Animal Training Academy

I was digging through the archives recently and stumbled across a video I filmed over 10 years ago.

Looking at this version of myself brings back so many memories. Back then, I had absolutely no money. I remember actually going to job interviews just to pretend to my family that I was looking for “real” work to appease them… lol but in my heart, I knew I wasn’t going to take any of them. I had this unshakable belief that the Animal Training Academy was going to be a success, no matter what.

The “studio” you see in the video below? That was my bedroom. My tripod was an old ladder I found, and I’d rigged up a grey backdrop with whatever equipment I could scrape together. I think I filmed the training segments on my phone or an old GoPro.

I watch this today with so much fondness. I used to have so much fun slowing these videos down and geeking out on the tiny details. I’ll be honest – I really miss having the time to dive that deep into the editing process!

Whilst simultaneously It’s amazing to see where we are now compared to those “ladder tripod” days. I hope you enjoy this throwback on timing – the content still as true today as it was in my bedroom 10 years ago.

The Lesson: It’s All in the Timing

In this clip, I’m working with Devi, a brush tail possum. At this stage, we couldn’t hand-feed him, so we were focusing on relationship-building by pairing my presence with his favorite treats on a shelf.

The big “aha” moment in this session wasn’t about when the food hit the shelf – it was about the hand movement.

Watch the video to see:

• How Devi uses his gaze to identify where the “important information” is.

• The continuous feedback loop between the trainer and the animal.

• Why the initial movement of the hand is often the most important reinforcer of all.