REXANO Defining Tameness, Training, Domestication, Captivity and Wild

Defining Tameness, Training, Domestication, Captivity and Wild

Editorial By Roland and Lauren, June 2009

The phrase, "wild animals can be trained but not tamed" is relatively popular, and sounds cool and profound, but I think it is completely incorrect. Taming and training are two entirely separate notions. You can do either, neither, or both to any animal to varying degrees.

"Tameness" is a measure of the degree to which an animal has been conditioned to maximize docileness. Some of the tamest animals I have met have been wild animals that were untrained but had been loved and cuddled every day and would lie in bed and lick treats off their owners but did not have any learned behaviors on cue. Tameness has to do with perceived sweetness, tractability, disinclination to bite, etc, but not necessarily with intelligence or workability. Rats, cats, hamsters, llamas, snakes, etc are all good examples of animals that are frequently very tame but largely untrained, and many servals/caracals would also fall into this class.

"Training" is a measure of the extent to which an animal has been taught specific behaviors. Some of the best trained animals I have ever met are not very tame at all-they can do backflips on command, but will rip your arm off if you pet them. Birds are probably the best example of an animal that is often highly trained but not very tame.

"Domestication" is a measure of the extent to which a species has adapted to being kept and used by man. It is not discrete-it is relative and gradual like tallness. Tamability and trainability will both often increase in individuals as a species becomes more domesticated, but not always.

"Captivity" is a measure of whether or not the animal is currently kept and cared for by man.

"Wild" is the common/popular antonym for each of these terms, which leads to considerable confusion.

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