Hyena Training

Here's some footage of some really cool training with hyenas at the Denver Zoo. The reinforcer is ground beef and it's given to the animals through a little chute. What you're seeing is mostly husbandry behaviors -- behaviors that make it easy for the trainers and veterinarians to take a look at and take care of the animal easily and with as little stress on the animal as possible. You'll see the hyenas open their mouths on cue, offer a leg for blood draws, and all kinds of cool stuff. Kinda makes you wonder why people have a hard time trimming their dog's nails after seeing this, huh?!

[@AlexDraco]

Hyenas are indeed highly intelligent animals. Actually, their level of intelligence rivals with the one of certain primates.

[@jamesteague5232]

Zone07, I think you are missing the point of the video. They are demonstrating that any animal can be trained with Operant Training and this proves it. How would Cesar Millan train this Hyena with punishment based for force based training? It would simply be impossible to do it for one, and for two if he tried he would likely not survive the process.

[@AHylianWarrior]

Quite strange how they've trained them, even if the hyena is not related at all to canines. Just goes to show that hyena are incredibly intelligent compared to how people perceive them out to be in the media.

[@dondena21]

It's great how they trained these hyenas so well. Most dogs probably wouldn't even know their trained behavior, aside from the sits and downs.

[@frondsnfauna]

One of the more amazing videos I've seen. I love hyenas, and I've only read about their training up to now. Awesome.

[@minusmensch2040]

Nah it doesnt make me wonder tbh, hyenas are much smarter than dogs.

[@caryncharlie5218]

My heart is exploding. This is so grand. Thank you for this!!

[@jeskabeeful]

this is so cool!

[@mybenz92]

Very interresting and I enoyed this video personally, Thank you for posting and God bless!

[@trippydeadhead481]

Those enclosures look like jail cells.

[@Hantarrrrr]

That was really cool. They're very smart! Wow

[@barefoothappy]

@HoneybunchBunny You're right, all animals can learn behaviours or tricks given time, patience and kindness. I believe the video will have been posted as an example of positively trained wild animals so that similar methods other than restraint and punishment to teach dogs similar husbandry behaviours. Teaching wild animals choice is amazing.

[@jistaface]

They seem really intelligent. Being a pack animal in a bit of a similar way to wolves and dogs, it's be great to find out how their intelligence varies. It surprised me to see that they do seem to glance at the trainer's face at times in the way dogs do. Do they ever briefly meet the trainer's gaze? You've got to wonder whether, like a dog, some individuals (low-ranking ones?) might let themselves be vet-trained in response to warmth/praise and interaction rather than food alone.

[@deadithink]

@kyotsunade I think I recall that episode, but you get my idea already anyway.

[@MichaelAppleman]

Yes, hyenas are in the same family as cats, they just evolved to fit a similar evolutionary niche as dogs, so they look pretty similar to dogs.

[@harrymolloy823]

Not same family, same suborder

[@D0b3]

@fralust "Soothes" is your word, and no one pretends that the guy talking (who is not interacting w/ animals, but talking) is enriching them. Off-topic. Food is AWESOME reward, yes! but so is the game. They'd get full feeding even if they didn't train, no shortage. And that "something" that told you I was involved was in fact me, when I first said it was a backstage demo for trainers. :) (I'm not w/ Denver Zoo.) How am I "waffling"? To want even captive animals to be happy and healthy?

[@D0b3]

@fralust Sorry, missed the first line of your reply (thought other name was another comment). I assume the "automaton" comment was in response to my suggestion to look at body language. Do you not perceive the intensity, etc. in behavior? A well-fed animal doesn't need to work for the food, and the shaping process certainly isn't rote. Look up some shaping videos and check out the intense engagement inherent! :) If good training (and there's a lot of bad still out there) is unfamiliar, then yo

[@samimotaghedi]

great video

[@bradleysuarez4]

Isnt the Hyena closer related to the Mongoose than dogs?

[@aelmaest9172]

Yes, they are. Hyenas are closely related with mongooses and meerkats and more distantly with cats. Hyenas aren’t related to dogs.

[@D0b3]

@fralust Husbandry is the careful keeping, raising, management, or conservation of food, animals, or resources. That includes exotics in human care! Responsible keeping (not just "captivity") is good husbandry, of which two important keys are mental enrichment and low-stress medical treatment. If touchy-feely = happy hyenas -- yay! Watch the body language; they're not stressed and they're enjoying the game. No, they aren't acting like Golden Retrievers, but they're not Goldens. :)

[@Omnigeek6]

@fralust Wait, you haven't given up? You did read the last line of my most recent comment, right?

[@melblacke5726]

That is cool.

[@Lilllo24]

Amazing !!! :O :)

[@ElijahKMcCoy]

can't wait til' the day i start training "wild" animals, it's going to be awesome and fun especially working with the hyenas!

[@danix454]

Did you read the description?

