People have been training animals for thousands of years. Historically, falconers have trained hawks. Dogs have been trained for hunting, for herding livestock, and for pulling sleds. Elephants have been trained to pull or carry logs. Horses and camels have been trained for riding and hauling.

Compared to other types of animal training, marine mammal training is a relatively new field. People have been training killer whales for only about the past 35 years. SeaWorld animal trainers began working with bottlenose dolphins in 1963 before the first park opened.