Animal Behavior Consulting, LLC

02/12/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KdW5nxWoU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Most behavior problems don’t stick around because parrots are “stubborn.”
They stick around because caregivers are missing a few critical variables in understanding what changes behavior.

This Friday, in The Parrot Project, I’m hosting a LIVE Zoom discussion:
Key Concepts in Changing Behavior That Most People Don’t Realize

If you’re dealing with:
• Constant screaming
• Aggression or biting
• Unpredictable behavior
• Regression after making progress
• Hormonal chaos
You need the right framework.

Behavior can change.
I can help you.
You've tried it all? No, you haven't, if I haven't met you yet!

Rocky, the Moluccan in the photo, was advised to be euthanized for aggression. He WAS a parrot misunderstood.

🗓 Friday Night
🎥 Live Group Zoom (interactive – you’re on with me)
🎯 Real behavior strategy.

Comment “PARROT” below, and I’ll send details.

I’m sending details via DM to everyone who commented “Parrot.”
If you don’t see it, please check your message requests folder. You'll know I sent you a DM when I have liked your post. Bear with me. There are a lot of responses and I'm getting to them as fast as I can.

Coffee with the Critters is a free live stream we have on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM EST on The Animal Behavior Center's page. I hope to see you there! ☕️🦜

02/01/2026

Show us your whiskers!

Whiskers might not look tidy to some, but they serve an important purpose.

Each whisker is a sensory hair rooted deep in the skin and surrounded by nerves that help horses detect texture, distance, and movement around their muzzle. They act like a built-in radar system, helping horses find food, judge space, and navigate safely, especially in low light or close contact.

Research across several species, including horses, shows that removing these sensory hairs reduces spatial awareness and can increase hesitation or stress behaviours. Because of this, whisker trimming is now banned under FEI welfare regulations and in several countries, including Germany, France, and Switzerland.

Whiskers aren’t “untidy” they’re functional. They help horses interpret and interact safely with their environment.

And honestly, I think they look better with them! Nature gave them for a reason, and that reason deserves respect.

A polished appearance means little if it comes at the horse’s expense.

02/01/2026

This! Movement is a biological need for our horses.

Turn. Out. Your. Horses.

Not sometimes.
Not when it’s convenient.
Not only when the weather is nice.

Daily turnout is not a luxury or enrichment add on. It is a biological requirement.

Horses evolved to move for most of the day. To walk, graze, socialize, rest, and regulate their nervous systems through motion and choice. When we confine them for long periods, we are not creating calm. We are suppressing natural behaviour.

Lack of turnout is strongly associated with increased stereotypies, gastric ulcers, musculoskeletal strain, heightened reactivity, and what is often mislabeled as “bad behaviour.” These are not training issues. They are welfare issues.

Exercise under saddle does NOT replace free movement. A one hour ride does not undo twenty three hours of restriction. Training does not compensate for unmet needs.

If a horse is “better” when kept in, that is not proof the system works. It is a red flag that the horse is struggling to cope.

Turnout supports physical health, emotional regulation, soundness, and learning. It is one of the most basic forms of harm reduction we can offer.

Turn. Out. Your. Horses.

02/01/2026

Cat people: it is possible to have a cat that loves taking meds! 🍪

My cat, Ripley, takes five medications. Every day. Without them, he would die.

To so many cat parents, the very thought of this is enough to send them into a panic. Not just one pill. Five. It feels impossible, and actually is impossible for a large portion of us. The guilt and despair people must feel when it’s totally possible to prolong your cat’s life, but you physically can’t do the thing.

I don’t have that experience, and honestly this is what I think about most when I’m doubting myself. Ripley begs me for his meds. When the cardiologist added on pill #5, she was concerned. “Do you have any trouble giving meds at home?” When I said, “No, actually he’s going to be thrilled to take more” she wasn’t sure how to respond. But it’s true!

