by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | contents, contents
A Multidisciplinary and Trauma-Informed Perspective Approach to Community-Based Support Programs by Lauralee Dorst, RVT, Dillon Dodson, RSW, MSW, and Beverley McKee, CDBC, CPDT-KA Pesky Pudgy Ponies: Equine Obesity and the Behavior Consultant by Justice Smith, MEd...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Shelter
As a shelter behaviour consultant, I’ve become intimately familiar with the difficult task of euthanizing animals that are unsafe to live with humans or that suffer from poor quality of life due to extreme behaviour. These decisions are never taken lightly, whether...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Business of Behavior
Finally, you feel like all the investments you’ve made in pursuing certifications, completing courses, attending conferences, reading books, and helping your early clients succeed with their animals is paying off! You are busier than ever and able to pick and choose...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Horse
Summary: The second of a multi-part series examining the ethics of dominance-based training techniques like “Natural Horsemanship.” This part investigates the role of language and appeals to emotion that can cause problems in understanding equine science. In the...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Dog
Welcome to “The Alumni”: Ireland’s Reactivity Cult Community matters. Since the pandemic, the need for belonging, purpose, and community has never been more evident, and we now know that being a part of a community can have a powerful effect on your sense of...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Business of Behavior
I recently was a guest lecturer for the Shelter Veterinary Medicine Class at Purdue University and presented on a topic near and dear to my heart: how career paths can be different based on life’s opportunities, and how knowing your resources can help you be...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Parrot
For the most part, the tide has turned regarding animal training philosophy. It’s understood now that empowering animals rather than disempowering them not only garners better results but creates happier and healthier animals. What isn’t mentioned often enough though,...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Horse
Summary: Obesity poses a significant threat to equine welfare, affecting approximately 40% of horses in the U.S. and U.K. Fortunately, it is one of the most preventable health issues in the horse.1 While obesity has historically been viewed as a strictly physical...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Shelter
Every year, approximately 3.4 million cats enter animal shelters nationwide. Although about 170,000 of these cats will be safely returned to their owners and 1.3 million will be adopted, many will spend months waiting for their forever family, and more than 1.4...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Shelter
In 2023, Toronto Humane Society launched a pop-up pet support program designed specifically to provide wellness, behavior and social services to underserved communities. While community wellness is not new to the organization, this program was designed to offer...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 15, 2024 | Horse
Using positive reinforcement to train horses isn’t new, but it doesn’t have the same following as it does in dog training. My mare Shea is now 20 years old and was trained in traditional methods based on punishment and negative reinforcement (P+ and R-), although I...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | contents, contents
CAT: When Extra Sweet Turns Sour: Supporting Cats with Behavior Changes Related to Feline Diabetes by T Hamboyan Harrison, CCBC, ACSB-C, SBA, FFCP DOG: Gentle Yoga for Gentle Dog Trainers by Eve M. Riley, PhD, KPA-CTP, RYT200 HORSE: The Effects of Saddle Fit on Horse...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | Shelter
Summary: The transition into an animal shelter is a stressful event for an animal, regardless of their previous life circumstances. Stress is linked to many difficulties, including failing to pass a shelter’s temperament test and potentially being euthanized....
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | Shelter
Since 1990 I have been volunteering in or working with a variety of shelters and rescue groups, until 2013 when I accepted a full-time position at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. While there, one of my fellow behavior consultants, Allie Bender, and I...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | Cat
Summary: Diabetes in cats is not uncommon, and can be managed with the appropriate veterinary care. There are, however, often some challenging behaviors that accompany a cat’s experience of the symptoms of diabetes. If these behaviors are not managed, the...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | Shelter
Summary: An overview of available research on some of the temperament tests currently used as first-line intake evaluations for dogs in a shelter, why these tests are used at all, and some possible alternatives. Animal shelters and rescues have two essential...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | Horse
Summary: The first of a multi-part series examining the ethics of dominance-based training techniques like “Natural Horsemanship.” This part looks at the prevalence of these techniques and delves into some of the reasons for their popularity among everyday...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | Horse
Summary: Infrared thermography is a relatively new technology that can be used alongside behavioral observation to determine whether a horse is likely to be experiencing pain. It it particularly well-suited to examining the effect of ill-fitting tack, as it allows the...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | Dog
Introduction Dog training is hard, mentally and physically taxing work for the dog as well as for their human trainers. In essence, dog training is stressful. Successful dog trainers require both patience and calmness, states that, I believe, can be more easily...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2023 | Shelter
Summary: A description of the SPCA Singapore’s Dog Mentorship Program, which identified and trained volunteers to a high level of skill in enrichment, behavior management, and modification so that they could provide intensive support to dogs suffering from...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | contents, contents
CAT: Case Study — Excessive Vocalization in a Cat by Kate Luse, CCBC CAT: Environmental Considerations When Treating Feline Osteoarthritis by Morgan Redell HORSE: Recognising Signs of Pain in Horses: A Checklist for Horse Owners and Caregivers by Sarah Johnson, BSc....