[@LeeMac92]

Spotted hyenas aren't dogs man. They're more related to a mongoose then canines/wolf. They are very smart though and its possible to train them lol ( you can train fucking lions) but as far as public access that would be dangerous due to the amount of idiots out there today. I would never do anything to piss one of these animals off because they can exert over 1000 lbs PSI ( which is bone crushing) and are very hard to read. Owning one would mean owning at least 3 and would require patience.

[@bestamerica]

' wow that is cooool,,, hyena know sign language and dog training sign language,,, that is wonderful to have pet hyena in the future

[@smoon3]

this IS pretty cool!

[@Tittyss94]

J'ai pas compris ce qu'ils font quelqu'un peut me traduire en français ?? J'adore les Hyènes !

[@felicitytoad]

😇😇😇

[@degeneratehalo]

Positive reinforcement can not only be used on wild animals, but it's also the most successful method of training. Now tell me again why you have to use aversive training with dogs? Oh, because they're not human and that's the way they'll learn best? Hyenas (unlike domesticated dogs or wolves) violently reinforce clan rank. Pet dogs do not follow Alpha & subordinate rankings. If you can teach a hyena to sit still for a jugular blood draw, you can teach your dog anything with P+...

[@D0b3]

@fralust "And you did not answer my question." Actually, I answered using capital letters. Again, please look up suggested info to see how training *adds* independence to captive animals. It seems now your issue is more w/ captivity of exotics - a separate question, and legitimate in many cases. (This particular group, IIRC, has contributed hugely to understanding of hyena reproduction, aiding conservation efforts.) But for husbandry of those already in captivity, training is proven healthier.

[@GotAnUmbrella]

yes

[@WillyBraset3440]

Hyenas are awesome, simple as that.

[@D0b3]

@fralust It is precisely *because* they are such amazingly efficient predators that this training is needed; it allows for timely, low-stress husbandry, rather than having to ignore minor concerns until severe enough that high-stress handling or tranq is required. This is not cute entertaining tricks (though even those have proven dramatic health and enrichment benefits), it is necessary for responsible keeping. As the environment shows, this isn't public; it was a demo for other professionals.

[@margerycavins4223]

LOL! When would that have been, and who would have said it? I don't think our ancestors 20,000 years ago thought of the pre-domesticated dog as a killer. The dog was already a scavenger, not a hunter. At least that's what I think current theory says? :o)

[@myprophet1]

they 'prefer' a neck blood draw over a leg draw, interesting.

[@sidneycoad6261]

Hyena are awesome

[@GotAnUmbrella]

if they don't know the behavior then that means they weren't trained.I trained my dog to sit, down, leave it, take it, drop it, come here, and sit pretty. Does that means I expect her to understand what roll over means? No because she doesn't UNDERSTAND what roll over is. If your dog doesn't understand a command you can't accurately say they were trained to do it, they can't preform a command if they don't understand what the command is.

[@childishvibez5973]

I plan on getting a raising a baby hyena when I turn 18

[@TheSynecdoche]

Don't. They definitely aren't pets and you will be disappointed.

[@mythendropz4413]

teach them to dance that would be funny cause hyenas are my favourite animals!!!

[@Powerranger-le4up]

Mythen Dropz I’m a zoo volunteer and even I think that’s a bad idea. This training is for husbandry practices and medical purposes. It’s not for entertainment. It’s for the welfare of the animals.

[@Omnigeek6]

@Omnigeek6 I replied to myself so that the comments are visible as one longer comment and it is clear to literate people that each is a continuation of the previous one. You should try this as well. Oh, and I think I get the point just fine. Citing sources is almost impossible in YT comments, so the next best thing is saying: "Do some research before you spew your uneducated opinions all over the comments section." If you told me the moon was made of cheese, and to look it up, I would reply:

[@cooliobutthoolio]

Are these hyenas fighting because of being in captivity? If so, it's a shame the presenter had to mention about the dominance/submission roles being decided through fighting as if it were normal. Like the person below, I also came to watch this video as it was linked in with an article discrediting the notion of pack. But it's not supportive of that message sadly.

[@smartdoguniversity]

Much like chickens, there is a definite pecking order within the hyena family. It happens in captivity, it happens in the wild. It's not a function of being in a zoo. It's the proverbial nature of the beast.

[@chelseamowery2007]

Hyena hierarchy in the wild and captivity can be very violent at times, considering they try to assert dominance over one another. They usually grab each other by the neck and ears and pull at each other.

[@timothypippen4098]

hi deb

[@Ayrin3110]

+Deborah Campbell Pack and dominance theory do no apply on wild animals. However, if you put a group of random animals of the same species in an artificial environment they will form a dominant hierarchy (David Mech studies of wolves). Even that, dominance can only happen amongst individuals of the same species, so it's absurd that a human tries to dominate a dog (or other animal) because they know we're not like them.

