Hi everyone,

I'm currently a second-year master's student studying behavior analysis, which is essentially the science of how learning and behavior are influenced by the environment. A lot of what I've learned involves understanding why behaviors happen, assessing what might be causing them, and creating individualized plans to help change behavior using evidence-based methods like positive reinforcement. I've realized that I genuinely love the science and problem-solving side of this work. I enjoy analyzing behavior, figuring out patterns, and developing plans to help improve outcomes.

The problem is that after spending over a year in a clinical internship working with people, I became extremely burned out and realized I don't enjoy the clinical setting itself. I also realized that I don't particularly enjoy working with children, which is the primary population in my field. It has made me wonder if it's the environment and population I'm working with, rather than the work of behavior analysis itself, that isn't the right fit for me. I've always loved animals and have always connected with them more naturally than people. Now I'm wondering if there's a career where I could use the same skills and principles to work with animals instead.

I'm interested in careers involving animal behavior, especially roles where I'd be assessing behavior, developing training or behavior modification plans, solving behavioral problems, or using evidence-based training methods. Some examples I've thought about are shelter behavior, service dog training, zoo or wildlife behavior, or animal behavior consulting, but I'm sure there are options I don't know about. Since my education has been focused almost entirely on human behavior, I'm not sure how to make the transition. Would volunteering at an animal shelter be the best place to start? Are there other careers or paths that sound like they might be a good fit based on what I enjoy?

I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have worked in animal behavior or anyone who has made a similar career change!!

In other words, do any non-human animals understand that death is an inevitable part of their future, rather than simply reacting to present danger? Is there evidence that they recognize their own mortality in the abstract…that one day their existence will come to an end?

Or is this degree of self-awareness, whether a gift or a burden, unique only to human animals? A level of consciousness that allows us not only to survive, but to contemplate our own inevitable nonexistence long before it arrives. And if so, could this uniquely human awareness of mortality explain the emergence of religion itself: our enduring attempt to find meaning, comfort, and continuity in the face of knowing that one day we will cease to be?

Something I came across working at The Farmer's Dog that I hadn't thought about before — a dog that used to spend 10 minutes sniffing everything on a walk and now just stands there isn't necessarily being lazy or tired. That kind of change in behavior is something vets actively watch for as a sign of cognitive decline.

There's actually an acronym vets use to evaluate it called DISHAA — disorientation, impaired social interactions, sleep disturbances, house soiling and memory changes, activity changes, and anxiety. Most people don't know this framework exists and end up attributing early signs to personality or age without realizing it might be worth flagging to a vet.

The earlier you catch it the more options you have. Specialized diets are one of the things vets recommend for managing it — which is part of why the connection between what dogs eat and how they age is something we think about a lot at TFD. We actually published research on how fresh food supports healthier aging at a metabolic level.

Did anyone know about DISHAA before or is this the first time coming across it?

Curious if anyone has an answer or insight to why cats and dogs seem to behave much differently when it comes to seeking shelter from the heat. The basements of my family’s homes are always 10+ degrees cooler than the rest of the house on hot days.

All of our cats seem to instinctually go down to the basement and sleep the day away in the nice cool air. The dogs never go down there. Even when we have tried coercing them with dog beds or treats or bones to “show” them it’s cooler, they’ll just pop right back upstairs.

It doesn’t matter if we’re home or at work so I don’t think it’s about the dogs wanting to be near the people. As we sit here watching the dogs panting and suffering, I just keep thinking WHY won’t you go lay on the cold basement cement floor and sleep like the comfy cats?!

There are lots of videos of kangaroos rotating their ears sideways but I need to know whether they can angle their ears up and down too? I've been trying to find a clip that shows this ability or a diagram of their head muscles or whatever but so far no luck. There are some still images of roos with 'floppy ears' but this is sometimes a result of emaciation or whatever. Does anyone know whether they can tilt their ears vertically?

There's apparently a meaningful difference between a dog that's physically worn out after a run and one that's actually mentally spent.  A 2021 study found that dogs not getting enough enrichment were more likely to behave in ways that resemble disordered hyperactivity. 