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | Dog
Summary: Exercise is important for dogs and humans, but the research on this topic can be confusing and seem contradictory. This article reviews the benefits of physical activity for dogs and humans, gives an overview of some of the most common challenges to...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | Horse
Introduction The recent publication of comprehensive equine pain and discomfort ethograms, such as the Equine Discomfort Ethogram,1 have the potential to be used as a management tool to improve the rate of diagnosis of mild acute and chronic conditions by enabling...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | Cat
Our friendly feline companions are starting to live longer lives, and with longevity comes inevitable aging woes, such as feline osteoarthritis (OA, or shortened to ‘arthritis’). Animal care professionals (ACPs) such as veterinarians, behaviorists, behavior...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | Cat
Summary: A case of a cat who vocalized day and night in the presence of her preferred human companion, across a wide variety of contexts — including if her guardian tried to take a nap. Resolution was almost completely achieved through intentional extinction,...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | Dog
Summary: The effect a dog’s breed has on their behavior is partially determined by their genes, partially by their early puppyhood environment, and partially by their owner’s expectations of how a dog with that breed label is “supposed” to act....
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | Shelter
Summary: Originally published in Issue 3 of The IAABC Foundation Journal, this article focuses on practical, creative, low-cost ways to provide multi-sensory enrichment to sheltered dogs. I have worked in the animal industry for over 18 years. I currently work at the...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | Dog
Over the years that I have been running Wagging School I have taken on instructors to assist me, and have taught them science-based principles along with my particular take on applying training methods to real world problems. Accordingly, while I love dogs and want to...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 15, 2023 | Dog
Summary: A review of formal and semiformal tools that have been developed to quantify and assess dog behaviors. Some have been validated by academic research, others have not been studied formally, but are in regular use in shelters. Pros and cons are listed for each...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | contents, contents
DOG: A Framework for Behavior Modification and Training Plans to Help Build and Maintain Resilience: The Resilience Rainbow by Bobbie Bhambree, CDBC, CPDT-KA, and Dr. Kathy Murphy, BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS DOG: Teaching Polite Play by Christina Young BSc,...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Cat
Summary: When a cat is taken out of their home and then taken back, for example to the veterinarian, they can experience “non-recognition aggression.” Even cats who previously had a strong affiliative relationship can fail to recognize each other under...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Dog
Summary: Resilience is an individual’s ability to recover from and resist the negative effects of stress. Understanding the physiological and behavioral bases for higher levels of resilience can help animal trainers and behavior consultants develop interventions...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | General
Summary: SMARTER is a mnemonic used to define measurable goals. This article builds on the concept of SMARTER goals introduced in part 1 and gives examples of how trainers and behavior consultants can give their clients goals that meet the last 4 criteria (Relevant,...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Cat
I want to start this with a confession: I used to be extremely skeptical of clicker training for cats. It seemed gimmicky and not particularly helpful, outside of teaching shelter cats tricks to entice adopters. Through continuing education, especially about...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Horse
Summary: The round-pen training technique, popular among proponents of “natural horsemanship” is said to be effective and ethical because it uses equine ethology to induce desired behaviors. This review looks at what we know about ethology and illustrates...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Shelter
Summary: Animal shelters were significantly impacted by the covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Among other issues, lockdowns meant that animal shelters could no longer rely on their volunteers in the same way. As communities begin to reopen and shelters start to recover, they...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Shelter
Summary: Getting cats and dogs through the shelter and onto the next stage of their lives is understandably the main thing shelter staff and volunteers are focused on, and adoption events are one way to make this happen. However, adoption events are complex and can be...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Dog
Summary: Most people who add a dog to their family are excited to see their dog play with canine friends. Not every dog is a paragon of social skills, however, so it is important for trainers to be able to show their clients how to recognize signs of impolite play....
