Temple Grandin talk

[Ruth Bourgeois <ruthb@tdsi.net>]

I did go to the talk by Temple Grandin yesterday, and was very glad that
I did. She is a very interesting, fascinating person to listen to. Her
insights into animal behavior were incredible. I was amazed at how
perceptive she seemed, and how well she could explain animal behavior
from the animals' viewpoint. Much of what she talked about was very much
common sense, but she made it understandable and clear. Things like -
how fear is the worst stress an animal experiences; how fear, as a
stressor, lowers the immune system, lowers reproductive function, lowers
weight gain in animals. How by reducing this stress/fear, all these
things will improve. 
She also talked about why animals act the way they do, based upon their
characteristics as prey or predator animals, and how in order to most
effective handle a certain animal, you must determine where its behavior
is coming from - from an aspect of fear or if it's from aggression. How
certain breeds of dogs/horses/cattle are either fear- or aggressive
motivated. Just because all horses are prey animals doesn't mean they
all act the same way out of fear. Or because a dog is a predator type
animal that some don't act out bad behavior because they are fearful. 
Her point, well taken, on some horse handling things (similar to TTEAM
theories), like, when an animal does something voluntarily, the fear
level is much lower than if that animal is forced to do the same thing.
That's why training methods based on trust and gaining the horse's
confidence are much more effective (and safer in the long run) than just
forcing a horse to do something. 
She talked about how anything new (novelty) is a strong stressor, and
how this can also be attractive to animals. She explained how
introducing something new will really bring out an animal's true nature.
Good example of this is what many of us experience when we take out
horse to a ride for the first time. That gentle, calm quiet horse at
home turns into a totally different horse at the ride. Not true,
according to Grandin. The horse is just showing its true nature, the
"novelty" (newness) of the ride situation bringing out it's natural
tendency towards shying, being timid, or aggressive and competitive. 
She talked about how understanding these things about how/why animals
behave the way that they do is what makes some people good trainers and
handlers. How to use the horse's natural behavior to control the animal,
not using force. 

She also talked a lot about genetics, and how both genetics and
experience will determine how an animal will behave. She told of many
cases where genetics were used in breeding certain traits into an
animal, and how when you breed for one certain thing, you effect the
entire animal, not just that one trait. She feels that the majority of
abuse/cruelty cases in the future will be those that genetic. This was
an interesting and thought-provoking concept.
I came away from the talk with a clearer understanding of animal
behavior, and able to understand all animals a bit better. Her
understanding of so many different species and types of animals was
amazing. She did talk a lot about horses and horse training, but also
about dogs, cattle, and other species. The interesting thing was about
how different all animals are, but how similar they are, too, and how to
work with those similarities when dealing with these animals.
She talked a lot about livestock handling facilities and
shipping/packinghouses. I had kind of wondered how an animal lover could
discuss and work with the slaughterhouse situation. I was impressed with
her attitude. She very, very strongly feels that no animal should be
mistreated (her goal is to get cattle prods out of livestock
facilities), and she treats animals with respect and dignity, while at
the same time treating the industry as such - an industry, a business,
and fact of life. Her goal is to make it better for the animals. Her
strong sense of what's right and wrong is very admirable, and you can't
help but have a lot of respect and admiration for her.
I learned a lot at the lecture, and would encourage anyone who has the
opportunity to hear Grandin speak to not miss it.
Ruth