My target audience is companion animal owners and caretakers, animal trainers, veterinarian clinics, veterinary technicians, zoo trainers and curators, wildlife rehabilitation education staff and trainers, universities, pet groomers, pet sitters, and those interested in training animals, caring for animals, and modifying and understanding behavior through the least invasive approaches using approaches in Applied Behavior Analysis and positive reinforcement.
I can travel to your location and give presentations of any length and workshops that last from 1-3 days. If you are interested in hiring me to speak at your location, present via teleconference, give behavior and training demonstrations, or give a workshop, please contact me. Keep an eye on our Events for upcoming presentations here at the center and internationally. My areas of expertise are animal behavior, training, and enrichment.
Teleconferencing
Lara Joseph is now available for online teleconferences with your organization at the click of a mouse. She has an easy-to-use platform where she can present, lecture, and answer questions for universities, animal groups, organizations, and conferences.
Each presentation is customized to your organization or audience. The audience will be able to interact with her in real time with two-way monitoring where the audience can see and interact with her and she can see and interact with the audience.
To schedule a teleconference or receive more details, contact Lara.
Some of her speaking topics are, but not limited to:
Understanding Animal Behavior
In order to understand how to modify behavior, we need to identify the reinforcers behind why the behavior exists in the first place. Once we can accurately identify reinforcers, which are so much more than food, the understanding of the tools needed to change these behaviors need to be understood and implemented as well. Punishers, aversives, and schedules of reinforcement all need to be understood in order to change undesired behaviors and maintain or develop desired behaviors. This is a foundation presentation that should be attended by everyone interested in behavior, animals, and working with behavior. Numerous examples are given to be sure even the novice of experts learns to think outside the box in numerous situations. This presentation is visually enriched with numerous videos, photos, and situations to analyze.
The Three C’s of Animal Enrichment
Enrichment is an arousal of the senses. It is for all of us. Enrichment is how we learn through manipulation and experience. Enrichment can be so much more than toys, but toys are great occupiers of time, especially when we can’t be with or training the animal at all times. Enrichment comes in many forms from toys, training, foraging, exercise and more. Enrichment can become boring when predictable which is why incorporating the choice into enrichment such as training and variety is important. In captive or kept environments animals’ choices are often limited. They don’t have to be. There are numerous ways to increase the animal’s choice no matter what size enclosure they are in, including our house. Simplicity and predictability can lead to many abnormal repetitive behaviors, also known as stereotypical behaviors. Enrichment needs to shape mental and physical change through incorporating change and complexities. The three C’s of enrichment are why they are a large part of all of my behavior modification plans.
Training Education Animals for Wildlife Programs
Many of us training and working with program or education animals know the importance for either taking them on educational programs or showing them on exhibit. A stressed animal may or may not be evident to the common public but the stress doesn’t need to be. In this presentation, Lara shows how to pick the right candidate for programs and for exhibit. She also shows where to begin the training using positive reinforcement training and learning theory in easy, understandable terms for any educator. Lara has years of experience in training an array of species for educational programs and different ideas and approaches in training through off contact for the animals on exhibit. This presentation was well received with great feedback from the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
Building Relationships Through the Cage Bars
Studies show that if you are actually using positive reinforcement training, it is the animal’s preferred form of enrichment. Positive reinforcement training is the best way to build relationships and rebuild relationships whether the goal is getting the animal out of the cage or for shifting the animal from one location to the other. In this presentation, Lara explains where to begin and the steps in working and training animals through off contact training, moving to protective contact training, and continued work with the animal once the cage bars are removed if the safety of both handler and the animal are the best decision. Many times labels such as aggressive, hormonal, and unpredictable lead many to the conclusion working with the animal is a lost cause. Lara presents and uses application in behavior analysis and positive reinforcement training with an array of animals from fish, giraffe, alligators, raptors, parrots, and primates. This presentation is heavy on photo and video showing the steps with numerous animals.