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Working Animals
Navigating one’s daily tasks isn’t always easy — especially while living with a disability. Fortunately, there are service dogs that can be trained to do all sorts of tasks for their humans, and make significant improvements to their handlers’ lives. They might open...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Parrot
A parrot is an iconic part of a pet store; many people have strong memories of visiting pet stores as children and being amazed by a big red macaw, or delighted by flocks of colorful lovebirds. Even now, many companion birds are bought after a visit to a store that...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 14, 2023 | Shelter
Summary: An interview with two of the authors of the ASPCA’s latest research paper, “Behavioral rehabilitation of extremely fearful dogs: Report on the efficacy of a treatment protocol.” With a combination of sufficient practical resources and a...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | contents, contents
DOG: Case Study: Luna — Reactivity To Other Dogs Part 2 by Jen Gumas CDBC, CPDT-KA, CBATI DOG: Living and Learning with a Blind Dog by Micaela Frank, CDBC, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP DOG: Using Innate Stress Coping Styles to Inform Behavior Management Strategies by Gavin Fraser...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | Dog
Summary: Experiencing trauma is known to be a cause of stress and associated behavior problems in dogs, but what about witnessing the trauma of others? This article reviews what we know about behavioral responses to witnessing trauma in other animals, and discusses...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | Horse
Summary: Gut bacteria play an important role in digestion and overall health in horses, including their behavioral health. This article introduces the equine gut microbiome and explores how changing a horses’ diet could influence their welfare through...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | General
Summary: SMARTER is a mnemonic used to define measurable goals. This article introduces the concept of SMARTER goals and gives examples of how trainers and behavior consultants can give their clients goals that meet the first 3 criteria (Specific, Measurable,...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | General
Summary: When veterinarians and behavior professionals work together, everyone can benefit. Clients and their animals can develop deeper relationships through continuity of support, behavior professionals get the chance to network and expand their business, and...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | Cat
Summary: After years of the two cats living together with no issues, Mimi suffered an acute medical event and started to behave aggressively towards Leo. The aggression continued even after her recovery from surgery, which prompted the intervention documented here....
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | Dog
Summary: Blind dogs can live full and happy lives, but they need some special attention to their training and behavior. Whether they were born without sight or lost their vision later in life, blind dogs can respond well to behavior modification protocols that were...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | Dog
Summary: A case of dog-dog reactivity in an energetic older dog, is made more complicated by the client’s specific situation and set of needs, and then turns into human-directed aggression as their living situation becomes more stressful. Working within Luna’s...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | Dog
Summary: Developing an effective training plan for dogs suffering from noise aversion is complicated by the co-morbidity of other behavior challenges, the inherent unpredictability of the stimulus, and the tendency of clients to minimize their dog’s distress....
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 15, 2022 | Horse
Summary: An anxious mare’s behavior problems are made worse when she’s taken away from her herd. A history of physical punishment when alone, and frustration on the part of the client exacerbated her isolation distress further. A program of desensitization...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 11, 2022 | Working Animals
Summary: Working dogs are expected to perform well in a huge variety of environments. Understanding what the research tells us about the effects of different environmental factors, as well as target odor, could help handlers modify their search strategy and...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 5, 2022 | Parrot
Summary: As bird owners, we are quickly taught that toys are super-important for parrots. We need to keep them busy to avoid boredom and stereotypical behavior, and to keep them healthy. Keeping parrots occupied is indeed an important part of bringing them in to our...
by IAABC Foundation | Oct 5, 2022 | Dog
Summary: Individual animals cope with stress in different ways. This article looks at neurobiological models for different styles of coping with stress, and how understanding an individual’s stress coping style could factor into the development of a behavioral...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | contents, contents
DOG: Who Keeps The Dog? Advice From A Pet Custody Expert by Karis Bryen, CDBC, Accredited Family Mediator DOG: Case Study: Luna — Reactivity To Other Dogs Part 1 by Jen Gumas CDBC, CCPDT-KA, CBATI DOG: Working With Shy Dogs In A Class Setting by Alicia L....
