How did they train a goose?


This was before CGI, so it had to be a real goose.

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Training animals to do the will of the trainer has been happening for centuries.

Just in the 40s, social psychiatrist BF Skinner was able to train pigeons to serve as preelectronic guided missle 'brains' (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pigeon for more).

One effective technique Skinner promotoed for this purpose involves 'partial reinforcement', where the desired behavior is not always rewarded. The animal therefore never gets jaded with continual rewarding and strives to perfect the desired behaviour because of its not always receiving the expected reward.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinforcement for more theory on behavioral modification.

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They used electric shock and a cord to tug it in the right direction. Three geese played the role. Source: Trivia section.


Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

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Rather cruel and unfair, to my mind... 






"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

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Howlin Wolf says > Rather cruel and unfair, to my mind...
I don't think it's any more cruel and unfair than a lot of the things supposed animal lovers do to their pets. I would be perfectly happy to never see an animal on film but if they're going to be in a movie they are going to be put through the paces to get them to 'act' the way they're required for the shot.

I respect animals but I'm not what one would call an animal lover. In other words, I don't own pets. I think that's probably the worse thing ever. Keeping an animal confined, usually in a space and conditions that are not appropriate for them, is an ongoing daily thing. A lot of the pet owners I know actually complain about places like Sea World and zoos. They see no similarities.

Why hasn't anyone complained about the horses? Horses are easily my favorite animals. We ride them, get them to do tricks, and strap harnesses. They're in a lot of movies and other shows performing stunts but I've never heard any complaints.


Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

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A lot of animal owners give their pets a lot of love (not ALL, to be sure, but a decent number of them!) There IS a difference between keeping an animal for companionship (spending money on it) and using an animal for entertainment (earning profit from it) ... Seems pretty distinct, to me.

The issue is not getting an animal to do tricks; the issue is HOW you achieve this - shocking an animal for an unnecessary scene leaves a bad taste for me, and whether it's a horse or a goose, you can bet I would complain in exactly the same way.






"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

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Yes, I understand what you're saying. Shocking the animal may be taking it too far but I have to assume the trainer cares for the animal; probably more than anyone else, and wouldn't knowingly do anything to hurt it. Getting one trick for one movie would't be worth the loss. I read it was an electric jolt but I assume it was probably minor and no more harmful to the goose than a light shock would be to us.

In regards to the other things I said, like owning a pet, I'm sure the owner feels they're doting on the pet, care for it and are keeping it for companionship but I see an animal that is being forced into a situation it would not be in under natural circumstances. For instance, dogs are pack animals and like to run around but most pet owners keep them from being what they are, dogs.

They put clothes on them, carry them in purses, bore them to the point of neurosis, etc. No, it's not in every case and perhaps cats have it better since most don't really lose their nature but my point is the things done to pets by those who supposedly love and care for them is often worse than what's done to animals for the sake of entertainment. Yet, pet owners and groups like PETA are often quick to complain about the treatment of animals in certain arenas. I find it all very hypocritical.


Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

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Probably not any lasting harm... but still enough harm to make it 'attack' the nearest person that it thought was hurting it (the boy) ... It just doesn't sit right, with me.

"often" worse? No; in some cases, I'm sure - but still small enough to be the lesser problem, I think.

With respect, it's probably because you are not a pet owner and don't have a particular affinity with animals that you don't know the intense love and care that goes into being a RESPONSIBLE pet owner.

(I'm no PETA fan, either... but I still find it cynical to suggest that the majority of people own pets for any other reason than they love them, and want to take care of them).







"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

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Howlin Wolf says > With respect, it's probably because you are not a pet owner and don't have a particular affinity with animals that you don't know the intense love and care that goes into being a RESPONSIBLE pet owner.
Perhaps but I find it both disturbing and sad that someone would say they have an 'intense love and care' for an animal. It makes no sense to me.

I am human and have no problem interacting with other humans. I actually feel sorry for people who say their best friend is their pet or they have to take their pet wherever they go to soothe their anxieties.

By having a pet, especially from a young age, I feel, it keeps people from dealing with their issues and/or it creates some issues. If one needs an animal to calm them down, that's odd. If one is 'besties' with a beasty; that's odd.

It's just a cop out. The pet conveniently can never disagree, talk back, or call the person out on anything they may need to be called out on. How is that a friendship or relationship or love? Like I said, I don't get it. It means these people are only comfortable in one-sided relationships; ones in which they are in full control; their friend depends on them for survival; and the friend never has anything to say. Something is wrong with that picture.

So you see, it's not as much about the animal as you may think. Yes, I don't think it's right for the animal but it's actually much worse for the human and the human race as a whole. We have to learn to deal with each other not run to the safety and shelter of an animal who has been made needy and dependent.


Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

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Love and care for ANYTHING is better than hatred and destruction of anything.

I have no problem interacting with humans, either - but I love animals, too.

Care for something that has nothing material to offer is the very basis of compassion. A baby can never disagree with, talk back to or call out its mother, but we don't say that that isn't love...

There are plenty of people who are capable of loving both animals and humans alike... You seem to be setting it up as an either/or thing, when it really isn't.








"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

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I actually feel sorry for people who say their best friend is their pet or they have to take their pet wherever they go to soothe their anxieties.

By having a pet, especially from a young age, I feel, it keeps people from dealing with their issues and/or it creates some issues. If one needs an animal to calm them down, that's odd. If one is 'besties' with a beasty; that's odd.

It's just a cop out. The pet conveniently can never disagree, talk back, or call the person out on anything they may need to be called out on. How is that a friendship or relationship or love? Like I said, I don't get it. It means these people are only comfortable in one-sided relationships; ones in which they are in full control; their friend depends on them for survival; and the friend never has anything to say. Something is wrong with that picture.

So you see, it's not as much about the animal as you may think. Yes, I don't think it's right for the animal but it's actually much worse for the human and the human race as a whole. We have to learn to deal with each other not run to the safety and shelter of an animal who has been made needy and dependent.
It's clear you've never had any pets, but from your posts I'd guess you've actually not had much interaction with humans either, if this is what you think giving an animal a home is about.

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My fiancée raised a flock of geese years ago and she says that they were very intelligent, each one had a different personality, they were very protective and pretty much a one person pet ( they would chase and verbally scold her mother and any other animals), so she thought that Samantha was portrayed realistically.




Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. Albert Einstein

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