[@ToniAynia]

Hi Deborah, Presenters frequently have to keep presentations short, which unfortunately can leave a lot of important questions unanswered. I'm not familiar with the article you referenced in your comment, however I'll share what little bit I've learned about Hyenas that hopefully might be helpful here. Hyenas in the Wild live in Matriarchal (female led) clans that have rather strict hierarchies. Fights sometimes do happen when a clan member is being disciplined by a higher status individual; frequently the Matriarch hands out the discipline. Cubs (Hyena offspring), automatically inherit their Mother's rank and will play-fight with one another but in the process are also establishing dominance and status. One reason for their strict hierarchy (and the occasional disciplining) is that it helps them in hunting where they need tight group cohesion and focus to successfully get food and for their survival. Hyenas are remarkable, complex, very intelligent Animals, and I happen to feel they are quite beautiful. Hope this helps, a little bit anyway. Take care, Toni... Pennsylvania, USA

[@himikotoga1572]

well they are not that bad

[@Pinkielover]

smart

[@degeneratehalo]

dogs do not form pack in the same way. they're coevolution has allowed them to read human facial expressions. This is why they look at our face. And i doubt, hyenas could be trained like this. you can barely train cats this way. in non-domesticated animals it would be nearly impossible to use P+ without some sort of high value item like food

[@Omnigeek6]

@fralust Actually, it is your role to look things up. As you said, if YOU make a claim/statement, then YOU have to furnish credible evidence to back it up. YOU have done nothing of the sort; you never provide any evidence for your claims, nor do said claims consist of anything more substantial than playground insults, most of which have no basis in fact. There's a character limit, so I won't list examples. Just read your own comments.

[@pedramirandoost6144]

Marefat dore geranist be kaftar nadahandash

[@Faustaao]

They aren't "tricks".

[@degeneratehalo]

suborder to be exact...not family

[@zone07]

I was brought here by an article written by 4pawsu trying to discredit Cesar Millan; they have stated that wolves are not dogs yet they provide this example of a hyena being positively trained to show that "red-zone" dogs can be positively trained. The more I read about anti-Cesar Millan campaigns, the more I respect and admire that guy. Oh, and thanks for the interesting video.

[@Aedony]

+MajorStewie Oh, that's no problem for him - just get a strong enough muzzle on the hyena, a shock collar, if needed all 4 paws chained on the ground and spikes on his shoes to kick them better. They will obey, trust me/him. Good for him that dogs aren't as strong, less equipment/power needed :P

[@Aedony]

+Coyote Moon C But most mammals (including humans) can be forced to do behaviors by using fear.

[@doktorhyena]

Yeah hyenas aren't even related to dogs, they're in the hyena family, so their closest relative is the mongoose, which isn't really that close. The hyena family consists of spotted hyenas, brown hyenas, striped hyenas, and aardwolves. (look all those up)

[@jwuski]

Sounds like your admiration is a function of the campaigns & not so much critical thinking/observation of the quality of low stress handling for veterinary/husbandry outcomes... Perhaps CM can try his techniques on this guy & do the same behaviors & obtain the same samples kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3WqdqifndSjjdU

[@D0b3]

@fralust Logged in and first line I saw was your comment to sp33dycat on anal hygiene. Then your comment to me re fellatio. Clear, scientific discussion, I see, with excellent research. And no, I said independence and mental activity is CRITICAL. Just as raising a child to have good manners and good safety habits but to be independent - but if you see all education as exploitative beauty pageants, with "please" and "thank you" as dirty words, then we're stuck at crude interaction.

[@Smokesick12]

Amazing it is. Now to the flame wars belooow, find your own room guys. I am completely neutral on this one. It's pure spamage and for god sake, please no grammar whores... This just makes the way of expressing kinda boring, ya thin'? And also, as dumb and obvious as I may be, but I'm most probably igniting the fuse on this war once more. ;)

[@Omnigeek6]

@Omnigeek6 Oh, and here's something else to look up: "ad-hominem fallacy". Once again, it is YOUR job to look it up because YOU are the one whose posts consist of little else. I would be really nice and post a link for you anyway, but KZbin doesn't allow links in comments. Other minor notes: If anything you said was uttered in a debate club, you'd be kicked out in about five seconds. Again, read your own posts. You do nothing but insult everyone and everything around you.

[@Omnigeek6]

@Omnigeek6 "Guess what? I looked it up, and it turns out you're wrong." As a footnote, here are the spelling and grammer errors in your previous post. In "look it up' your quotation marks don't match up. "This is what D0b3 said, and who might you be?" is a run-on sentence, and you should have used "That." You also overuse exclamation points and until now have consistently spelled "D0b3" as "sob3." Don't bother replying. You're way out of your league.

[@deadithink]

This video almost made me physically sick. This is not what any form of life should go through. They'll be doing this to humans next. People are already using clickers for children.

[@kwoksisterka]

For me they really are not a cute pet. The are killer. >

[@wolfshadow228]

Kwok Sisterka haha, humans are more killers than hyenas

[@Omnigeek6]

@fralust Just as I thought, you're responding with accusations. In this case, accusations of being an alt account. Of course, like nearly all your other accusations, it's false. I've actually been watching your little flame war for quite some time. I was hoping to see you thoroughly schooled by Dob3, but since that did not happen I decided to jump in. I posted three comments because 500 characters just weren't enough to express how ridiculous and sad you are.