Ran Courant-Morgan,
M.S., Behavior Analysis
Ran began working with dogs professionally in the year 2000. Working with people to help them find success with their dogs is where Ran’s interests in dog and human behavior change happily converge.
I’m Ran! I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst. I have worked to apply the science of behavior in a range of settings, including running individual and group dog training classes, supporting parents in understanding and communicating with their children, helping athletes develop precision and accuracy, training staff and developing organizational processes, and teaching master’s students in behavior analysis. My passion has always been supporting individuals in changing behavior so that they and their families can live their most successful lives, whatever that means for them.
I began working professionally with dogs over 20 years ago, but - unsurprisingly! - my love of dogs began long before that. I began asking for a dog at the age of two, and received one at the age of five. As a child, I crafted complex agility courses in the woods and memorized dog breed books. I would “train” any dog whose owner would agree, teaching my uncle’s dog to jump over low obstacles and my high school teacher’s dog to go into a crate on cue. After a decade working in veterinary medicine, I realized that working in behavior had been the dream all along, and received a Master’s of Science in Behavior Analysis in 2013.
Education
Academic Education
Ran holds a Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis from Simmons College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Technology, and Society from Vassar College.
Conference Presentations
The Effects of Crowding and Visitor Presence on Visitors' Behaviors on a Canine Adoption Floor (Symposium). Presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN. (May 25, 2013)
Continuing Education & Courses
2021
Chill out! Working with Clients on Mat-Relaxation Techniques (Clicker Expo LIVE)
Happy Pills - Kathy Sdao (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Let’s Talk Consulting (Clicker Expo LIVE)
Living Room Games that Supercharge Scent-work Skills (Clicker Expo LIVE)
Muzzle Tov! (Clicker Expo LIVE)
Principles of Applied Ethology (Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB)
Perfect Patterns: How to use patterns to build your puppy’s confidence - Sara Brueske (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
The Conditioned Emotional Response: Is it Really as Sexy as it Sounds? (Clicker Expo LIVE)
This One, Not That One: Discrimination Tasks (Clicker Expo LIVE)
2020
7 Days to a More Confident Dog - Julie Daniels (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Adolescent Sport Dogs - Julie Daniels (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Amy Cook, PhD- The Play Way: Therapeutic Help for Fear, Anxiety and Stress (The Lemonade Conference)
Beyond Diversity and Inclusion: Shifting to Equity and Justice in Behavior Analysis (Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy)
Deb Jones, PhD- Zen and the Art of Impulse Control (The Lemonade Conference)
Hannah Branigan- Close the Loop: Training for Optimal Reinforcement (The Lemonade Conference)
Ken Ramirez- Concept Training: An Introduction & Overview (The Lemonade Conference)
Leslie McDevitt- Making Patterns Out of Lemons: Using the Control Unleashed Pattern Games (The Lemonade Conference)
Mara Velez- Facilitating Safe and “Healthy” Dog Play in Shelters (The Lemonade Conference)
Michele Pouliot- Advanced Platform Training – Beyond the Basics (The Lemonade Conference)
Settle and Stay – for the Cafe! - Sara Brueske (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Steve Dale- Enrichment for Geriatric Dogs and Cats: Discovering the Fountain of Youth (The Lemonade Conference)
Sue Yanoff, DVM -Pain Assessment and Management: What Owner and Trainers Should Know (The Lemonade Conference)
2019
“Come!” Relationship-Strengthening Recall Games - Chrissi Schranz (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Actively Caring for People (E. Scott Geller, PhD)
Countering Counter Surfing - Tania Lanfer (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Effective Supervision; It’s Not Just for Trainees (Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy)
LGBTQ cultural competency: History, Disparity, and Prevalence in Behavior Analysis (New Hampshire Association of Behavior Analysis)
Rapid Skills Training for Parents, Caretakers and Teachers (New Hampshire Association of Behavior Analysis)
Reinforced Variability: Research, Theories, and Applications (Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy)
Shade Whitesel Weekend Seminar - Elements of Spaces in Between (Everett, MA - High Fidelity Dogs)
Six Metaphysical Sources of Reinforcement (Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy)
Social economics: Can pro-social behavior be explained in cost-benefit terms? (Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy)
Teaching Compassionate Care Skills to Behavior Analysts: Identifying Essential Skills and Ensuring Significant Outcomes (Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy)
The Nose Knows: An Introduction to Nosework - Stacy Barnett (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Training and Treating Wholeheartedly: Compassion Practices in the Profession of Behavior Analysis (Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy)
2018 & Earlier - Available on Request
What I’m doing with my dog
My goal for Beacon when I adopted her was to have a hiking buddy and a training pal. Beacon is a fantastic hiker, with excellent recall and a good nose. While we are not formally involved in any sports, we have dabbled in some obedience exercises and a number of Nosework classes. Beacon is currently working on some canine fitness and conditioning goals. She has qualified for a Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced Trick Title through Do More With Your Dog, but has not officially submitted for the certificates (she is too busy sniffing out deer antlers in the woods).
Some of the classes we have completed together include:
Tricks with a Purpose - Sara Brueske (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Teenage Tyrants: Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence - Sarah Stremming (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
TEAM Sports Foundations - Level One - Laura Waudby (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Finding Five - Training for a Busy World - Chrissi Schranz (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Introduction to NW Search Elements - Stacy Barnett (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