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Working Animals, Working Animal
Summary: Animals have been used as adjuncts in therapy since the time of Freud, and there are more and more programs that use animals to help patients communicate and heal. Animal Assisted Play Therapy is a combination of play therapy and animal assisted therapy,...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Parrot
Summary: Two new sets of regulations, from different parts of the US Government, are poised to create serious problems for parrot caregivers, avian veterinarians, rescuers, and breeders. This article looks at the legal foundations of the proposed amendments to the...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Dog
Anyone who works with family pets is likely to end up with clients in the heartbreaking situation of getting a divorce and needing to decide who keeps the dog. For those of you who have had this experience already, or will in the future, this article is designed to...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Cat
When I took Brie to the emergency vet, his respiration rate was over 80 breaths per minute. His two-day stay in the oxygen kennel receiving IV fluids and additional medications brought his respiration rate back into the normal range. The veterinary specialist...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Horse
Summary: The suckling behavior of donkey foals has rarely been explored, with most orphans being reared on protocols based on the assumption that their behavior and physiology do not differ from horses. An orphaned donkey foal at The Donkey Sanctuary was reared on an...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Dog
In November 2020, the IAABC Foundation Journal published our article on switching to online dog training classes due to COVID. We wanted to present a follow-up article to show the progress of our program and some of our observations. Client stats Clients have enjoyed...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Dog
Summary: A case of dog-dog reactivity in an energetic older dog, is made more complicated by the client’s specific situation and set of needs, and then turns into human-directed aggression as their living situation becomes more stressful. Working within...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Parrot
Summary: The dedication most parrot caregivers have to their avian companion’s wellbeing, combined with their air-conditioned, artificially-lighted indoor lifestyles, means they are in perfect shape to want to reproduce. If they’re not careful, caregivers...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Horse
Summary: A case study of how past trauma and inadequate current environment can interact to create and maintain problematic behaviors. Bilbo, a young mare with a significant history of aggression and causing injury is sold with the advice that she be euthanized for...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Dog
Summary: Not all shy dogs need one-on-one work, and not all caregivers are capable of finding that environment. A class for shy dogs can work, if the environment is properly set up and a skeleton lesson plan is thoughtfully prepared. This article gives some tips and...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Cat
Summary: What do you do when your newly-adopted cat refuses to stop hiding under the bed? 4-year-old Jumbo had a rough start in life, and now he was in danger of losing another home. When Certified Cat Behavior Consultant Hongfei Li was called, his caregiver was at...
by IAABC Foundation | Jun 12, 2022 | Reptile
Summary: An enriched environment for reptiles under captive management isn’t just a tank with some extra objects in it. To really enrich the lives of our reptiles, we need to be creative and introduce some novelty into their lives. This article introduces...
by IAABC Foundation | Mar 18, 2022 | contents, contents
SHELTER | DOG: Pet Parent Support Network: Creating a Successful Alternative to Surrender Through a Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Approach by Beverly McKee ACDBC, CPDT-KA SHELTER | DOG: The Dead Dogs on My Phone by Paige Kim DOG: Pushing ALL My Buttons: Dogs...
by IAABC Foundation | Mar 18, 2022 | contents, contents
DOG: Consent Behaviors for Veterinary Procedures by Natalie Rogers SHELTER: Everyone Is on the Behavior Team: How ASPCA’s eLearning Platform Broadens and Deepens Behavior Knowledge for Shelter Personnel by Renee Dunaway and Amy Duskiewicz HORSE: Equine Advocacy by...
by IAABC Foundation | Mar 18, 2022 | contents, contents
EXOTICS: A Physiotherapy Program for Bears at Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre by Kate Shipton (BVetMed MRCVS) and Sarah van Herpt (BSc, MSc, CVN) DOG: All the Worst Puppy Problems: Housetraining Hang-Ups by Jess Erace LVT CPDT-KA CTDI DOG | SHELTER: Claire:...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 21, 2022 | Cat
Summary: Plastic toys, strip-mined litter, and greenhouse gas intensive food – our pets are a surprisingly large contributor to the climate crisis. A look at the research can give us the numbers, but how can we make more sustainable choices for us and our pets? This...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 21, 2022 | Cat
Courtney Graham is a PhD candidate working with kittens in the Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Lab at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. She is currently investigating the effects of socialization and early management strategies for...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 21, 2022 | General
The IAABC Ethics Committee is a team of volunteers that adjudicate on ethical matters for the IAABC. Their role is to evaluate complaints about violations of our Professional Code of Ethics, as well as offer original thought and guidance for the future of our...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 21, 2022 | Reptile
Summary: With the right handling, geckos can be engaging, inquisitive, and fun to be around! This article gives you a variety of tips how to change your gecko’s environment to make it more enriching. There are examples of ways to stimulate all their senses and promote...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 21, 2022 | Reptile
Summary: Are snakes not thought to be intelligent because they’re really dumb, or are we making it impossible for them to reach their brainpower potential by forcing them to live in depressing, boring, stressful environments? Very little research exists about how...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 21, 2022 | Working Animals, Working Animal
Summary: The canine nose is the most sophisticated tool we have for detecting odors in real-life environments. As soon as the pandemic hit, researchers started looking at whether dogs could be trained to detect if a person is infected with the COVID-19 virus. One year...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 21, 2022 | Dog
Summary: Visiting the veterinarian is likely to be among the most stressful things a dog is regularly asked to do. With stress comes risk, not only of aggression towards staff and caregivers, but also of developing behaviors related to trauma. This article is an...
