Pet behaviorists Behavior analysts are finding new careers as pet behavior consultants. Owners sometimes think their cat or dog is stubborn or defiant. But owners may be reinforcing the behavior they d like to get rid of, or punishing the behavior they actually want.
Behavior analysis offers insights and alternatives to such situations.
A behavioral intervention for the dog that jumps on visitors may consist of reinforcing the behavior of sitting on a mat while being greeted. Cat problems may call for simple changes in the environment. The new behavioral technology is also popular with pet owners, especially dog owners, trainers, and competitors. Shaping behavior in pets, as in dolphins, requires the use of a marker signal to identify the desired behavior as it occurs. It is catching on fast in the US, Canada, and many other countries.