Customer Reviews

Lads Before the Wind : Diary of a Dolphin Trainer

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This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever had the privilege to read. As a youngster interested in animals, I must've checked this book out of my local library every 6 months for several years. When I came across a copy in a used bookstore several years ago, I yelped with joy at a chance to own it.

This book is an account of Karen Pryor's experiences learning about operant conditioning in order to train porpoises and whales at the newly opened Sea Life Park in Hawaii. The historical account is fascinating all on its own, but I treasure this book because of its discussion of training not just porpoises, but truly any animal, with positive reinforcement. I loved the way she and her colleagues freely borrowed from their experiences with one species to apply them to others -- the sections on training Trainers and training Otters are not only hilarious, but also terribly insightful into how 'animals' of all species learn.

I work with horses, and have found the philosophies I learned from this book have helped me enormously with not only horses, but also dogs and even people. This is a classic reference for anyone who works with any species of animal.

I read *Lads* through the first time like a novel, glued to every word. The second time, I underlined it and wrote in the margins. Now I refer to it all the time, dipping in and out. It's one of my favorite dog training books -- and it's not even about dogs! A must-read for anyone who thinks they know it all about training -- and for those who know they don't!

This book provided a great insider's look to what is means to be a dolphin/marine mammal trainer. I would recommend this book to anyone who is considering this for a career path. I know I am and that this book has helped me gained a great perspective and tips on dolphin training. The stories are really touching and before you know it, you're feel like standing right next to the author feeding and playing with the dolphins. This book is a definite must-have!

I first read this book almost 20 years ago, when I was a kid and in love with dolphins. I have re-read it two dozen times since then and enjoyed it just as much every single time. It will help the reader understand behavior in general...of your pets, your kids, your co-workers, your spouse...and how you can affect that behavior with timely and positive reinforcement of desirable responses. A delightful book! Hugely entertaining throughout.

I always wondered how in the world did they train a dolphin to jump, flip and do all those fancy moves and now I have some idea. I mean afterall, the dolphin is in the water and you are on land? With dogs, at least, you can say commands with your voice and reward it by petting it. Well, this book answers all those questions you wondered about how they trained dolphins but were to afraid to ask or afraid to look stupid by asking. It is written in a very friendly, easy to read language and I was very pleasantly surprised with the book. I would highly recommended to to anybody and who knows, you might pick up a pointer or two on how to train other animals!

A fantastic explanation of the process of Operant Conditioning, told with the structure of a story. Not only is it incredibly informative on the subject, it is a lot of fun to read! This book is still recommended reading for trainers at Sea World, and animal trainers in general. If you enjoy dolphins, and might be interested in behavior research, or might train ANY animal, this book is for you.

As someone who has loved dolphins her entire life (when I was little I wanted to be a dolphin trainer), this book intrigued me just because it was about dolphins and written by a dolphin trainer. I was pleasantly surprised on how much I was actually able to learn by reading it. Not only is it a great wealth of information about cetaceans (dolphins), it is also a very interesting read on training. It is full of anecdotes, making the book entertaining, and scientific data and fact, helping to lend a bit of seriousness. The unique training ideas that Karen Pryor discovered by trial and error can be, and are, used on every animal from a dolphin to a cat to a human. I highly recommend this book.

For those interested in positive motivation animal training this book is an excellent resource that is also a fun read. For those who like animals and a good story there is a lot of great adventure in Karen's experiences. The training techniques are given as part of the story which keeps it from being dry. I highly recommend this to all. As soon as I finished it, I read it again.

This book was great!!! Karen Pryor is a great writer and a wonderful scientist!!! I have never read a more inciting book! It was great, it gave me different perspectives on dolphin training and even some insight on careers!! Buy this book, you won't regret it!!

I have owned this book for many many years. It is one of the most important books in my collection if not the most important one that I own. It is one of two books where I have had a chance to meet Georges Gilbert, the father who I never knew. There is another book about BF Skinner and a little about his work at Sea Life Park. My father is mentioned there, too. I have only seen my father once. When I was in the fourth grade, we were on an excursion to Sea Life Park and were watching the dolphin program in the tanks. My father happened to be on hand during the show, and the trainer introduced him as the collector. It was embarrassing for me becaue I told one of the kids next to me that Georges is my father. The boy laughed and said why doesn't your father come see you. I told him I was just joking.

I have spent a portion of my life trying to retrace my dad's steps to learn who he was. I have even gone sport fishing on the Imua long after my father had passed away, and the Imua was refitted for sport fishing. I have met many skippers and captains on many boats in Hawaii who seemed to have known my father and had told tall stories of my father and the sea. My foster father who was also a bottom fisherman called my father the great fisherman. I guess Georges Gilbert had an uncanny feel for the ocean and the animals that the ocean possessed.

Thank you Karen for writing this book

Robert Kahaokamoku Gilbert