International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

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International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

Professional Membership | Dog, Cat, Equine, Parrot, Shelter Professional Certifications | Recognized global community

The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants was founded in 2004 and has grown to a global network of over 3,500 members in 70 countries. Our goals are to standardize and support the practice of animal behavior consulting, to help animal behavior professionals find success in their careers, and to provide resources for pet owners needing advice. We provide resources to our members ranging from peer to peer networking, handouts for clients, and class curricula, to the opportunity to volunteer for projects that help move our industry forward, including research projects and a legislative action committee. IAABC certifications are the most rigorous in the field, and assess people working in multiple species, with private clients and in shelters, and we offer credentialing in both Spanish and English. IAABC members believe in the study and science of behavior consulting. We understand that animal behavior consultants can assist owners in managing and modifying problem behaviors, and in the process help strengthen the relationships between an owner and pet. IAABC members work to minimize the use of aversive stimuli and maximize the effective use of reinforcers to modify animal behavior. Members agree to adhere to LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) behavior change strategies and the IAABC Code of Ethics upon joining. We encourage critical thinking and a competence-based paradigm for selecting behavior change techniques.

10/07/2026

We're excited to announce a new partnership with CoVet! 🎉

Animal behavior professionals devote countless hours to helping their animal and human clients, and proper documentation can take up valuable time. Built by veterinary professionals and trusted by thousands of users across six continents, CoVet's AI-powered tools are designed to streamline consultation notes, client conversations, behavior modification plans, and follow-ups.

IAABC members can receive an exclusive discount on CoVet! Log in to your IAABC member account to learn more about this new benefit.

This partnership will help our community spend more time on what matters most: behavior, welfare, and positive outcomes for the animals and families we serve. 🐾

10/06/2026

We're excited to share that the IAABC will be exhibiting at CANIS Conference 2026, a new event for dog training and behavior professionals, taking place October 7-10, 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois.

If you're planning to join in person, stop by the IAABC Booth 315 to say hello! We love meeting you in person.

Whether you attend virtually or in person, IAABC members can earn CEUs towards their IAABC credentials:

Up to 16.5 CEUs by attending live sessions (in person or via livestream)
Up to 36 CEUs by completing the conference recordings

For more information, visit: https://www.canisconference.com/

10/03/2026

Please join us in congratulating our members who earned credentials in September:

Jessica Barry, CDBC
Jordan Issaakidis, ADT
Maisie Maria MacDonald, CEBC
Marisa Silva Cruz, CDBC
Megan Rebecca Overton, ADT
Monica Martin, CSB-D
Piper Novick, CDBC
Sabrina Doyle, CDBC
Susanna Davidsson, CEBC

Congratulations everyone! 🎉

09/29/2026

Join us for our Community Event: "Errorless Shaping Building Behavior the LEGO Way"
with special guest speaker Agnieszka Janarek!
🗓️ Saturday, October 24 from 11am-12pm EST

Think of training like building with LEGOs. You don’t create everything at once; you build small, strong pieces and then connect them seamlessly. That’s the foundation of modern shaping in training: modular, strategic, and empowering. Agnieszka will explain how to apply back-chaining and environmental design to facilitate the growth of fluent, confident learners.

We'll discuss how to:
🐾Build deliberate shaping plans that flow
🐾Use back-chaining to increase fluency and precision
🐾Shape without frustration, extinction, or confusion
🐾Recognize and prevent resurgence before it appears
🐾Add cues effectively — and know when not to do it

Learn more and register to attend live: www.iaabc.org/events

09/27/2026

Share with us! 👋

What species are you learning about or supporting?

Dogs? 🐕‍🦺Cats? 🐈‍⬛Horses? 🐎Parrots? 🦜Something else?🐾

We’d love to hear what species you work with, live with, study, or want to learn more about!

Tell us in the comments. 👇

09/24/2026

Did you know the IAABC offers a Certified credential for behavior consultants?

This credential is for consultants experienced working on complex cases affecting the safety and quality of life of animal and human clients. These may include elements of fear, anxiety, aggression, phobias, compulsive behaviors, and more.

Available for Dog, Cat, Equine, Parrot, Shelter Dog, and Shelter Cat.

To be eligible, you'll need:

🐾 At least 3 years of consulting experience
🐾 Experience working with complex behavior cases
🐾 A commitment to the highest standards in your field

As a third-party credentialing body, IAABC evaluates your existing knowledge, skills, and experience against objective standards. We don't teach you what you need to know; we assess what you already know.

For more information and to get started applying, visit: https://iaabc.org/en/credentials

09/22/2026

Save the Date! Join the upcoming live discussion of our white paper "Raising the Bar: Building Standards, Education, and Accountability in the Dog Training and Behavior Industry"

🗓️Thursday, October 22, from 1–2 PM Eastern Time

What does it mean to raise the bar for the dog training and behavior profession? Come join us as we review our recently released white paper regarding certification and standards in the industry.

While the paper focuses on the U.S., the questions it raises are relevant to our profession worldwide. We welcome our international members to join the conversation and share their perspectives.

Learn more and register for this members-only event: https://www.iaabc.org/events

09/20/2026

Community Event: "Voluntary Is the Baseline: What Zoological Training Taught Us About Fear-Free Handling"

🗓️Thursday, October 15th from 1 - 2pm EST
🎤Special guest speaker Ashley Conlin!

Fear works the same way across species — and so does the solution. Animal trainers in zoos have been building cooperative care into their practice for decades out of necessity: when force isn't an option, voluntary participation isn't a bonus, it's the baseline. In this webinar, trainer Ashley Conlin bridges the gap between the zoo and companion animal worlds, translating the behavior science behind low-stress handling into practical tools you can use with the animals you work with.

Ashley has worked professionally in the zoo industry and as both a private dog trainer and a rescue's behavior manager to develop training and enrichment programs for dogs. She is a certified Fear Free trainer and a CDBC with the IAABC. She is currently an owner of Pets Behave Dog Training in Niceville, FL.

Space for this event is limited! Please register only if you plan to attend the live event on Thursday, October 15.

A recording will be available to all IAABC members about one week after the webinar through your membership account. You do not need to register to access the recording.

Learn more and register here: https://iaabc.org/en/events/ashley-conlin

09/17/2026

Are you an animal trainer looking for a leg up in your field? Check out the IAABC Accredited credential options! 🌟

The Accredited credential is for trainers with solid foundational skills who are passionate about helping animals thrive. Whether you specialize in manners training, life skills, sports, enrichment, or the prevention of behavior problems, this credential recognizes the depth of your knowledge and the quality of your work.

To be eligible you'll need:

🐾 2+ years of training experience
🐾 Solid foundational skills in animal training
🐾 A commitment to the highest standards in your field

As a third party credentialing body, IAABC evaluates your knowledge, skills, and experience against objective standards. We don't teach you what you need to know; we assess what you already know. 🎓

Credentials are available to IAABC members only. Not a member yet? That's your first step! Visit https://iaabc.org/en/membership-types to join us!

Learn more about the Accredited credential here: https://iaabc.org/en/credentials

09/14/2026

Spam emails. We all get them, and sometimes they can even look really, really real!

One way to tell if an email is real is to take a quick look at the "from" email address.

For example, all emails from IAABC will come from an .org email address. So, if you get an email claiming to be from us but it comes from "[email protected]" it’s spam!

Don’t click any links or open attachments.

You can mark the email as spam or phishing.

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