Aug 12 2008
Rick Parker shares his animal training tips
Photo by Zatrokz
(NC)—Even as a young boy, Rick Parker knew he wanted to work with animals when he grew up. At the age of 12, Rick started working with horses and by 17, he had progressed to more exotic animals such as lions, tigers, bears and monkeys.
Now, with over 40 years in the animal training business, Rick’s career has taken him onto the sets of many popular films and television shows including Felicity the American Girl, The Bourne Identity, Cinderella Man, X-Men, Road to Avonlea and a Canadian favourite, Due South, where he trained the famous husky, “Diefenbaker” in seasons 3 and 4.
Over the years, his colleagues have included crows, reindeer and cows, but one of his favourite animals to work with is cats. “Many people don’t believe you can train a cat, but with the right guidance and positive reinforcement, you can shape a cats behaviour and teach them some pretty neat tricks” says Parker.
According to Parker, the average cat owner can teach their cats basic commands like “sit” and “high five”, and even how to jump through a hoop. He offers these easy guidelines for people interested in training their cat:
• Always work in a quiet room where the cat will not get distracted.
• Use low calorie treats as a reward for positive behaviour.
• Conduct training before meal time, when you have the cat’s full attention.
• Keep your sessions short and simple, approximately 5 -10 minutes each.
• Have patience. Your cat will need repetition and time in order to learn commands.
More tips on how to train your cats
and video demonstrations of Parker
in action are available online at www.temptations.ca.
- News Canada
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