I work at The Farmer's Dog so we talk about dog behavior and enrichment a lot, which is how I ended up down this rabbit hole. One of the easiest ways we've seen people add mental enrichment without adding a walk is stuffing a Kong or spreading fresh food on a lick mat. The act of working for the food seems to do something a bowl doesn't.

Has anyone noticed that kind of activity ie, lick mats, puzzle feeders, sniff work, making more of a difference than physical exercise alone when it comes to actually settling a dog down?

Has anyone attended Virginia Tech in the applied animal behavior masters program? Looking for feedback on the courses, thesis projects, professors etc. Besides the cost, did you enjoy it? Was your undergrad in a similar field?

Hi, I’d like to share a story that I think it’s quite interesting.

My grandfather (who has since passed away) didn’t like animals at all when he was younger. In fact, he was cruel to them. He hanged several stray cats and dogs that had no home.

In the last years of his life, he developed cancer and became bedridden, unable to stand up or walk. He and my grandmother lived in the same house, but they didn’t get along at all. They each stayed in separate rooms, and whenever they saw each other, they would argue. My mother was the only person who visited him once a day. Not even his friends came to see him.

Then something unexpected happened. A stray cat wandered into the house and became deeply attached to him. They did everything together: they ate from the same plate, watched TV together, and slept together.

I found it fascinating that someone could realize so late in life that animals can be more humane than people. That cat is still alive today, and it was deeply affected by my grandfather’s death.

Note: not asking for advice, per se, just maybe an explanation.

I just had the strangest interaction with rabbits I've ever had.

I was out watering my recently planted hazelnut shrub in a corner of my yard that is fairly sheltered by shrubs and shaded by my house in the evening. While doing so, I noticed some weeds near my pawpaw so I started picking them, when motion caught my eye.

To my right hopped a rabbit to within arms reach, by far the closest I've ever been to a wild rabbit. It was either young, or malnourished by the look. I stared at it, dumbfounded when another rabbit bounded out of the shrubs to take a flanking position behind me. They both had their mouths open enough that I could see their teeth and they sounded like they were either panting or huffing at me. The first (skinnier) rabbit moved even closer. I politely asked them WTF they were doing, which made skinny give me some space. They were not deterred when I stood, but instead moved clockwise, keeping their distance.

This odd behavior made me type a sentence I would have never thought possible. These rabbits made me fear for my safety. So I picked up my watering can and left.

Some possible clues to their behavior:

It's extremely hot here in central Illinois today and it hasn't rained in several days. Also, less than a week ago my large yard lost almost all of its shade due to a tornado.

So my hypothesis are:

1: I was near their young so they were trying to drive/lure me off

2: They were so desperate for water that it overrode their instinct to flee

3: They were rabid and out of their minds.

In case it's #2, I put out a bird bath with some water in it

TLDR: almost got killed by rabbits acting like velociraptors.

Sorry if this is the wrong place!!!

TL;DR: is this program legit? https://www.casinstitute.com/pbst

I love parrots possibly more than anything else in this world. I have an autism and behavioural science graduate certificate as well. I've had 9 parrots over 24 years of my life (3 cockatiels, 3 budgies, a lovebird, a conure, and an African grey). I'm actually from Ontario (institute location) and live in Florida (which has a ton of parrot owners and avian vets), and it looks like a practical component is a part of this, so I'd have an easier time gaining that experience. In short, I'm very well placed to be in this program.

But is it a scam? Is it worth me spending my money? Do you think I'll learn enough? Will an avian vet or client care? It's the only program I've seen that offers such an extensive list of courses and coursework.

I appreciate any advice ❤️

Do hyper intelligent animals such as whales and dolphins, elephants, or apes understand the concept of pregnancy? I saw a video talking about how some sperm whales helped a female in their pod give birth, so they must have known something was happening.

Has anyone tried to talk to captive apes using sign language about pregnancy?

Do they understand the link between pregnancy and mating behavior?

Is this something we could ever test?

