In this episode we welcome the remarkable Eva Bertilsson, a behaviour analyst and co-founder of Carpe Momentum, renowned for her pioneering work in animal behaviour and cooperative care. Eva Bertilsson brings a wealth of knowledge to today's discussion, aimed at assisting you, the listener, in navigating the often-stressful challenges of cooperative care, both for you and your clients. Our special guest; Eva Bertilsson, From her humble beginnings at a local dog club to becoming an international ...
Jan 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 219
In the second part of our awesome coversation with Nicky Plaskitt, we delve into a topic that resonates deeply with many of our listeners: overcoming impostor syndrome and growing your confidence in the realm of animal training. We understand that Impostor syndrome can totally be a daunting barrier, often leaving many feeling inadequate and overwhelmed in their journey to become proficient positive reinforcement animal trainers. This feeling is echoed in the recurring discussions among our Anima...
Jan 01, 2024•59 min•Ep. 218
In this episode of our podcast, we're thrilled to welcome Nicky Plaskitt, a seasoned animal care professional and positive reinforcement training subject matter expert. Nicky's journey, which spans over two decades, is a testament to the transformative power of science-based training methods in animal care. Starting in 2000, Nicky embarked on her career in various zoological collections, where she honed her skills in a multitude of roles - from animal keeping to team leadership. In 2021, Nicky t...
Dec 18, 2023•56 min•Ep. 217
In this special archival episode of the Animal Training Academy Podcast, we revisit a gem from our collection - an insightful conversation with the awesome Chirag Patel. Chirag takes us through his early days in the field, sharing the experiences that shaped his unique perspective on animal behaviour and training. A highlight of this episode is Chirag’s explanation of his 'Bucket Game', a fun technique for cooperative care that fosters trust and patience in animals during training sessions. This...
Dec 04, 2023•2 hr 36 min
In this episode of the ATA podcast show, we delve into the dynamic and often challenging world of families juggling the responsibilities of parenting young children and managing their dogs. Our story revolves around families who find themselves overwhelmed by the chaos of a household with toddlers, babies, and pets. The complexity of ensuring safety and harmony for everyone - adults, children, and animals - is a pressing concern that many face daily. Enter Jennifer Shryock, a Certified Dog Behav...
Nov 20, 2023•56 min•Ep. 215
As a listener of the ATA podcast show, we understand how deeply you care about the well-being of the animals you work with. However, at times, your role as a positive reinforcement trainer can feel isolating, stressful, and overwhelming. At ATA, we don't want anyone to feel this way, especially knowing how diligently our listeners strive to make a positive impact on the lives of both animal and human learners they work with. Enter Dr. Kathie Nurena, a human physician and a certified dog trainer....
Nov 06, 2023•54 min•Ep. 214
With the relentless pace of research enhancing our community's insights, how frequently do you reassess the positive impact of your training methods on your animals? Many grapple with bridging the chasm between theory and practice. If you've been there, stressing over how to implement new knowledge, you're not alone - therefore In this episode, you, the dedicated listener, will unravel the subtle layers of one such area - 'assent' in animal training. Meet Your Guide : Hannah D. McGee, a souce of...
Oct 23, 2023•59 min•Ep. 213
It's undeniable that caring for aging animals is a complex task. The unique needs of older animals can sometimes leave you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and even a bit helpless. It's a journey filled with emotions and challenges. Enter our guide for this episode, Debbie Marrin. With over 48 years of professional animal training and management experience, Debbie is the Director of Training and Behavioral Husbandry at the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens. She's been at the forefront of husbandry tra...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 212
At Animal Training Academy , we understand your passion. You're dedicated to mastering your animal training skills using a force-free approach. You're driven by the desire to handle the myriad of challenges that come your way, equipped with a broad knowledge & experience base. But like all of us, there are times you hit rough patches in your training journey. These challenges can sometimes leave you feeling overwhelmed & helpless. It's disheartening, especially when you have so much love and ded...