by IAABC Foundation | Feb 11, 2022 | Shelter
The ASPCA is committed to the evolution and expansion of behavioral care for homeless animals. The organization disseminates knowledge and research through its Learning Lab, an educational program focused on integrating science-based behavioral care into all aspects...
by IAABC Foundation | Jan 13, 2022 | Horse
Summary: Horses suffer when they’re misunderstood, and seen as tools to meet human needs. These sensitive animals are subjected to pain and fear because the humans in their life have not developed a relationship with them based in understanding and compassion. This...
by IAABC Foundation | Jan 13, 2022 | Small Animals
Summary: Of all the species we keep as pets, fish are perhaps the least well-understood and least cared about in terms of their behavioral welfare. Recently, however, scientists have been researching fish cognition and learning that these animals have sophisticated...
by IAABC Foundation | Dec 7, 2021 | General
I am deeply honored to have been offered the role of Executive Director of the IAABC. Thanks to the dedicated service of our prior directors, the IAABC has grown into an organization that has global influence in the animal behavior community. I can’t express how...
by IAABC Foundation | Dec 4, 2021 | Dog
Summary: Housetraining is often one of the first encounters a new dog guardian will have with the realities of animal training. It can also be one of the more stressful. This article explores and offers insights about how a behavior consultant might successfully...
by IAABC Foundation | Dec 2, 2021 | Cat
Summary: Play is an important part of cats’ wellbeing, and in a multi-cat household it can provide exercise and enhance social bonds. Cat guardians should be able to recognize when play is healthy and when it is showing signs of turning into non-play aggression...
by IAABC Foundation | Nov 29, 2021 | Shelter
Summary: A case study of a shelter dog that came from a serious hoarding situation in Southern California. This dog initially showed significant avoidance and fear-based behaviors around unknown people. However, she was highly affiliative with other dogs and whilst...
by IAABC Foundation | Nov 29, 2021 | Exotics
Summary: Bears rescued from the bile industry face a multitude of physical and psychological challenges. Many years of restricted movements and invasive treatment has left the majority of bears with reduced mobility. This article looks at the work done by the staff of...
by IAABC Foundation | Nov 29, 2021 | Shelter
Dr. Lauren Finka is a postdoctoral researcher in animal welfare at the University of Nottingham Trent in the U.K. Her specialization is in feline behavior, particularly in sheltered cats. Dr. Finka recently co-authored a research paper entitled “Providing Humans With...
by IAABC Foundation | Nov 29, 2021 | Cat
Summary: Fosters are often called on to help increase affiliative behaviors, and decrease distance-increasing behaviors in older kittens that are showing signs of being undersocialized. This article explains what this process looks like for kittens who are outside...
by IAABC Foundation | Nov 29, 2021 | Horse
Summary: The equestrian sports part of the the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Modern Pentathlon generated a great deal of public discourse over perceived cruelty, centered around the treatment of a horse called Saint Boy. This article looks at the way that the videos of Saint...
by IAABC Foundation | Sep 17, 2021 | Parrot
Dr. Patricia Anderson, CPBC, was a much-loved and respected member of IAABC, who sadly passed away on July 26th this year. To honor Pat’s contributions to IAABC’s Parrot Division and especially to The IAABC Foundation Journal, we are republishing her...
by IAABC Foundation | Sep 17, 2021 | Cat
Summary: This guide for new feline behavior consultants looks at the value of different types of enrichment, and offers advice on how to increase clients’ willingness to add enrichment to their cats’ lives. It focuses on helping clients visualize potential...
