What is positive reinforcement

and Applied Behavior Analysis?

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Positive reinforcement is a specific teaching method based on the process of reinforcing good behavior rather than punishing unwanted behavior to modify and or teach behaviors. The term positive reinforcement is loosely used by some trainers who knowingly or unknowingly use aversives in varying forms, therefore it's important to choose an animal behavior consultant who is knowledgeable and truly adheres to the principles of positive reinforcement.

Why professional behavior 

consultation is so important

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Even the most knowledgeable animal 􏰔􏰕􏰆􏰐􏰂􏰃􏰆􏰈􏰊􏰀􏰆􏰖􏰊􏰄􏰈􏰂􏰊􏰇􏰋􏰌􏰃􏰐

guardian may find their companion animal's 

unwanted behavior too challenging to 

manage.

 

Unintentional training mistakes can potentially cause rebound effects and escalate the

original unwanted behavior and/or create 

new unwanted behaviors. Uneducated and failed attempts to modify an animal's behavior can often lead to 

the animal's homelessness, rehoming, and even euthanasia. 

 

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Holistic Animal

Teaching 

 

Empower and Inspire

 

Although the term “trainer” is an acceptable term, I personally feel uncomfortable using it. My philosophy about behavior modification is to empower and inspire animals rather than to dominate and disempower them.  I believe the words “teach” and “teacher” more appropriately express how I work with animals.

 

It’s often difficult for people to understand the “empowerment” philosophy because it seems contradictory to the traditional thought that we must dominate an animal to achieve results. This is especially true with animals people view as aggressive or “out-of-control”.  However, animals who believe they are in charge of their own lives and allowed to make their own independent decisions, are happier and more confident. Happy, confident animals are easier to teach and they learn faster.  

With professional assistance, animal 

guardians can more successfully modify 

unwanted behaviors