Sep 25, 2023•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 211
We know you're a passionate trainer, driven by a desire to master animal training skills through a force-free approach. You dream of a world where animals operate from a place of understanding and trust, not fear. Yet, advocating for positive reinforcement, especially when up against those using aversives, isn't straightforward. How can you effectively champion this cause and foster a paradigm shift in the animal training world? Enter Michele Pouliot, your guide in this most recent ATA podcast e...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 210
Welcome, appreciated listener of the ATA podcast show. We know you're eager to master your personal animal training skills using a force-free approach. Moreover, you aim to make a significant positive difference with the work you do! Thus, the challenge isn't solely about honing your training skills, but also about conveying the value of positive reinforcement to others. How do you advocate for positive reinforcement, especially when faced with those who still rely on aversive tools? Such challe...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 209
In this enlightening episode, we've tailored content especially for you, the passionate animal trainer eager to refine your skills. We recognize that, despite your dedication, the path to mastering animal training can sometimes feel overwhelming, filled with complexities and challenges. That's where our expert guest, Jim Mackie , steps in. With over two decades at The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and as their first-ever Animal Behaviour Management Officer, Jim brings a wealth of knowledge ...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 208
Welcome to an inspiring episode of our podcast designed just for you - a passionate listener striving to master your personal animal training skills. We know that you are eager to deepen your understanding and connection with animals. Yet, you may often face challenges that can, at times, lead to feelings of overwhelm and helplessness. But in this episode, get ready to meet your guide, Tabitha Kucera. As a renowned animal behaviour consultant and one of only 30 Veterinary Technician Specialists ...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 207
Animal care professionals stand as advocates in a world where animals and their welfare often remain misunderstood. But sometimes, even the most passionate of us can feel lost and overwhelmed, unable to understand what 'welfare' truly means to these animals. Enter Dr Jill Fernandes, our guest for today's episode. An animal welfare scientist and consultant, Dr Fernandes grew up surrounded by a diverse range of animals, which sparked her curiosity and dedication towards their welfare. She has carv...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr
About the episode; Welcome, animal training enthusiasts! You're tuning in to a unique and exciting episode of our podcast. This time, we're giving you a glimpse behind the mic, revealing the ins and outs of being a podcast host in the fascinating field of animal training. Today's episode features an intriguing discussion from my guest appearance on the TEC Talk podcast from Natural Encounters. This delightful experience was hosted by the passionate and knowledgeable Chris Jenkins and Ari Bailey....
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 205
Here are five crucial takeaways from the research that can be practically implemented by those engaged in the field of scent work: It may be beneficial to let go of pre-existing notions about canine olfaction and relearn everything from the ground up. Your human sense of smell, to a certain extent, might not be drastically different from a dog's. Make sure to enjoy the process. It is vital that your training environment aligns with your real operational setting. Ensure that the odor used for tra...
Jun 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 204
Nicole has been a veterinarian since the late 1980’s and has worked exclusively on companion animal behaviour since 2016. She is a member of the ANZCVS in Veterinary Behaviour and operates a private practice, Animal Sense, for companion animal behaviour issues in Perth, Western Australia. She has been a member of staff at Murdoch University Veterinary school since 2017, teaching the clinical behaviour medicine to undergraduate veterinary students. She loves to pass on knowledge to others through...
Jun 05, 2023•46 min
Nicole has been a veterinarian since the late 1980’s and has worked exclusively on companion animal behaviour since 2016. She is a member of the ANZCVS in Veterinary Behaviour and operates a private practice, Animal Sense, for companion animal behaviour issues in Perth, Western Australia. She has been a member of staff at Murdoch University Veterinary school since 2017, teaching the clinical behaviour medicine to undergraduate veterinary students. She loves to pass on knowledge to others through...
May 22, 2023•53 min
Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor of Companion Animal Behavior and Welfare at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab in the School of Animal Science. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida in the UF Canine Cognition and Behavior Lab and her Masters in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas in the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, she was an Assistant Profes...
May 15, 2023•44 min
Dr. Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D. is a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University. Susan has co-authored chapters on behavior change in five veterinary texts, and her popular articles have been translated into 17 languages. She teaches seminars and courses on animal learning online (How Behavior Works: Living & Learning With Animals), with students from 63 countries so far. Susan also consults with zoos and animal organizations around the world. She was appointed to t...
May 08, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Malena DeMartini, is a Certified Trainer and Counselor (CTC), and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) – She is renowned in the dog training world for her work on canine separation anxiety over more than two decades. Her books, Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs, and Separation Anxiety in Dogs, Next Generation in Treatment Protocols and Practices have helped countless numbers of dogs (and the people that love them). Her online course for guardians called Mission: POSSIBLE has proven to be...
