Many people have behavior concerns with animals, either in their homes or where they work. I'm often contacted on issues relating to problem ... Read More
Blog
How Training Birds Elevates Animal Trainers
If situations didn't bring us challenges, how would we learn? Challenges and complexities are positive reinforcers for me. It is for these reasons ... Read More
Resource Guarding; what is it and why does it happen?
Resource guarding refers to a behavior where an animal exhibits protective or possessive actions over an item, a space they consider valuable, and ... Read More
The Importance of Empowering Animals Through Change
With stagnant environments comes behavior concerns such as excessive barking, continual screaming, abnormal repetitive behaviors, and so much more. ... Read More
The Role of Enrichment with Behavior Concerns
Studies show that most animal enclosures lack problem-solving skills. Providing enrichment is not an option; it is a must in the quality of care we ... Read More
Why Focus On Enrichment?
Enrichment isn't an option; it's a necessity What is enrichment? I’ve always described enrichment as an arousal of the senses. There are five ... Read More
The Severity of Separation Anxiety
I'm sitting in my hotel room in downtown Columbus, Ohio. I'm a few blocks away from Ohio State University, where I was asked to collaborate and give a ... Read More
Separation Anxiety in Different Species of Animals
In this episode of Coffee With The Critters, I talk about the many levels of separation anxiety in different species of animals, including parrots, ... Read More
Meet Sam, the Blind Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrot
About a month ago I was asked to spend a day putting training plans together for the staff that takes care of 200 parrots at A Helping Wing Parrot ... Read More
The Hardest Animal to Train
Many times I am asked, "What is the hardest animal you have ever trained?" My answer may surprise you, then maybe not. It's not a certain species. My ... Read More
Do Animals Have Emotions?
Imagine, what would life be without emotions? Emotions are a state of consciousness that coincide with physiological changes. Our emotions affect mood ... Read More
My top 10 Checklist for Healthy Animal Behavior
The new year is here! Many people don't like this time of year because the days are short and cold. The nights are long and linger. I LOVE this time ... Read More