If you've ever found yourself stuck in a training session thinking "why isn't this working?", the answer might not be your mechanics, your timing, or even your reinforcer. It might be that you never clearly defined what you're actually training for. Let's talk about why clarity...
Coercion. It’s a tough word. It can bring up ideas of force or even harm — and it’s not always easy to look at directly. But the truth is, most of us have used coercion in our training without even realizing it. It shows up...
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...
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...
Avian Behavior International held its first ever animal training retreat at the beginning of February, and boy, was it an incredible week! Guests came from all over to hone their skills and learn brand new ones, working with our farm animals (miniature donkeys and mini...