October guest speaker, Kit Perry, highlights conditioning training
Our guest speaker, Kit Perry, is currently a dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant. Kit moved to Denton, Texas area in 2021 to pursue a Master's Degree in Behavior Analysis with a focus in animal behavior at UNT.
Before moving to Texas, Kit worked at several zoos, including the San Diego and Fresno zoos in California. She trained animals in the zoos, including elephants, mountain lions, tigers, monkeys, birds and goats. Her favorite zoo training program she created was with giraffes. Kit explained the process of conditioning/training that was used for giraffes. Many interesting facts about giraffes were revealed by Kit during her presentation, For instance, did you know that a giraffe can kick out several feet in front with its hind legs? Giraffes are also very fast and are dangerous. Zoos have developed specialized holding pens taking in these factors to protect their handlers. Giraffes are also intelligent and are trained by using special treats (sliced apples). Giraffes also lay down to sleep but typically only sleep an hour a day. They have incredibly long tongues which can twist and grab things.
In 2012 Kit put her focus on training dogs when she stated Creature Coach, LLC in Central California. She currently runs her business in the Denton area while also focusing on her Master's Degree. Kit showed several videos of dogs that had been trained/conditioned to behave in certain situations. For example, one video showed a dog greeting a person at the front door but immediately going to lay down in her bed rather jump up and down and bark and get all excited (like most of our dogs do). She's also showed two poodles she trained to sit in certain positions to be photographed as they were used in advertisements for their owner's business.
Overall, it was a delightful presentation which we had to cut just a little short because the annular solar eclipse was happening and many members were excited to see it. It was very worthwhile waiting for Kit to speak to our group.
Before moving to Texas, Kit worked at several zoos, including the San Diego and Fresno zoos in California. She trained animals in the zoos, including elephants, mountain lions, tigers, monkeys, birds and goats. Her favorite zoo training program she created was with giraffes. Kit explained the process of conditioning/training that was used for giraffes. Many interesting facts about giraffes were revealed by Kit during her presentation, For instance, did you know that a giraffe can kick out several feet in front with its hind legs? Giraffes are also very fast and are dangerous. Zoos have developed specialized holding pens taking in these factors to protect their handlers. Giraffes are also intelligent and are trained by using special treats (sliced apples). Giraffes also lay down to sleep but typically only sleep an hour a day. They have incredibly long tongues which can twist and grab things.
In 2012 Kit put her focus on training dogs when she stated Creature Coach, LLC in Central California. She currently runs her business in the Denton area while also focusing on her Master's Degree. Kit showed several videos of dogs that had been trained/conditioned to behave in certain situations. For example, one video showed a dog greeting a person at the front door but immediately going to lay down in her bed rather jump up and down and bark and get all excited (like most of our dogs do). She's also showed two poodles she trained to sit in certain positions to be photographed as they were used in advertisements for their owner's business.
Overall, it was a delightful presentation which we had to cut just a little short because the annular solar eclipse was happening and many members were excited to see it. It was very worthwhile waiting for Kit to speak to our group.