The Dog Behavior Institute Blog
Scope of Competence in Applied Animal Behavior
Even more often, the question of how to become a dog trainer comes to us from people who are currently BCBAs who work with people and want to switch over to working with animals. It can be confusing to figure out how to make a switch in populations; this is especially true in terms of dog training because the field of dog training is unregulated. That is, there is no designated path, degree, or certification that is required to become a behavior analyst who works with dogs. And this is where we start to see problems crop up.
Book Review: Separation Anxiety in Dogs by Malena DeMartini-Price, CTC
DeMartini-Price’s approach to separation anxiety is one that I would love to see replicated across other types of canine behavior problems. It is firmly based in science but individualized to the specific needs of the dog and caregiver(s). Whether or not you are a caregiver who has a dog experiencing separation anxiety, or you are a trainer who takes on separation anxiety cases, I urge you to read this book for a beautiful model on how we can work toward resolution of behavior problems and increase the welfare and quality of life for our dogs.