Robert E. Bailey

Robert E. Bailey

Bob Bailey, even as a small child, had an interest in science, and especially animals. His mother had to contend with live rattlesnakes in the refrigerator and rocket fuel in her kitchen. Studying fishes, reptiles, and birds at UCLA in 1958 was Bob's first exposure to behavior analysis and ethology. After a stint in a biochemistry lab, and in the field as a fish and game biologist, he became the U.S. Navy's first Director of Training. Joining Animal Behavior Enterprises (ABE) in 1965, Bob became Research Director, and then General Manager. Over the years, Bob has trained more than 120 species of animals, and thousands of individuals, including many in a free environment training using long range control and guidance systems. Bob is also an inventor, designer, writer, teacher, diver, photographer, and video editor.

Bob Bailey and his wife Marian conducted the famous Operant Conditioning and Behavior Analysis Workshops at ABE using chickens as models, which became famous as the Chicken Camps. They spent many years searching for a better behavioral model than chickens, but they always came back to the common barnyard fowl. Bob continues using chickens to teach novice and experienced trainers.

Bob Bailey's philosophical point of view on teaching animal training is that training is a mechanical skill and the understanding and skillful practicing of a few simple behavioral principles are keys to trainer success.

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