The only time Mama listened to me

When I was a volunteer at the zoo I was fortunate enough to be involved in the sea lion training program. Nadine was a great sea lion! She listened very well to me and I had a lot of fun working with her. Mama was a different strory. Lisa was always on the pool deck with me and Mama loved Lisa. Mama would ignore me and make me look stupid. Bad trainer! One day Lisa was doing the talk to a group of school kids and there were a lot of people watching me train. I got to the point of training Mama and to my great suprise she was responding to me! I had her on deck doing targets with her when Lisa committed a sea lion training sin and walked behind me. Mama barked at her with a mouth FULL of squid and makeral! Being eye level with Mama at the time I got a face full of grossness! I told Mama "POOL" and "NO MORE" and turned to face Lisa. She looked shocked but that only lasted a moment before she doubled over laughing. It was then I heard the laughter coming form EVERYONE who had been watching. I was totally embarassed and covered in fish blood, scales and squid. I threw Mama the rest of her fish and ended the session. Once off the pool Lisa told me I handled that very well and I was a good trainer. Hearing that was great reinforcment for me. Mama never listened to me again.