Animal Training Academy [Focus on what you want] Karolina Westlund … Associate Professor of Ethology – University of Stockholm
18 snips
Mar 6, 2017 
Karolina Westlund, an Associate Professor of Ethology at the University of Stockholm, shares her expertise in animal behavior management. She discusses the importance of understanding animal emotions for better training and welfare. Westlund emphasizes strategies to reduce fear in veterinary settings, advocating for fear-free practices. The conversation also covers the delicate balance of using negative reinforcement appropriately and the value of community support in animal care. Plus, discover how memes can effectively spread awareness in the field!
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Mixing Perspectives in Animal Behavior
- Combine applied ethology, animal training, behavior analysis, and affective neuroscience for a holistic approach to animal behavior.
- Start with your existing knowledge and gradually broaden your understanding by learning from diverse perspectives.
The Importance of Animal Emotions
- Acknowledging animal emotions, like fear and joy, improves behavior prediction and training precision.
- However, avoid incorrectly labeling emotions; focus on observable behaviors and the animal's response to stimuli.
Jaak Panksepp's Research on Animal Emotions
- Jaak Panksepp's research, using electrodes in animal brains, revealed emotional systems.
- These systems, like the seeking and fear systems, show that animals experience emotions similar to humans.