by IAABC Foundation | Sep 17, 2021 | Shelter
Summary: Grief is a natural, unavoidable part of life with dogs. Especially for those of us who work in shelter and rescue. This article is a meditation on grief and the importance of witnessing and remembering the shelter dogs that come and go in the course of our...
by IAABC Foundation | Sep 17, 2021 | Horse
Summary: How counter-conditioning and desensitization was successfully used to change a 21-year-old gelding’s fearful behavior towards clippers. Constructional Approach Training was used as the first part of the behavior modification intervention plan, followed...
by IAABC Foundation | Sep 17, 2021 | Dog
Summary: Communication buttons are becoming popular among dog trainers, especially on social media. This article looks at what these buttons can be successfully used for, and where they might be less useful. It focuses on one story of how the author’s clients...
by IAABC Foundation | Sep 17, 2021 | Shelter
Summary: During the coronavirus lockdowns of 2020, many shelters were able to successfully find fosters and adopters for the dogs in their care as more people wanted to share their homes with a pet. There was also an increase in requests for medical and behavioral...
by IAABC Foundation | Sep 17, 2021 | General, Exotics
Summary: Behavior consultants are well-placed to offer advice to clients if they see signs of poor welfare in any of the pets in their home, not just the ones they have been called in to help. This article outlines the scale of exotic pet-keeping in the United States,...
by IAABC Foundation | Sep 17, 2021 | Dog
Summary: A report on a research study conducted into the relative efficacy of using a clicker paired with a food reward, compared to using food alone. The hypothesis was that the clicker would lead to faster acquisition and that this would be more pronounced on a...
by IAABC Foundation | May 21, 2021 | General
The IAABC Foundation is a new, non-profit charity with the mission of bringing education, events, and community science to both IAABC members and the public alike.The IAABC and the Foundation both support and advance the field of animal behavior consulting, but how...
by IAABC Foundation | May 19, 2021 | Dog
Summary: Behavior professionals and their clients can help animals recover more quickly after a stressful or startling event with intentionally trained “recovery markers.” These cues communicate to an animal that something they find unpleasant, like a...
by IAABC Foundation | May 19, 2021 | Dog
Summary: A deeper understanding of the role of trauma, and the way that experiences of marginalization contribute to trauma, has lead to some paradigmatic shifts in human psychology. Trauma-informed thinking and social justice principles can also inform the way we...
by IAABC Foundation | May 18, 2021 | Working Animals
Summary: After their working careers are over, senior farm dogs are still a vital part of the life of the farm. They’re role models for puppies learning on the job, as well as trusted companions for the humans living and working in this often isolated rural...
by IAABC Foundation | May 18, 2021 | Horse, Shelter
Summary: Horse & Halo is a facility that boards horses on behalf of individuals who currently suffer or have died from a terminal illness. This article looks at the history of this unique sanctuary and the stories of some of the horses and their people that have...
by IAABC Foundation | May 18, 2021 | Horse
Summary: A horse who showed signs of aggression towards humans and other horses becomes worse when corrected with physical punishment and natural horsemanship techniques. As a result, he’s placed in a barren environment with minimal social contact....
by IAABC Foundation | May 16, 2021 | Cat
Summary: As a kitten, Barney’s aggressive behavior was ignored by his family, hoping that Barney would grow out of it. A few years later, when Barney’s family bring home a new foster son, they find themselves unprepared to handle Barney’s behavior...
by IAABC Foundation | May 13, 2021 | Parrot
Summary: As backyard chickens grow more popular as pets, it is important for animal behavior consultants to be able to support chicken caregivers in providing for their behavioral wellbeing, even if they’re being called in to help with a different species. This...
by IAABC Foundation | May 12, 2021 | Dog
Summary: Training deaf dogs can be accomplished with the use of gestures and some creativity. Hand signals as well as facial gestures can be successfully used to train a deaf dog. This article showcases a variety of cued behaviors displayed by a deaf Dalmatian, using...
by IAABC Foundation | May 12, 2021 | General
Summary: Using the knowledge and expertise of a multitude of disciplines makes animal behavior consultants better at what we do. Mixed methods are adaptable to many research designs with numerous method pairings that elucidate more information than can be obtained...
by IAABC Foundation | May 11, 2021 | Cat
Summary: An extremely avoidant, aggressive 7-year-old cat is fostered by a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant. Over months of careful environmental management and the introduction of regular target training, incidences of aggression dramatically decreased until...