Training
Scrapbook- 1970s
Wendy
has had a unique animal training
career. Her experience in a
variety of species have given her a broad
understanding of animal training
and behavior
modification. You can't put a
choke chain on a dolphin or a parrot but
they can still learn to be highly
reliable partners in
training. She considers
herself lucky to have started her career
with various species that can not be
forced to cooperate. Now those same
techniques, applied to dogs, birds and
house cats, build mutually respectful
relationships between pets and their
handlers.
| How did
Wendy get started in
animal training? |
| Synchronized
swimming was her sport in
high school and
college. One thing
led to another and she
spent several years
traveling the world with
water shows and dolphin
shows. "I
froze my tootsies off in
more foreign countries
than I care to
remember," laughed
Wendy. "Ah,
the things we do when we
are young!" |
| Here, Wendy
enjoys a free ride
provided by two dolphins
in the
"Aquarama"
show, based in Argentina.
She performed in El
Salvador, Costa Rica, and
other exotic South
American locations in the
1970's. |
|
(click
photos to see larger
versions)
|
| When Wendy
wasn't touring with
a water or dolphin show
she worked as an animal
portrait artist.
Photographing, then
painting clients' pets
drew on all her abilities
with dogs, cats and
horses. Here,
Wendy's boxer named Lila
poses beside her puppy
portrait while at a Miami
art
show. |
|
|
| Training wild
or aggressive animals: |
| Wendy didn't
know a thing about sea
lions and stories about
their dangerous bites
were not encouraging, but
the aquarium where
she worked had
three untrained
animals. She gave
it a try. This is
where she first began to
appreciate the value of
teaching tricks to
problem animals.
Now Wendy counsels parrot
owners to do the same and
not worry about taming
them. By
simply teaching a few
parlor tricks, aggressive
behavior will no longer
be an issue. |
|
|
In the photo
at left, Flaco taps Wendy
on the rear to say,
"Hey you forgot this
ring on my neck."
He was the most
aggressive of the three
sea lions before
training. No one
would get near him!
Training behaviors turned
him into Wendy's best
buddy and favorite
performer. She
was never bitten and all
three became very
trustworthy. |
|
|
...http://wendyjef.ipower.com/images1.lila.jpg
|
