Weekly Livestream

Most Mondays: 11:00 AM Central (Travel Schedule Dependent)

The YOU be the Behavior Consultant livestream broadcasts most Mondays at 11:00 AM Central. If you are a member or on our mailing list you will receive an email reminder the morning of a scheduled livestream.These are super fun interactive events covering a wide range of behavior and training topics. They often feature video clips of animal training with a wide variety of species. Members of Animal Training Fundamentals earn a VERIFIABLE BADGE for watching this content to demonstrate their professional development. The streaming event is hosted on Barbara's YouTube Channel. The recording and any supplemental materials are available afterwards in the Animal Training Fundamentals membership program. Come and get your professional development on!

Members Only! Tower Talk Online Social Gathering

Every Other Tuesday 11:00 AM Central (Travel Schedule Dependent)

Members Log in to get the Zoom link and to see the exact dates. You will also receive an email reminder the morning of a scheduled Tower Talk.

This is an opportunity for members to gather online via Zoom to discuss topics related to animal training and behavioral science. These meetings are informal and not recorded. There is no member requirement to join the discussion. However, we often enjoy enlightening conversations about information that is shaping the animal training industry, including practical application examples, case studies, recent live streams, and course content, as well as training triumphs and overcoming challenges. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know your colleagues who share their diverse backgrounds and knowledge of animal training.

Are you attending the EAZA conference in Paris? You may be interested in adding on this event hosted by the EAZA Academy, featuring instructors from the EAZA Animal Training Working Group

September 29, Paris, France

Trailblazing Trainers: Animal Training Workshop for Zoo Professionals

This workshop is aimed at everyone interested in gaining an understanding of force-free animal training and how to apply it to improve animal welfare.

Learn how animal training can help you improve welfare, simplify husbandry procedures, understand and promote behaviours, provide enriching opportunities, enhance guest experiences, facilitate ground-breaking research and contribute to conservation success. This introductory workshop features hands-on training opportunities, exciting training demos, user-friendly explanations of learning principles, tools to excel at practical application, and lots of video examples to inspire and motivate you.

Join us to learn how to use this important science-based technology to impact animal care for the better.

Space is limited! Register Now

September 29 -October 3, 2026 European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Annual Conference. Paris, France. Barbara will be participating in this event. More info.

Behavioral science is going to have a BIG presence at the EAZA Annual Conference in Paris! 

Throughout the conference, the EAZA Animal Training Working Group and colleagues will be contributing to sessions, workshops, case studies, presentations, a scientific poster, and discussions exploring some of the most exciting developments in animal training and welfare—from new approaches to fear and aggression and a fresh look at long-established training practices to the deep dives into the constructional approach and the rapidly evolving science of genuine choice.

A major highlight will be the plenary “Genuine Choice: The Next Frontier in Animal Welfare and Training,” presented collaboratively by the Animal Training Working Group and Animal Welfare Working Group. This 90 minute deep dive will bring together behavioral science, welfare science, practical applications, case studies, video examples, and some myth-busting to explore what genuine choice really means for the animals in our care.

If you're attending EAZA 2026 in Paris, there will be LOTS of opportunities to join the conversation and explore where the science of animal training is headed next!

November 8-12, 2026 Zoological Association of America Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA. More info.

ZAA Annual Conference – Animal Training Committee Session

Barbara will be presenting as part of the ZAA Animal Training Committee Session at this year’s annual conference. The session will open with distinguished behavior scientist Dr. T. V. Joe Layng, whose presentation will establish a scientific foundation for talks exploring applications of these concepts in zoological settings.

Barbara will present “Transforming Fear and Aggression: Applying Negative Reinforcement Within a Constructional Framework—A Case Study with a Black Bear,” highlighting the practical application of emerging behavioral science to an animal training and welfare challenge.

She will also present a poster based on the recently published peer-reviewed paper “The Constructional Approach to Zoo Animal Training: Enhancing Welfare Through Emerging Evidence-Based Behavioral Science.” Download the paper