# Do you think we could train or tame dinosaurs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140 "2025-02-10T17:31:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/41 "2025-02-11T13:00:19Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Falcons are _excellent_ at solving hunting problems. Extremely good at being hunters. Also bright enough to understand that partnering with a human improves their hunting success I disagree on both points. Falcons are good at _hunting_, they are not good at solving hunting problems. They are good at spotting a rabbit in a field and diving onto that rabbit but they are not equipped to figure out what to do if the rabbit enters a tunnel system or the rabbit is in a mirror maze or the rabbit is wearing a shock vest. If the situation is more complex than “Spot prey, dive on prey, kill prey” they don’t have mental tools to handle it. Likewise, falcons get trained by humans. They do not come to humans thinking this looks like a good deal for them. The fact that falcons have to be trained from youth, are hooded so they don’t freak out, and are tied to the glove with jesses so they don’t just leave is a pretty good indication that the birds aren’t hanging out on a glove because they’re bright enough to make that decision independently. They are, however, smart enough to be trained in the first place and I could believe that if we had ancient theropod dinosaurs around today then perhaps some of them might be smart enough to be trained for similar limited tasks. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/42 "2025-02-11T14:19:37Z")
“Trainable” is a very subjective word. Trained to show up for a regular mealtime is something anything more organized than an amoeba can master. Trained to solve problems is something only a handful of animals can do for humans. Trainability is not merely a function of higher intelligence, but also is dependent upon such things as the ability to master anxiety (nobody learns well if anxious, and many animals cannot learn at all from humans unless calm), and being able to supply an appropriate reward at an optimum time. Domesticated means a population whose breeding is under human control, and whose genetics have been to some degree altered by artificial selection. There are species which inhabit a gray area, such as pigeons and cats – some artificially bred but the majority choose their own mates and live a life dependent upon humans but not fully controlled by them. Or even grayer, semi-feral horses which are caught, culled, ridden at times, but mostly find their own way in life. All the large animals we have domesticated (not merely trained) are herbivores, and there are obvious reasons for that. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/43 "2025-02-11T14:49:50Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > but that bar is so low it’s painted on the ground. I am so stealing this line! One can train [dragons](https://s3.amazonaws.com/nightjarprod/content/uploads/sites/130/2022/05/13202919/how-to-train-your-dragon-2010.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/44 "2025-02-11T14:56:18Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > No reptiles are considered truly _domesticated_ in the way dogs, cats, horses, etc. are, correct? > > Even the (relatively) popular pet iguanas, bearded dragons, and snakes are considered tamed individual animals that are habituated to human handling, right? Dinosaurs weren’t reptiles, exactly. Or birds. They were dinosaurs. “Can you train or tame dinosaurs” is kind of like saying “can we train or tame mammals.” Dinosaurs were an immensely varied group of animals, and it’s likely some could be tamed and most couldn’t, which is true of mammals. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/45 "2025-02-11T14:56:52Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I have seen a few alligator acts where a guy puts his head in the beastie’s mouth but I’m not sure how well trained they really are. That’s not so much training as it is a trick of anatomy. Because their eyes are positioned at the top of their head, a gator can’t see much when its mouth is wide open. But it’s got some very sensitive sensors in it’s mouth, and as soon as something triggers them the gator will snap down very quickly with a great deal of violence. So long as you don’t trigger those sensors, you’re probably fine. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/46 "2025-02-11T15:02:44Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > They are good at spotting a rabbit in a field and diving onto that rabbit but they are not equipped to figure out what to do if the rabbit enters a tunnel system or the rabbit is in a mirror maze or the rabbit is wearing a shock vest. If the situation is more complex than “Spot prey, dive on prey, kill prey” they don’t have mental tools to handle it. You have some Bond level villain rabbits in your area. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/47 "2025-02-11T15:02:56Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > All the large animals we have domesticated (not merely trained) are herbivores, and there are obvious reasons for that. You don’t need to be smart to be domesticated. Docile is an advantage. Tasting good cooked and able to pull things helps. Smart can get tricky. Not disqualifying though - see elephants. Smart in a domesticated animal is a function mostly filled by dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/48 "2025-02-11T15:10:27Z")
I think dinosaurs were far more like reptiles than birds like, say, parakeets, Macaws, etc. I think they could learn how to show up at a certain time for food if one was consistent with it. Simple stimulus/response stuff and that’s it. If we genetically resurrect the T-Rex, is anyone her volunteering to stick his or her head in its mouth? No thanks. LOL ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/49 "2025-02-11T15:10:45Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > You have some Bond level villain rabbits in your area. Hah! Contrived situations for sake of example but, hey, octopus are well skilled at finding paths, manipulating things and learning from experience to reach food that’s otherwise inaccessible. Squirrels are famously (and frustratingly) skilled at solving how to defeat anti-squirrel measures between them and a bird seed diet. Even parrots can potentially noodle out how to open a latch to get at some nibbles. Falcons don’t do that stuff though. They’re excellent hunters but they’re not problem solvers. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/50 "2025-02-11T15:30:43Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I think dinosaurs were far more like reptiles than birds Based on what? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/51 "2025-02-11T15:34:46Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Based on what? I can’t stand reptiles, but I mostly like birds, so it’s far easier to dislike dinosaurs if I think of them as reptiles. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/52 "2025-02-11T15:59:54Z")
Haha! OK, fair enough. I think the science, though, is that birds are a direct descendant of dinos, whereas lizards are distant cousins. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/53 "2025-02-11T16:05:35Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Keeping a **[T. Rex as a pet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq2T-mre9jI)** is an extreme example, but this YouTube channel (Clint’s Reptiles it call itself) goes into precisely this and is scientifically correct. For comparison, in another episode it **[calls turkeys dinosaurs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkGg_akMaE0)** and evaluates their aptitude as a pet. Spoiler: turkeys are easier to keep than T. Rex. There is a linked video on how good children are as pets - its quite humorous. “it will probably be about 40 before they stop doing stupid things to get them killed - potentially even longer for males” 😄 Brian ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/54 "2025-02-11T16:55:09Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Falcons don’t do that stuff though. They’re excellent hunters but they’re not problem solvers. Falcons are a strange little niche. They are very much not domesticated, in fact there is an ancient tradition of trapping young falcons, habituating them to hunt off a glove, and at some point just letting them go – or, often enough, they leave of their own accord. Falcons can’t be trained to do anything but what they already do anyway, only slightly modified to do it with people in close proximity. Falcons are more like sentient single-purpose weaponry than they are what we think of as a trained animal. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/55 "2025-02-11T16:56:55Z")
I don’t get why it is necessary to dislike reptiles OR dinosaurs. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/56 "2025-02-11T17:12:49Z")
Reptiles have no feelings. It’s like trying to love a stone. They leave me cold, literally and figuratively. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/57 "2025-02-11T18:19:52Z")
You are simply insensitive to the feelings of beings who aren’t enough like you. It’s not reptiles, it’s you. Reptiles aren’t cold, by the way. They’re poikilothermic. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to use that word in a sentence. My day is happy now. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/58 "2025-02-11T18:35:50Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Has anyone even tried to tame a Komodo dragon? That’s what an old girlfriend used to call it! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/59 "2025-02-11T18:51:53Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > It’s not reptiles, it’s you. It sounds like a breakup. 🤣 Icky, icky, wooky pooh! Me and reptiles?! We are through! 😈 ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140/60 "2025-02-11T18:58:55Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > They’re poikilothermic. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to use that word in a sentence. My day is happy now. Maybe tomorrow you can explain the Word… Now take the rest of the Day off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-we-could-train-or-tame-dinosaurs/1014140.md?page=4)