Thinking outside the operant chamber: Assessing barriers to behavior services for dog owners & how applied animal behavior analysis can help
This talk will provide an overview of the field of applied animal behavior analysis and its defining characteristics. We will first review notable highlights of published research with on functional behavior assessments and treatments for dogs. In addition, we will explore new results obtained through a recent nationwide survey study between Monmouth University's Human-Animal Wellness Collaboratory and the Polling Institute assessing the most prevalent and significant behavior issues reported by dog owners as well as percevied barriers to obtaining behavior services. This will include a discussion of opportunities and interests in telehealth and virtual animal behavior services, an assessment of enrichment and training interests and needs, and attitudes toward professional certification of dog trainers and behaviorists. Finally, we will discuss how this information can be used to inform and guide training and enrichment programs and other free behavior services and educational outreach initiatives for community dog owners.