Every night I prepare and consolidate Ripley’s five pills into two capsules. He “helps” me in the process, as you can see in the picture. He is purring, rubbing all over me, and occasionally yelling at me to go faster. If I’m late, he reminds me by jumping on the counter and screaming until I come to the kitchen.

I’m grateful to have the skills and experience to make what could be an extremely stressful, trust-damaging experience for Ripley into his favorite part of the day. I’m lucky to be able to share my training methods with clients every day. I get to fully enjoy the rest of Ripley’s life with him instead of spending it fighting with him.

01/30/2026

Love horses? Interested in joining the New Bolton Center team? 🤔

🌟 Turn your horse-handling skills into a career in advanced . We are hiring a Large Animal Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Technician!

✨ Work with elite veterinarians and radiologists
🐴 Hands-on with horses and cutting-edge technology
🎓 Tuition benefits for you and your family
🩺 Outstanding healthcare & retirement benefits
🏛 Ivy League employer, Forbes Best Large Employer

📍 Kennett Square, PA
💼 Full-time | Competitive pay | Paid training provided

Horse experience required; experience in a hospital setting is a plus.

👉 Apply today: https://bit.ly/468kvSY

For questions, email [email protected]

01/30/2026

🤩

12/09/2025

Positive reinforcement works and strengthens the human animal bond

07/14/2025

For our cat friends! This author knows her stuff about cats!

Are you a bookworm and would like to be a great pet parent too? Then this list is made for you! Find the best books about cat care here.

05/13/2025

Safety tips!

05/09/2025

Parrot friends!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJbpoNkMSNM/?igsh=MWprZzhtY2szMmNsYg==

05/04/2025

Does your horse struggle with standing for the vet or farrier, taking dewormer, receiving injections, loading on the trailer? Are you concerned that your horse is uncomfortable but don’t know where to start looking? Is he/ she all of a sudden spooky or baulking at things that have never worried him before?
Has there been a change in behavior that you and your vet are trying to figure out?
Why not call a board certified animal behaviorist?!
I have years of experience and can help you with horses, dogs, cats, or parrots!

05/03/2025

Horse friends! This is def worth the course, and it’s on sale this weekend $85.
I’m going through it now for a refresher, and it’s very easy to navigate with great video and image examples. 🐎

🐴 Unlock the Secrets Behind Your Horse's Behavior: Learn to Recognize the 24 Indicators of Pain🐴

Is your horse displaying subtle signs of discomfort under saddle?

Many horses appear sound when led in hand but reveal underlying musculoskeletal pain during ridden work—often mistaken for behavioral issues.

Dr. Sue Dyson's groundbreaking research introduces the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), a transformative tool developed over three years and involving over 400 horses, to help identify these often-overlooked signs of pain.

Course Highlights:

Early Detection of Pain: Learn to identify 24 specific behaviors that are at least ten times more likely to occur in horses experiencing pain, allowing for timely intervention before issues become chronic. ​

Comprehensive Learning Materials: Engage with videos, quizzes, downloadable resources, and practical exercises designed to enhance your observational skills and understanding of equine pain indicators. ​

Expert Instruction: Benefit from the expertise of Dr. Sue Dyson, a world-renowned veterinarian and researcher in equine orthopedics, as she guides you through the nuances of the RHpE. ​

Applicable Across Disciplines: Whether you're a horse owner, trainer, veterinarian, or equine professional, this course provides valuable insights applicable to various equestrian disciplines and practices. ​

Enhance Horse Welfare: By accurately identifying signs of discomfort, you can make informed decisions that prioritize your horse's well-being and performance.

Join the community of equine enthusiasts committed to advancing horse welfare through education and understanding.

On sale through the weekend, don't miss out on this unique opportunity to advance your skills to save money, prevent chronic lameness and have a happier, better performing horse.

https://shop.equitopiacenter.com/product/how-to-recognize-the-24-behaviors-indicating-pain-in-the-ridden-horse/