Libsyn Directory

Laura Perkins - Laura Perkins Animal Behavior [Episode 26]

Release Date: 11/03/2022

Emma Cook: Nurturing Confidence in Canine Care [Episode 45]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

Welcome to another episode of the Making Ripples podcast, where we explore the journeys and insights of the amazing trainers that make up the Animal Training Academy Membership. In this episode, we are thrilled to host Emma Cook, a progressive dog groomer and trainer from Adelaide, South Australia. Emma, the heart behind The Funky Foxhound, shares her compassionate approach to dog grooming and training, where each session is tailored to the needs of dogs who find grooming challenging. Emma delves into her personal and professional journey, illustrating how her childhood experiences shaped her...

Cows, Canines, and Compassion with Dr. Rabea Christmann [Episode 44]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

In this insightful episode of Making Ripples, host Shelly Wood welcomes Dr. Rabea Christmann, a distinguished biologist and passionate advocate for animal welfare from Germany. With a rich background in search and rescue dog work and a pioneering force in farm laboratory animal welfare, Dr. Christmann shares her journey towards enhancing animal lives through positive reinforcement and enrichment activities. Diving into the heart of animal training, Dr. Christmann elaborates on her innovative approaches to cooperative care training across a variety of farm animals, including chickens, sheep,...

From Porcupines to Pooches: Zara Jackson's Training Tales [Episode 43]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

In this episode, we delve into the multifaceted world of animal behavior with Zara Jackson, a distinguished expert in the field. Zara takes us through her inspiring journey, from her early days working at a zoo to launching a successful dog training business. Zara shares invaluable insights into the complexities of working with a variety of animal species, emphasising the importance of recognising individual differences and the challenges they present. Zara offers practical advice for those aspiring to work with animals, highlighting the benefits of education, volunteering, and internships....

A Nose for Growth: Jess Ghali's Evolution in Animal Care [Episode 43]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

In this insightful episode of the 'Making Ripples' podcast, hosted by Shelly Wood of the Animal Training Academy, we dive into the multifaceted world of animal training with our esteemed guest, Jess Ghali. Jess, hailing from Marulan, Australia, brings a wealth of experience from her journey in the field of animal care and training. Jess, who transitioned from aspiring to be a zookeeper to becoming a dog trainer, and eventually a specialist in nosework, shares her unique story of resilience and adaptation. We explore the highs and lows of her career, including her pivot from general...

Kimberly Lundy: Soaring Success in Training Birds of Prey [Episode 42]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

Join host Shelley Wood on The Making Ripples Podcast Show as she delves into the fascinating world of bird of prey training with Kimberly Lundy from the Ojai Raptor Center. Based in Ventura, California, Kimberly's journey from volunteer to lead trainer exemplifies her commitment to avian welfare and innovative training methods. This episode offers a glimpse into the transformative shift towards empowerment training at the center, a change that Kimberly played a crucial role in during the pandemic shutdown. This episode is rich with stories, challenges, and successes in avian training. Kimberly...

Cynthia Minden: The Heart & Science of Donkey Training [Episode 41]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

Venturing into the world of training a different species - like donkeys - often presents a mix of complexity and stress as we attempt to adapt our existing skills to unfamiliar territory. Therefore, this episode, featuring our special guest, Cynthia Minden, aims to shed light on these challenges. Cynthia is a passionate advocate for positive reinforcement and a seasoned donkey trainer. In this episode, she shares her valuable insights and experiences to guide and inspire us. Cynthia's story begins in 2002 when two donkeys arrived unexpectedly at her farm on Denman Island, BC. This marked the...

Understanding Rabbits: A Chat with Thea Harting [Episode 40]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

Synopsis: Animal Training Academy's Special Rabbit Episode For those dedicated to elevating their animal training skills with a focus on the most positive and least intrusive methods, this episode is especially relevant for professionals working with rabbits. The Challenge: Delving into training a new species, like rabbits, presents unique challenges. These challenges can lead to stress and frustration. However, our mission remains clear: Empower each trainer to make a marked positive difference in the lives of the animals they work with [in this case, rabbits!]. Your Guide: Introducing Thea...

Jessica Mann: From Timid Tails to Confident Canines [Episode 37]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

At Animal Training Academy, we know you want to master your animal training skills using a force-free approach. And we recognize that you're not just any trainer. Instead, you're someone driven to elevate the confidence of dogs, ensuring they lead a life rich with meaningful activities and training exercises. However, this journey is not without its challenges. High-energy working breeds, in particular, require consistent mental and physical stimulation to sustain their confidence and overall well-being. Like many trainers, you might often find yourself at a crossroads, seeking effective yet...

Danielle Winkelman - Intrepid Animal Learning [Episode 36]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

Danielle Winkelman - Intrepid Animal Learning At Animal Training Academy, we understand that you aim to master your animal training skills using a force-free approach. However, we also recognise that this journey has challenges, especially when dealing with complex behaviours, such as those labelled as reactive. Trainers can often feel overwhelmed and need help addressing these challenging behaviours effectively. Enter Danielle Winkelman. While she boasts an impressive background as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, a Fear Free...

Natalie Rogers - k9 Concepts [Episode 35]

Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

As someone aspiring to master their animal training skills using a force-free approach, you might find yourself feeling trapped or overwhelmed by a dog's fearful or even aggressive behaviour. However, you can draw inspiration from the story of Havoc, a dog who successfully overcame his fears of handling and veterinary procedures with the help of his human, Natalie. Havoc has faced a variety of medical challenges requiring him to become accustomed to different procedures—an understandably complex situation. Nevertheless, through consistent training and the application of cooperative care...

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Laura Perkins resides in Michigan with her husband, 2 dogs and 2 cats. They are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their baby daughter in December!

Currently, Laura provides 1-1 behavior consulting for families and their dogs through her business Laura Perkins Animal Behavior. She also provides virtual services through Kiki Yablon Dog Training. For the first time this summer Laura served as a TA for Susan Friedman’s Living and Learning with Animals course.

Laura began training dogs as a young kind in 4-h where she was introduced to what we would today call “balanced training”. Her “aha” moment regarding clicker training and positive reinforcement based methods was via an agility instructor who used Laura’s dog Sammy as a demo to free shape getting on the table and laying down. This was the moment that led Laura to pursue an understanding of how this stuff works!

Laura graduated from the University of Illinois in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. She wasn’t satisfied with her learning regarding behavior specifically so she went on to pursue a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas where she graduated in 2012. There she studied with Jesús-Rosales-Ruiz and was an active member of the ORCA lab (Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals).

Between graduate school and now, Laura has worked at a doggy daycare, has served as the behaviorist on staff at a county shelter in Oregon, and has continued to grow her business.

Laura’s dog hobbies are doing nosework, obedience and occasionally some at-home agility with her two dogs Dan (Herding Dog Multi Blend) and Doug (Border Collie). Outside of dog training, Laura enjoys hiking, gardening and is learning to play the guitar.

For links CLICK HERE >>> https://atamember.com/2022/11/03/laura-perkins/

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