Honoring the No, Shaping the Yes with Dr. Susan Friedman [Episode 250]

Animal Training Academy

Podcast Synopsis

In this milestone episode of the Animal Training Academy Podcast, host Ryan Cartlidge is joined once again by the incredible Dr. Susan G. Friedman—a leading expert in behavioral science and animal training. A returning guest every 50th episode, Susan brings her extensive knowledge and decades of experience to discuss the evolving role of negative reinforcement in ethical training, recognizing subtle "no" signals from animals, and the power of behavioral science to create more informed trainers.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of: ✅ The importance of teaching animals to say "no" and trainers to honor it ✅ The ethical application of negative reinforcement in animal training ✅ Sub-threshold training techniques to reduce stress and improve communication ✅ The impact of non-linear contingency analysis in understanding complex behaviors ✅ Why positive reinforcement training has been so successful—and the next frontier of voluntary medical procedures

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about progressive, evidence-based training methods. Whether you're an animal trainer, behavior consultant, or just fascinated by the science of learning, Dr. Friedman's insights will challenge your thinking and push the boundaries of what's possible in ethical animal training.

🔗 Want to learn more? Be sure to check out Dr. Friedman’s resources at www.behaviorworks.org and explore the wealth of courses available through her work.