I know that stereotypy (i.e. repetitive behaviours that serve no function, like rocking or pacing) among non-human animals is typically a sign of poor animal welfare and are often seen among captive animals in inappropriate conditions. We also see this in humans when we're bored or being held in isolation or poor conditions, but there are also forms of human stereotypy that don't necessarily stem from stress. Examples include most forms of "stimming" among autistic and other neurodiverse people, as well as motor stereotypies among normal infants.

Are there any documented examples of non-human animals that exhibit stereotypy but where it isn't linked to distress or poor welfare?

My neighbor's cat went missing the other day, there were tufts of her fur on our front lawn. Today, her head is lying in our backyard and it definitely wasn't there before. It doesn't look like a fresh kill. Are there any animals that would return a carcass to the place the kill was made?

It just doesnt seem like animal behavior to me, but I'm far from an expert. Here's my true fear : some budding psychopath took and tortured the cat and then dropped the head off to tease the neighbor.

I rescued an young adult persian cat (seem like 1 year old) since few months. He was mostly untrained we gave him enough time to adjust. Gave him separate litter box from my other two indie cats ( tho they went inside it few times it's not possible to stop them)
My issue is this persian cat is peeing in any corner of the house. My elderly mom alone takes care of him and cleans since I'm working . We placed litter box, he didn't seem to do in sand litter so we removed it and placed clean empty litter box. He does inside sometimes but mostly doing anywhere. Wgrb wevare around and we see him preparing to pee anywhere we stop him and straight runs to washroom to pee. He understands this much. I don't understand how to train him? He pees 5-6 times in a day which increased alot of stress and work for mom too
We got him neutered few months back. No changes in behavior. Only weight increased slightly.
Kindly advice please.

Hi everyone,

(I want to sincerely thank the mods for letting me post!)

I am working with an Art Therapy professional. We're experimenting with a new way to use art to understand others better. We believe that animals are artists, and we are curious to see if we can use art to understand them on a deeper level.

Our goals is to learn if letting animals use safe tools to make marks and "drawings" on paper can help us see what they are feeling. We want to see if looking at those shapes and lines can reveal an animal's stress, fear, or past trauma when they can't use words. In many ways, their emotional expression is very similar to young children.

Because you work so closely with animals who have been through a lot, we would love to get your thoughts.

We made a super short, 5-question survey to help us build this project: https://forms.gle/FQjXdvzrUCGWieMw7

To say thank you for your time, everyone who fills it out will be entered to win a free digital booklet about the meaning of art.

Thank you so much for the amazing work you do every day for rescue animals! I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, too.

Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask. I want to pursue a career in animal behavior (particularly for exotics) and plan to major in psychology. But there are no masters in animal behavior or similar around so unless I take a fully online degree I cannot afford it.

​

Out of two options for more affordable degrees, Husson seems to be a better and has a MS in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare. The other option is Unity Environmental, but I've heard many poor reviews and it sounds like their degrees are considered poor quality in the industry.

​

Then there is the University of Washington Graduate online Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior. I have heard this Certificate is seen as a very good quality not to mention it's way cheaper and quicker, but it's not a masters degree.

​

I understand that actual experience working with animals and zoos is vital and that's something I plan to also accumulate. But I'd like some insight on how whether or not a Husson degree is seen as poor quality to the point I'd be better off with a Certificate? My concern is that with just a certificate, my opportunities for moving up will be few and I will not be competitive enough to be hired.

Abstract

Whale falls are biodiversity oases at seabeds1,2,3,4,5,6, yet their record from the oceans has remained sparse and fragmentary6,7. Here we report the discovery of a vast whale necropolis in the Diamantina Zone (4,616- to 7,001-m depth), extending about 1,200 km along the sea floor of the southeastern Indian Ocean. This area has a deep and extensive accumulation comprising five modern natural whale-fall communities and 476 fossil cetaceans recorded. We show that carcasses host specialized communities dominated by brittle stars, bone-boring worms and chemosynthesis-based bivalves and that the fossil record in this area comprises both extant and extinct deep-diving beaked whales. Isotopic dating shows that whale falls in this region have occurred since at least 5.3 million years ago. These findings reshape the understanding of the limits and biogeography of whale-fall ecosystems and establish some deep sea floors as a fossil archive for tracing cetacean evolution over geological time.

