Lara Joseph is an internationally invited speaker on animal behavior, a professional animal trainer, and a behavior consultant. She delivers conference presentations, customized on-site workshops, staff training, and live online education for animal caregivers and animal-care professionals. Her programs translate applied behavior analysis and positive reinforcement into practical, humane strategies participants can use. Her work is guided by one principle: “Behavior is not defined by species; it is defined by function.”
Programs are tailored for veterinary teams, zoological and wildlife organizations, universities, animal trainers, companion-animal caregivers, and professional groups. Topics include animal behavior and training, enrichment, cooperative care and husbandry training, fear and avoidance, aggressive behavior, choice and cooperation, and behavior change across species.
Programs may focus on parrot behavior and training, pet pig behavior, deaf and deaf-blind dogs, exotic animal behavior, wildlife ambassadors, and zoo animal training.
Presentations may be delivered in person or live online. Customized on-site workshops may include presentations, case analyses, demonstrations, and guided practical applications tailored to the organization’s animals, staff, and goals.
Based near Toledo, Ohio, Lara travels throughout the United States and serves organizations online worldwide.
To discuss a conference presentation, customized on-site workshop, staff training, or live online program, contact Lara.
Sample Speaking Topics:
Understanding Animal Behavior
To understand how to modify behavior, we need to identify the reinforcers that underlie the behavior in the first place. Once we can accurately identify reinforcers, which are so much more than food, the tools needed to change these behaviors must be understood and implemented as well. Punishers, aversives, and schedules of reinforcement all need to be understood to change undesired behaviors and to maintain or develop desired behaviors. This is a foundation presentation that should be attended by everyone interested in behavior, animals, and working with behavior. Numerous examples are given to ensure that even novices and experts learn to think outside the box in various situations. This presentation is visually enriched with numerous videos, photos, and scenarios for analysis.
The Three C’s of Animal Enrichment
Enrichment is an arousal of the senses. It is for all of us. Enrichment is how we learn through manipulation and experience. Enrichment can be so much more than toys, but toys are great time-occupiers, especially when we can’t be with or training the animal at all times. Enrichment comes in many forms, from manipulation devices, training, foraging, exercise, and more. Enrichment can become boring when predictable, which is why incorporating choice into enrichment, such as training and variety, is important. In captive or kept environments, animals’ choices are often limited. They don’t have to be. There are numerous ways to increase the animal’s choice no matter what size enclosure they are in, including our house. Simplicity and predictability can lead to many abnormal repetitive behaviors, also known as stereotypical behaviors. Enrichment needs to shape mental and physical change through incorporating change and complexities. The three C’s of enrichment are why they are a large part of all of my behavior modification plans.
Training Education Animals for Wildlife Programs
Many of us who train and work with program or educational animals know the importance of either taking them on educational programs or showing them in exhibits. A stressed animal may or may not be evident to the general public, but the stress doesn’t need to exist. In this presentation, Lara shows how to pick the right candidate for programs and for exhibit. She also shows where to begin training, using positive reinforcement and learning theory, in easy-to-understand terms for any educator. Lara has years of experience training a range of species for educational programs, using different ideas and approaches to off-contact training for the animals on exhibit. This presentation was well received with great feedback from the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
Building Relationships Through Protected Contact
Studies show that if you are actually using positive reinforcement training, it is the animal’s preferred form of enrichment. Positive reinforcement training is the best way to build relationships and rebuild relationships, whether the goal is getting the animal out of the cage or shifting the animal from one location to another. In this presentation, Lara explains where to begin and the steps in working and training animals through off-contact training, moving to protected contact training, and continued work with the animal once the cage bars are removed if the safety of both the handler and the animal is the best decision. Often, labels such as aggressive, hormonal, and unpredictable lead many to conclude that working with the animal is a lost cause. Lara presents and uses applications of behavior analysis and positive reinforcement training with an array of animals, including fish, giraffes, alligators, raptors, parrots, and primates. This presentation is heavy on photos and video, showing the steps with numerous animals.