Shear geniuses: Training the goats and sheep of the contact yard

Hi everyone! My name is Caroline, and I’m a member of the Ambassador Animals Department. More specifically, I work alongside the goats and sheep of our contact yard! Today, I’d love to discuss training with you all. Many of our Members and guests who visit the contact yard are shocked to discover our baa-rilliant herd knows and responds to their names, as well as a variety of trained behaviors. So, how exactly do we train our goats and sheep? What does that look like? And why is training necessary? Let’s jump right in! 

How do we train our herd? Goats and sheep have intelligence levels comparable to those of a dog. Therefore, we train them just like you might train your dogs at home: using positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is a method of operant conditioning that proposes that if you add a reinforcer (like a yummy snack or scratches), you can increase a certain behavior. For example, if I give one of our goats a snack or a pat every time they walk to me, they are far more likely to repeat that behavior in the future. Then we can pair that behavior with a cue, like the word “come” or a hand motion. Through small approximations, they learn that when presented with a cue, they will receive a reinforcer for a certain behavior. So, yes, our goats and sheep know their names! They also know behaviors like spinning in a circle, backing up, and even painting on a canvas! 

Why do we need training? We train our animals for many different reasons. First, training is very enriching. Just like humans, the process of learning is beneficial, both physically and mentally, and can increase overall well-being. Second, training helps build strong relationships and trust between keepers and animals. This comes in handy for medical procedures or emergencies. The third, and arguably most important, reason for training is to allow our animals to be active participants in their healthcare. For example, every member of our herd is trained a behavior called “mark”. Once the goat or sheep places their two front hooves on a piece of two-by-four wood, they get a yummy snack. One keeper uses food to reinforce standing on the mark, while another keeper can check and trim their hooves. This same behavior can be used for medical procedures, like injections, blood draws, or physical exams, by our Veterinary Team. We have also trained our herd on a behavior called “station,” in which they step up onto a scale. This allows the care team to easily track their weights, as well as give an insight into their overall health. 

If you’re interested in seeing a training session up close, you can join us for our Petting Zoo Painters Wild Encounter. You can watch a goat or sheep paint on a canvas, with colors of your choosing, then take home a one-of-a-kind piece of art!  

Caroline B. 
Ambassador Animals Team