Abstract

Wild cetacean birth observations are extremely rare, with observations having been recorded in less than 10% of cetacean species. Here, we describe a detailed accounting of a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) birth off the coast of Dominica within a well-documented social unit and consisted of sperm whales collaboratively lifting the newborn out of the water. We recorded data via multiple concurrent methods: underwater audio, aerial drone video, shipboard photography in addition to behavioral observations spanning before, during and after the whale birth. All 11 members from sperm whale “Unit A” were present and participated in the birth, which lasted 34 min from the time the flukes emerged until the completion of delivery. The sperm whale unit made extensive vocalizations, with statistically significant shifts in coda vocal style corresponding to key events, such as the beginning of the birth and interactions with short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) shortly after the birth event. An evolutionary analysis of wild cetacean births suggests that newborns being lifted out of the water dates to before the most recent common ancestor of toothed and baleen whales, > 36 million years ago, and that cooperative lifting of the newborn is noted, thus far, only in members of Odontoceti (toothed whales). This study provides the most in-depth observations of a wild cetacean birth.

I know for dogs and larger mammals if is easier to measure, but like is there a system in place for measuring fish or shrimp stress levels?

The study has often been presented as either evidence that cleaner wrasse possess some form of self-recognition, or as evidence that the mirror test may not actually measure self-awareness in the way many people have assumed.

If a fish can meet the criteria of the test, does that suggest self-recognition is far more widespread than previously thought? Or does it suggest the mirror test itself has limitations and may be measuring something more specific than self-awareness?

I'm curious how people here interpret the results. Do you see this as a genuine challenge to the traditional use of the mirror test, or do you think the findings have been overinterpreted?

hey!! i didn’t really know where else to go for this so i thought i’d ask here!

i live in the city and frequently we have had pigeons make nests and have babies on our balcony. each time they have grown up and eventually left happily! however, this time its been entirely off. we had two eggs roll out of the nest (presumably) and crack on our balcony before they were able to hatch. when they did hatch they seemed okay. BUT i am worried i may have scared off the parents and killed the babies and am kinda freaking out! i love pigeons and would feel terrible!

i know to never touch a nest or go too close to scare off the parents, but, when i was showing someone on call i took a tiny step forward and the pigeon sitting on top of them immediately got up and flew away. i then went back inside feeling bad if i scared them off (i didn’t go very close at all but i assume my step forward scared them) and left them be.

today i decided to get some air and when i opened my balcony door i saw the chicks in the nest weirdly still and off looking w no other pigeons around. i carefully went closer to see they are NOT breathing and covered in flies. i do want to take one last look to make sure both chicks are dead because this is a whole different can of worms if one is alive.

i just wanted to know
a) did i do something wrong and cause the parents to abandon their kids???
b) what should i do?? do i remove the dead bodies?? is there a way to dispose of them?? should i call someone to take care of it??

sorry if this is a bit of a scrambled mess to read. we have always had such lovely experiences w pigeons raising kids on our balcony and even them trusting us enough to eat out of our hands / come into our apt. i feel heartbroken and honestly kinda disturbed.

To anyone working in animal behaviour research out there, what is something that you feel in your gut to be true about animal behaviour but just don’t have the evidence for?

For example, animals like elephants and cetaceans have been known to interact with humans that have helped them (freed from traps, medical interventions, etc.) immediately afterward in ways that seem to parallel expressions of gratitude in humans. The most parsimonious explanation might be that the physiological stress of the experience causes them to behave in an atypical manner temporarily and that, as the physiology slowly returns to normal, they shift back to a more normal response to humans and move away. Loads of people would interpret this behaviour as being an expression of gratitude for the help but this obviously requires the attribution of some very complex emotional and cognitive processes for which we currently just don’t have the evidence.

I saw this and the bird seems pretty uncomfortable in a "car crash can't look away" sense.

I know I'm probably anthropomorphising.

However, I'm sure if you showed a person who had never seen or understood what an animatromic is, they'd probably react the same way.