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Tools
Training is simple, but not easy (Bob Bailey)
I develop methods and tools for computer assisted animal training. My goal is to make positive reinforcement based training easier. My special focus is on health and on cooperative care.
Quelle: Tier Wohl Team
Quelle: Tier Wohl Team
I develop software and devices to make positive, cooperative and effective animal training easier.
Quelle: Tier Wohl Team
This app helps you to train your animal better. It enables fast planning, focused training and automatic documentation.
Quelle: Tier Wohl Team
From simple sensors to artificial intelligence - new developments in machine learning enable the application of artificial intelligence for every animal trainer.
What does 'Computer-Assisted Animal Training' mean?
Clear criteria and excellent timing—embedded in a well-structured, step-by-step training plan—are the hallmarks of effective (animal) training. Successfully applying these principles requires extensive experience on the part of the trainer—experience that most pet owners naturally lack.
The goal of Computer Assisted Animal Training is to make training easier and more accessible, empowering every pet owner to train efficiently and without stress. To achieve this, I develop smartphone-based programs and combine them with additional tools. This approach is particularly valuable in medical training, where it can support cooperative, low-stress handling—for both animals and their humans. A video on the Tier Wohl Team YouTube Channel demonstrates how to build a chin target as a cooperative cue.
Quelle: Tier Wohl Team
PlanTrainDoc
Quelle: Tier Wohl Team
Goal-oriented training consists of three phases: planning, execution, and documentation. Since the training plan should be adapted based on the documented results, the process forms a continuous training cycle. However, because documentation is often time-consuming and labor-intensive, this cycle frequently breaks down—leading to poor planning and inefficient training.
To support this cycle, I developed PlanTrainDoc. The app allows you to plan your training directly, document it automatically as you go, and adjust your plans based on real data. Additional tools can be easily integrated, making PlanTrainDoc the central hub of computer-assisted training.
The app is available for free on Google Play. Full documentation and source code are also openly and freely accessible.
Possibilities
Recent advances in artificial intelligence have made it possible to automatically analyze animal movements. As a demonstration, I used the open-source software DeepLabCut to process a video showing our dog performing an indication behavior. Each point represents a specific body part—for example, the purple dot marks the nose. With this, it's possible to determine directly from the video data that (i) the dog is sitting and (ii) its nose is touching the target glass.
At present, these tools still require too much computing power for everyday use in animal training. However, with ongoing algorithm optimization and the increasing performance of smartphones, it is only a matter of time before AI becomes a practical and accessible training assistant for everyone.
Quelle: Tier Wohl Team
