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Maintenance
Behavior:
Shift/Go: Issue command, open appropriate
door; Target:
Put fist out where you want to target, panda to touch nose to fist;
Open: Thumb
and fingers squeezed together towards panda, pull apart while asking for
panda to open mouth. Aim to increase duration >1-2 seconds;
Paw: Hold hand up, palm
flat towards panda where you want them to place paw;
Paws up: Both hands up
in front, palms facing panda. Panda to put both front paws up where
indicated. Can ask for “chest” from this position;
Scoot up: Curl hands in and
pull from out front in towards body while panda has paws up. Panda to
“scoot” hindquarters up to bars/mesh. This is the position we then ask
for “tail down” or “chest” from; Paw(s) down: Touch ground
in front. Panda to put paw(s) on ground.
Down: Both hands touch ground in front.
Panda to lie on belly with all paws down.
Over: Move hand from front to side
(sideways motion); Chest:
Point at panda’s chest. Panda to present chest/abdomen flat to
bars/mesh; Feet:
Hands in front, pointing down, palms toward panda. Panda to present rear
feet; Tail down:
Hand in front and down, extend index finger. Panda to lower tail to
provide view of/access to genitalia; Eye:
Point finger of opposite hand to the eye you want (i.e.- for panda’s
left eye, use right hand, and vice-versa) and move in a sideways motion
towards where the panda’s nose needs to be for requested eye to be
placed against mesh/bars; Ear:
Similar motion and opposing hand/ear requirements as “eye”, only
hand signal is a fist with the thumb to the side pointing to the
direction nose needs to go for access to desired ear.
Shoulder: While facing
panda, place opposing hand on your own shoulder, representing the
shoulder you want presented. For example, if you want bear’s left
shoulder, place right hand/fist across chest and on your own left
shoulder. Panda to present side of shoulder to bars/mesh; Climb
up: Stand up and raise hand. Panda to climb bars/mesh in front.
Hold it:
Cue to be used after any of the above to have panda maintain the
requested position until released. The releaser to be used after the
desired duration is “OK”; Clippers:
Desensitization to sight and sound of electric clippers, and, utilizing
maintenance cues, allow trainer to clip specifically requested body
parts.
In-progress:
Sit: Pull fist in towards
stomach. Panda sits; Touch:
Verbal. Allow trainer to touch particular part of body panda is
presenting; also included use of “accessories” (i.e.- probe, swab,
etc.); Roll:
Circular motion with fist. Panda rolls onto side and scoots rear around
closer to trainer; Injection: Utilize maintenance cues to have
pandas present shoulders (and eventually hips) for injections;
Ultrasound training: Vet staff present with equipment, several cues
employed to position and hold panda for imaging; Vaginal swabbing:
Utilizing several cues to allow insertion of swab in vagina to
obtain cells for cytology; Milk expression: Utilizing several
cues to allow expression of milk from any of panda’s nipples;
Future Goals:
Artificial insemination training and preparation: Utilizing known
maintenance cues to allow procedure done without anesthetization; Blood
draws: Presentation of appropriate body part and allowing trainer/vet
staff to draw blood.
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