78: Training Social Animals in a Group with One Trainer with SK Ivkovich, Dolphin Research Center

This episode SK Ivkovich, Dolphin Research Center, provides some great learning and advice for training social animals in a group with one trainer.  This podcast is a companion to SK’s presentation at the 2026 ABMA-IAATE annual conference titled “Three’s a Crowd? Benefits of Training Social Animals in a Multi-Animal Group with One Trainer”. SK starts the discussion by advocating for the many benefits, to both animals and humans, of training social animals in a group.  SK also focuses on the importance of focusing on the individual in the group and the role of the social hierarchy.  The episode finishes on some advice for how to get started training social animals in a group. Stay tuned in for SK’s "Training Tale" about DRC’s new harbor seals! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠abc@theabma.org⁠ and to reach SK email sarah.ivkovich@dolphins.org 

To learn more about the Dolphin Research Center’s Professional Animal Trainer Program visit https://dolphins.org/drcti_professional_trainer_certificate_program and to learn more about the Dolphin Academy Program visit https://dolphins.org/drcti_professional_trainer_certificate_program

• 3:15 Introduction to SK Ivkovich 

• 4:50 Information on Dolphin Research Center’s Professional Animal Trainer Program and Dolphin Academy Program 

• 10:15 The benefits of training social animals in a group 

• 18:00 The benefits to the trainers 

• 22:10 How to focus on each individual while training in a group 

• 25:50 The role of social hierarchy 

• 39:50 Advice for starting a session with multiple animals 

• 48:55 Bridging animals in a group 

• 57:00 “Training Tale”