Training and Socialization of Wolves and Dogs for Scientific Research:

The WSC Philosophy By

Rita Takács, Marleen Hentrup, Christina Mayer, Charles Gent, Marianne Heberlein, Friederike Range, Kurt

Kotrschal, Zsófia Virányi

Wolf Science Center www.wolfscience.at

The Wolf Science Center

• Established in 2008 by 3 scientists for the purpose of behavioural research

• Moved to Ernstbrunn in 2009 in cooperation with Fürst Heinrich XIV Reuss (Wildpark Ernstbrunn)

• 8 living enclosures with a total size of ~30.000 m²

• 1 test enclosure, 2 test houses, 1 puppy house and 1 raising enclosure

The founders

The testhouse

Cutting Edge Research

Wolf and dog cognition, communication,

cooperation and behaviour

Education

Facts about wolves

Dogs: Wolves in the family?

Informing the public-Observing science

Animal Management

Occupying the animals mentally and physically

Animals as partners in research and training, excellent husbandry

To achieve these aims the

researchers and the trainers work closely together

Aims of the WSC:

Science, Education and Good Animal Keeping

Pointing Test

http://youtu.be/Er2iWghqItU

To raise individuals of a naturally shy species to willingly cooperate with human partners in a wide

range of situations, and to be able to focus on cognitive tasks.

Our Task

• Timber wolves (Canis lupus occidentalis) arrived from American, Canadian and European zoos or game parks • Mixed breed dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) were rescued from Hungarian shelters

• Identically hand-raised, kept and socialized, both to humans and conspecifics, as well as to

some private dogs

currently N = 14; planned N = 20

currently N = 13; planned N = 20

Our Animals

Kurt Kotrschal Friederike Range

Zsófia Virányi

The Scientists

Christina Mayer

Rita Takacs

Marleen Hentrup Marianne Heberlein

Charles Gent Rita Takacs

Christina Mayer

The Trainers

• Socialization – To humans, conspecifics and artificial situations

• Relationship – With specific humans

• Training – Non-coercive methods

• Routines – Repetition of familiar situations – A safe frame for both wolves and humans

• Communication – The transmission of information between human and

animal

Our ‘Toolbox’

Training

Pack visit Handraising

Leash Walking

Testing

Work at the WSC

• To be able to cope well with the WSC environment

• To become socially competent with conspecifics in a pack life

• To be relaxed around familiar persons – ability to focus on the cognitive and cooperation tasks, taking part willingly

• Our dogs subjected to the same handraising process for scientific reasons rather than out of necessity

Handraising Goals

• Puppies arrive at the WSC at 7-10 days of age

• 4-6 pups raised together with 24/7 human presence for 5 months in a purpose built enclosure

• Using underlying biological mechanisms

Building up handraiser relationship (bonding)

Handraiser

behaviour

Perception

of humans

Same behaviour and communication from other humans

Expected Provided

Handraising Method

• Humans are social partners

• Providing security

• Controlled human behaviour and communication

• Training and building up routine situations from 3 weeks of age

• Use of handraiser dogs

• Regular meetings with adult conspecifics

• Gradual integration to adult packs at age 5 month

Handraising Method

• Possible through socialization

• With students, participants of WSC educational programmes, guests, media, visitors

• In the forms of testing, pack visits, walks

• Controlled human behaviour and communication

• Extended routine situations

• Safety rules

Interactions With

Unfamiliar Humans

• Interaction and experience in full contact between humans and animals

• Part of maintaining socialization

• Animals given the choice to stay and interact or to go away

• Done in a controlled way • Safe educational opportunity

Pack Visits

• Relationship and training

• Reinforcement schedule

• Basic training

• Leash walks

• Training for tests

• Husbandry training

• Veterinary training

Training

• Basic set of behaviours

• Continuous reinforcement

• Repetition – routine

• Utilised in different contexts

• Building relationship

Basic Training

Basic Training

http://youtu.be/AdP6X3lkUmg

• To actively use testing equipment

• To tolerate materials and objects on the body

• To overcome fear-eliciting objects

• To tolerate restraint

Training for Testing

Heartrate Belt Training

http://youtu.be/QFkTQgtgpNI

• Indoors/outdoors

• In full contact or through the fence

• May include familiar dogs, strangers, students

• Relationship needed and built if necessary

• Using different testing equipment

• Cognitive and physical tasks

• Public viewing

Scientific Testing

• For testing, moving

animals from A to B, leash walk

• Developed from a young age

• Leash and collar – communication tool

• Novel objects, situations • May include unfamiliar

persons • Safety measures

Leash Walking

Leash Walking

http://youtu.be/u4iZ4pmF6Ms

• Shifting • Animal care

• Preventative care • Can be used in protected

contact • Check on body condition • Training high quality

behaviours

Husbandry Training

• To move our animals

• To separate and reunite pack members regularly

• To shift individuals effectively and safely for the scientific work

• To minimise agression as well as stereotypic behaviours

• To manage conflicts, emergency situations and for maintenance purposes

Shifting

Shifting

http://youtu.be/feft-VA-ifM

Shoulder Training

http://youtu.be/tI0hPz9J6r0

Open Training

http://youtu.be/szO0fQyCWoE

Combing

http://youtu.be/tpVvhCnSTfw

• Weekly visits by our 24/7 vet Dr. Buchmayer

• Building relationship

• Training situation builds on basic handling routine

• Minor medical treatments without restraint or anesthesia

• Applied on top of ability to give medical care through relationship

Veterinary Training

Basic Training with the Vet

http://youtu.be/49bS-VOTc4E

Thank you for your attention and see you at the WSC!

The WSC Team