Animal Training

Introduction

History of Animal Training

People have been training animals for thousands of years. Historically, falconers have trained hawks. Dogs have been trained for hunting, for herding livestock, and for pulling sleds. Elephants have been trained to pull or carry logs. Horses and camels have been trained for riding and hauling.

a trainer and bottlenose dolphin side-by-side with the trainer holding the dolphin's pectoral flipper

SeaWorld animal trainers have been working with bottlenose dolphins since the early 60s.

Compared to other types of animal training, marine mammal training is a relatively new field. People have been training killer whales for only about the past 35 years. SeaWorld animal trainers began working with bottlenose dolphins in 1963 before the first park opened.