response, was harder to train and maintain. Although squirrel monkeys did learn to target significantly faster than owl monkeys, the 2 genera did not differ on time to train on subsequent behavior. These data demonstrate that although owl monkeys may require slightly more time to acclimate to a PRT program, it is still possible to establish a PRT program with neotropical primates, and once animals have been introduced to the program, they can learn new responses in a relatively few short sessions.
KW - owl monkeys
KW - positive reinforcement training
KW - squirrel monkeys
KW - welfare
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U2 - 10.1080/10888705.2013.798223
DO - 10.1080/10888705.2013.798223
M3 - Article
C2 - 23795685
AN - SCOPUS:84879510911
SN - 1088-8705
VL - 16
SP - 211
EP - 220
JO - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
JF - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
IS - 3
ER -