enrichment training

I started playing a game with Baxter recently.

When he's in the pasture, he likes to linger by the fence, and I thought it would be fun to see if he would eat a carrot if I placed one on the crossbeam.  So I put one little carrot nugget on the beam, and he walked over and ate it.

Then I thought it might be a fun game for him to learn how to find and eat a series of treats if I placed a line of them along the beam.

This video captures that experiment:

Alpacas are incredibly smart animals and are very trainable if you take the time to teach them.

It doesn't take much time -- less than one minute a day -- but it takes practice and dedication.

I like to think of it as similar to Pavlov's method of classic conditioning with his dog and using a stimulus (treat) to create a response.  

The best scenario for this kind of enrichment is a one-on-one opportunity. For example, if other alpacas are in the immediate vicinity, it can easily turn into chaos as many furry faces reach for the snack in your hand, and your training buddy becomes upset or distracted and breaks that 1:1 connection you made with them.

So finding that uninterruptible opportunity is key.  It doesn't matter where it happens, but as long as your alpaca (or other animal) can focus on the exercise without the other pacas (or pets) causing disruption.

Below is a good example of ongoing training that I developed with one of my first alpacas, Fiona.  It was early in her enrichment training days, so it wasn't a perfect session but it is clear that she was having a good time.  

What was unique about the situation was that Fiona was more interested in playing with me and eating carrots than having her breakfast (like the other alpacas are) so it was a convenient opportunity that I could take advantage of for that one-on-one time without having to separate ourselves into a pen. ​

When we got our first two alpacas, there was no information on the internet about enrichment training and there still isn't.  I found a couple of videos with talented llamas performing tricks for their owners, but no guidance on how to get started.  

Then one day I found Nina Faust.  An alpaca owner in Alaska who had two males she taught many enrichment activities, and I was inspired.   Her calm and patient method with a clicker and a target objective was the starting point that I was looking for.   

This training technique is not unique and can be taught to any animal, not just alpacas, and to any age.  They just need to be interested in you.

Here's what you do to get started:

All you need is a target objective: a ball, a frisbee, or whatever is at hand. (I drew a target on a piece of white cardboard) and a favorite treat for a reward. 

The reward should be something that you will always give them when doing this exercise so they know what they'll earn (down the road, once they are conditioned, you can change the treat with other treats).

Get your animal's attention (a/k/a your training buddy).  Take your target object and slowly and gently tap their nose with it and say your training word that they will associate with the action, then feed them the reward and affirm with positive reinforcement:  "good job" or whatever positive phrase you choose.

The word you use to associate with the action can be anything, a single word or phrase that will eventually be associated with touching the object.   I always say "target" and down the road, I would use it in sentences like in the video above.

Repeat the action several times:  target + treat + positive reinforcement.  In the beginning, this should take no more than 30 seconds.  

Your training buddy may seem confused at first with what you're doing, but will happily accept the treat. Just repeat it a few times and then stop.

You always want to end the exercise early before they get bored or lose interest. You can use words that tell them the training session is over like "all done" or "no more" or whatever phrase -- as long as you're consistent, they will learn.

The next time you do this enrichment exercise, your training buddy will remember the treat they received and should be interested in playing again. 

Within a few sessions, your training buddy will associate whatever action word you chose with the reward and will reach for the target on their own so they will receive the treat and associated positive reinforcement (because that is what they're after).   

If you make this "game" a regular daily habit, it will become second nature for them and part of your language with them.  Then you can build on what they've learned and teach them new words and actions to keep being rewarded.

It will be equally rewarding for you too as they play this game with you.

I invite you to try it.