This badge signifies the completion of the course “We’ve Always Done It This Way”: Why Animal Training Gets Stuck — and How We Move Forward.

The most dangerous phrase in the animal profession isn’t a command—it’s “We’ve always done it this way.” In this course, we unpack barriers that keep animal care professionals clinging to outdated training practices, from the behavioral trap of “sunk cost” to the organizational pressures that punish innovation. We explore why even the most dedicated trainers struggle to let go of tradition and how fear, peer pressure, and identity protection create a resistance to change. But we don’t just identify the problem; we map out the solution. We discuss how to build a culture that promotes curiosity over conformity, the evolving responsibility of trade organizations, and how we can shift from rigid recipes to flexible, evidence-based frameworks that actually move the needle for animal welfare.

This course takes 1 hour to complete.