Apr 24, 2023•52 min
Nicole Pfaller-Sadovsky, PhD Bio As a long-time dog owner (since 1994) and a “Dog Trainer Certified According to Animal Welfare and Protection Legislation” (awarded by the Austrian Ministry of Health and the Messerli Research Institute, VetMed Vienna), Nicole founded her own dog training business in 2008, Happy-Fellow® Coaching & Seminars. Since then, she has worked with clients whose dogs display a wide range of problematic behaviours, such as fear-related behaviour, inter- and intraspecific ag...
Apr 10, 2023•55 min
Nicole Pfaller-Sadovsky, PhD Bio As a long-time dog owner (since 1994) and a “Dog Trainer Certified According to Animal Welfare and Protection Legislation” (awarded by the Austrian Ministry of Health and the Messerli Research Institute, VetMed Vienna), Nicole founded her own dog training business in 2008, Happy-Fellow® Coaching & Seminars. Since then, she has worked with clients whose dogs display a wide range of problematic behaviours, such as fear-related behaviour, inter- and intraspecific ag...
Mar 27, 2023•57 min
Matt Beisner (CPDT-KA, LFDM-T), is the founder of THE ZEN DOG, and host of “Dog: Impossible” on Disney+. Matt is dedicated to humanely helping dogs and their humans learn how to better connect with one another. He believes that there are "no bad dogs", and works to support positive behaviour change rather than rely on fear, force or commands for control. “What’s good for a dog is good for the world,” says Matt, who also serves as an ambassador of the Texas Humane Network. He and his wife Brookli...
Mar 13, 2023•45 min
Mary earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in behaviour analysis from the University of North Texas. She consults with people and their pets, working mainly with dogs and horses. In addition, Mary teaches online courses for professional animal trainers and others interested in the science of behaviour through her company, Behavior Explorer. Mary has taught classes at the University of North Texas as an adjunct instructor. Her interest in ...
Mar 06, 2023•56 min
Alexis Davison - Bio Alexis has been a professional dog trainer since 2001 and began developing Un-Chase!® in 2012 to help clients and students seeking solutions to their dogs’ chasing behaviours. Since then, she has helped countless dog lovers curb their dogs’ chasing behaviours and shared her innovative approach with dog training professionals all over the world. Training Credentials Alexis is a nationally accredited Dog Behavioural Trainer with a Certificate IV in Dog Behavioural Training, a ...
Feb 27, 2023•54 min
Alexis Davison - Bio Alexis has been a professional dog trainer since 2001 and began developing Un-Chase!® in 2012 to help clients and students seeking solutions to their dogs’ chasing behaviours. Since then, she has helped countless dog lovers curb their dogs’ chasing behaviours and shared her innovative approach with dog training professionals all over the world. Training Credentials Alexis is a nationally accredited Dog Behavioural Trainer with a Certificate IV in Dog Behavioural Training, a ...
Feb 13, 2023•51 min
Nicolette Canzoneri has a Masters of Science in Environmental Sciences, focusing on free-choice learning and behaviour change. Her thesis, Theory of Action for Pro-Environmental Behavior Change at Zoos and Aquariums , uncovered gaps in program design and implementation where zoos targeted conservation-focused behaviour change in their human zoo visitors. These gaps Nicolette discovered were common for many AZA-accredited institutions and served as the basis for creating her new venture EnvARK. N...
Jan 30, 2023•50 min
Bex and her family live on a small farm in beautiful Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Under her business Positively Together, Bex teaches humans in NZ and around the world how to inspire behaviour change in their horses and dogs. In addition, Positively Together hosts classes where youth can experience the power of positive reinforcement and see learning and communication in action, as they work hands-on with friendly trained sheep, horses, chickens, dogs, cows, pigs and more. Bex is a KPA Certified ...
Jan 16, 2023•1 hr 3 min
When standing in front of a giraffe training partner, Amy is acutely aware of how lucky she is to have been surrounded by such amazing people and animals throughout her life. All of those people have led her to her current role, which is the Senior Animal Behaviorist for the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe. The organization is run by the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and partners with Dr. Susan Friedman and The Behavior Works Team. She's dabbled in field research, veterina...
Jan 02, 2023•56 min
