halacha - Training an animal to do malacha

Is one allowed to train an animal to do malacha on shabbas (e.g. turn on a light)?

Is it comparable to amira l'nochri (telling a non-Jew to do so), or do we say its mutar altogether?

Answer

Exodus (23:12) states:

לְמַ֣עַן יָנ֗וּחַ שֽׁוֹרְךָ֙ וַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ

This teaches (cf. Yerushalmi Betsah 5:2, Rambam's Hilhkot Shabbat 6:16) that animals may not be used for melakha on Shabbat. This ruling is found in the Shulhan Arukh (OH 246:3) as well.

Additionaly, R. Ben-Tsion Abba-Shaul writes (Ohr L'tsiyon I: OH 23) that the rule of amira l'nokhri applies to commanding an animal as well.