How does Sea World teach the Shamu's to do tricks?

Answer 1

Positive reinforcement. Every time the whale does something different, a sign is made and a whistle is blown to tell him that he has done well and to come and get a treat. Given enough time the whale puts two and two together and starts responding to the signs for a treat,

Answer 2

Go to the New York Times (nytimes.com), and check the "most emailed articles." On there right now is a terrific article called "How Shamu Saved My Marriage," about how the writer used the same conditioning techniques on her HUSBAND as Sea World does in training Shamu. The article is a hoot, making the rounds right now, and it's full of the latest scientific research on behavioral conditioning, especially what the author explains as LRS (Least Response Syndrome), where the trainers at Sea World give neither positive nor negative reinforcement to the animals when the animals fail to follow directions; instead they do not respond at all. The only time the animals get reinforcement or any acknowledgment is when they "do the right thing." Then, the trainers slather them with tons and tons of affection and reinforcement. In responding only to the positive acts and ignoring the rest, the trainers shape the animals' behavior dramatically, including getting Shamu to walk on a surf board. Meanwhile, all the author would like is for her husband to pick up his dirty socks, so she decides to use the LRD technique on him. Then he catches on and begins using LRD on her! Definitely check out the article!! You can do a search on NYT but will also see it in the far right, about two-thirds down the "front page" online: "Most Emailed."

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Shamu and all the other Porpoises at Seaworld are trained with alot of TLC, Treats, and patience. He's 8,000 pounds or 4 tons so a Shock collar or stun gun would need to be powered enough to fry a human. Also, electricity is quite shocking in water. Shamu needed alot of attention from a loving trainer and very careful handling. All these things added up to the beautiful creature we see today. :)

Answer 4

It's just like teaching a dog how to do tricks. But since they are underwater they use a series of beeps, sonic sounds (that whales can hear), as well as treats to get Shamu and his friends to do all the tricks. If you get them young you're able to teach them the tricks quicker. It also helps to have a previously trained whale doing the tricks along side the whale who is learning the trick, they seem to catch on quicker that way.

Answer 5

They starve them first and then show them the fish and and give them signales that have to be from a trainer in the water to illustrated what is to be done and from what signal then they will know . Otherwise you cannot train a whale that can eat six humans in acouple of bites to do shiit.
You always see them give them a nice tender smelly sardine after the trick:)

Answer 6

I have been wondering if they use electric cattle prods! lol you know because they're called cows? Not really, they actually use lots of little fishes, as rewards when they see them do jumps, so then when they keep doing it and getting treats, they are shown a hand signal at the same time. when they have been doing it for a long time, they start to just do it based on hand signals, then the trainers move on to more tricks! pretty cool huh?

Answer 7

They have trained proffesionals come in and train him very carefully. They use lots of treats, too. They have to be careful, because Shamu could kill them very easily.

Answer 8

they coax the animal with treats and get it into a routine.the animals are very smart and can be taught almosy anything.thier playfulness is also a bonus, because many of the tricks they do is a form of something they naturally do in the wild.for instance, many of the acrobatics they perform is a funtion they do to keep in contact with each other and find potential food sources.

Answer 9

Shamu is taught by people and other orcas(he could watch them carefully)

Answer 10

Shock waves through the water. The reason the trainers don't get shocked is because of their dorky water suits. lol.