Choice and control are really buzzy words in animal training. Here’s the thing about how we use them in animal training: it sounds really nice in a conference slide or an Instagram caption. But when you’re out there in the aviary or standing in front...
When we talk about giving effective feedback, what we’re really talking about is how we communicate as trainers, mentors, and leaders in the animal training space. What does it look like when we’re working together as a team, making sure we’re heading in the right...
If you've spent any time in the world of animal training, you've probably heard a lot about operant conditioning—reinforce what you want, ignore or replace what you don’t. But what if there’s a better way? A way that doesn’t just focus on controlling behavior, but...
If you had to guess, what percentage of the population finds statistics as their favorite subject to learn about? Most studies suggest that statistics and other forms of math are our least favorite subjects. Thinking in abstract terms is HARD, which does not bode well...
In the human world, questions about the ethics and efficacy of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and linear training methods often arise. Are these approaches inherently cruel, or do they depend on how they're applied? These questions have led to how we look at working with...
In bird training, mastering impulse control and wait cues is invaluable, as it helps ensure birds can engage with their surroundings safely and with patience. Whether it’s teaching a bird to stay calmly on a station or to wait for a cue before moving, these...
We officially kicked off our first ever Chicken Challenge Workshop last week, and chicken training has rapidly become one of our favorite parts of the day. Chicken training using choice-based techniques offers a unique blend of behavioral science, skill development, and adaptability. It challenges trainers...
Over the years, my team and I have learned that while fly offs can be daunting, they also offer unparalleled opportunities for growth and learning in bird training. Fly offs happen for many different reasons, and it’s important to assess what you can and can’t...
There is a very well known debate in psychology as to whether nature or nurture informs our behavior. It turns out, this debate is common among animal behavior scientists as well. It turns out, both nature and nurture, or ethology and learning history, inform the...
At our recent AvOCET conference, attendees were treated to an enlightening presentation by Sean Will and Maasa Nishimuta, founders of the Constructional Approach to Animal Training. Their talk focused on incorporating function-based training and degrees of freedom into modern animal training practices. What is function-based training...