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“The first step is for the dolphin and the trainer to get to know and trust each other,” Samansky says. A trainer may start by sitting by the pool, dangling feet in the water, and feeding and playing with the dolphin. This fun process helps the dolphin and trainer get to know each other and build strong bonds of trust. As trust is established, the trainer introduces a “bridge” such as blowing a whistle or saying “good job” each time food is given. Soon the bridge is paired with other things the dolphin likes, such as a rub on the skin, a toy, some ice, or a squirt of water on the tongue. After a while the dolphin learns that the bridge goes with a reward and means “good job.” Next the trainer will usually train the dolphin to follow a target, such as a hand or other object. If a hand is the target, the trainer puts up a hand and waits for the curious dolphin to touch it. As soon as that happens, the trainer blows the whistle and “bridges” the behavior to let the dolphin know, “Yes, that’s what I wanted you to do.” Eventually, the dolphin knows to touch and follow the target. Next the trainer must pair the behaviors with a signal or “cue” so the dolphin knows what behaviors to do and when to do them. Cues can be hand or body movements, special sounds, or words.
“For dolphins, training sessions are great exercise and a lot of fun,” says DolphinTrainer.com’s marine mammal consultant, Terry Samansky.
Dolphins aren’t the only ones learning in animal park training programs. The trainers are learning about dolphins. In fact, much of what we know about dolphins has been learned at marine parks.
Read “How to Train a Dolphin.” Then circle the word that best describes each picture below.
© Vicki Whiting September 2026
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