Animal Behavior Applied Experience

animalbehavioreducation Applied experience provides interested students opportunities to observe dog, cat and other animal behavior clinical cases under the supervision of a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB).  This case shadowing is for credentialed academics and professionals only (see Eligibility). 

A student may participate on a limited case-by-case basis, or as an internship for certification. An internship helps prepare a candidate to perform independently and professionally in the field of applied animal behavior.  The length of an internship and the number of cases observed varies among candidates. 

To apply, submit a Contact SheetConsent FormContinuing Education Form, and your CV/Resume.  An Academic Route Building session is a prerequisite.

Fee: $250 USD per case.  Payment is required to secure each study: Zelle [[email protected]] or Venmo [Jill-Goldman-14] or PayPal (payments include procession fees).  By placing your order, you agree to the Terms and Conditions.

Applied Experience:



Eligibility: Candidates who have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree, or who are enrolled in a graduate program that have met or will meet one or more of the following educational requirements:

  • BS, B.Sc., MS, M.Sc., Ph.D. preferably in the psychology or an animal related field. Degrees in other fields will be considered on an individual basis.
  • A licensed veterinarian.
  • A licensed veterinarian, who is certified as a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Behavior (DACVB) or is seeking certification as a DACVB.

What to expect on a Case-by-Case basis: Each case is ~1-3 hours. The observer is given a follow-up session to ask questions concerning each case. The observer may take notes, but not record the name of the client or any other personal information. No videotaping is allowed.
All cases are confidential and no discussion or information concerning the case may be disseminated to anyone outside the consult.
Observers do not offer advice to clients under any conditions. Interaction with the animals or clients, is by request of Dr. Goldman during the consult based on the training and experience. Working with the animals is permitted and supervised as conditions permit.

What to expect as an Intern (monthly plan): Direct observation of cases is encouraged during a quarter (three consecutive months) of at least 10 or more cases. Observers that show competence after the initial training period, may be eligible to interview clients and work with the pets under direct supervision.

Liability Insurance: All individuals must have liability insurance and will provide the name of their carrier and policy number before any observation. The Hartford is one of several insurance carriers that provide insurance for trainers working with pet dogs. The Association for Pet Dog Trainers membership has an affiliated insurance plan for dog trainers.

The individual expressly assumes all risk of personal injury that may be sustained by the individual during a session. Working with dog, cat, and other animals' behavior problems can be dangerous.

Former Students:

Cari B. Cannon, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology at Santiago Canyon College. She received her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (Animal Learning) from Washington State University. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship in the Learning and Adaptive Behavior Laboratory at Duke University. Dr. Cannon has worked with a diverse range of species including dogs, cats, rats, mice, pigeons, gerbils, and parakeets. She loves her two Basset Hounds with whom she competed in AKC Rally, Obedience, and Conformation events. Her free time is spent fundraising for local Basset Hound rescues, and writing a dog behavior column for the Tally Ho Magazine.

Janet H. Cutler, Ph.D. owns and operates Landmark Behaviour in Ontario Canada, consulting with pet owners to help them improve their relationship with their pets. She also conducts research on puppy socialization and its effects on behavior later in life. She received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. at the University of Guelph, and then a Certified Professional Dog Training certification (CPDT-KA). When not at work, Dr. Cutler is at home with her family, including her husband, two young daughters and Australian Shepherd puppy. She loves to travel, scuba dive, and have dance parties making waffles.


Office Hours

Monday  

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday  

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday  

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday  

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday  

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Saturday  

Closed

Sunday  

Closed