Teaching a Bridge and Target

Presented by Iron Oak Canyon Ranch's Animal Care Academy, this segment of our Animal Behavior series of clinics and classes will focus on teaching a bridge and a target, two of the most basic, but most important, behaviors to train. These two simple behaviors will form the foundation off of which you will shape behaviors for the rest of your career.     
 
In this class, you’ll learn how to choose a reinforcer, and use it to create a bridge. Once the animal understands the concept of a bridge, you can teach them a simple target behavior, which will be the first step in shaping many other behaviors.
 
Does this course description make you want to scratch your head? Come take this class and you’ll be speaking training jargon like a pro in no time.
 
This course is taught by ranch owner Lessa Ritzma, whose previous career credits include zookeeper and exotic animal trainer, along with over twenty years of horse experience.
 
This is hands-off, demonstration and lecture class. A live animal may participate for demonstration purposes. All participants will qualify for the Animal Behavior: Teaching a Bridge and Target credit for Iron Oak Canyon Ranch's Animal Behavior certificate. The Animal Behavior certificate core courses are meant to be taken in order, and this is the third class of the series. Students must complete The Language of Training and Basics of Operant Conditioning to take this course.
 
$40 per participant for 1.5-hour class. Limit 15 participants. Weather permitting.

Message us to sign up or ask questions.