Animal Trainers Breland-Bailey and Bailey's "Patient Like the Chipmunks" [video]

B.F. Skinner’s former graduate students Keller Breland & Marian Breland turned behaviorism's lab ideas into a step‑by‑step training recipe at Animal Behavior Enterprises in the 1940s–50s. They used it on thousands of animals - from chickens that “danced” on cue to dolphins and pigs - and wrote it up for psychologists in 1961. Bob Bailey joined the Brelands’ company in 1965, the same year Keller Breland died. Bob became ABE’s operational head in 1969. ABE produced stage productions for many tourist attractions in the USA and abroad and conducted government sponsored free environment programs with dolphins, dogs, cats, ravens, gulls, vultures, pigeons, and many other birds and mammals. Bob and Marian married in 1976. They trained, or directed the training, of more than 140 different species, totaling well over 15,000 animals. Bob and Marian closed ABE’s doors in 1990. They continued to consult on selected projects. Marian died in 2001. Bob continues consulting and teaching worldwide.