This comparison draws in part from “Paws for Thought: Becoming a better behavior analyst by training dogs” by Keira Moore, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, KPA-CTP (BehaviorLive), and extends it with peer-reviewed research from our library of 27,900+ ABA research articles. The decision framework, BACB ethics code references, and cross-links below are synthesized by Behaviorist Book Club.
View the original presentation →Every BCBA receives training in behavioral principles through coursework and supervised clinical practice with human clients. Animal training experience, when pursued deliberately as a professional development activity, adds a learning context with distinctive features that human clinical training alone does not provide. The comparison below is not a claim that animal training is necessary for competent practice — many excellent BCBAs have never trained an animal. It is a description of what each learning context uniquely offers, to support practitioners in making deliberate choices about how to diversify their development experiences.
| Factor | Evidence-Based Approach | Traditional Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Feedback on timing | Immediate, transparent — wrong behavior increases when timing is off; difficult to attribute to other causes | Partially masked by verbal mediation; timing errors may not produce clearly visible misattributed outcomes |
| Reinforcer assessment | Direct observation required; verbal report and assumption unavailable | Verbal report and standardized tools available; direct observation sometimes bypassed |
| Shaping skills | Repetitive practice with clear behavioral feedback on criterion accuracy | Shaping practiced in human clinical contexts with more variable feedback |
| Behavioral observation | Postural and behavioral indicators of internal state must be read directly; language is unavailable | Verbal behavior available as additional source of information about client state |
| Understanding of behavioral principles | Cross-species application deepens understanding of principles as general laws | Application primarily in human clinical contexts; principles experienced as clinical techniques |
| Clinical competency development | Procedural skills developed in animal context transfer directly to human clinical work | Procedural skills developed in human clinical context from the beginning |
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ on-demand CEUs including ethics, supervision, and clinical topics like this one. Plus a new live CEU every Wednesday.
Use this framework when approaching paws for thought: becoming a better behavior analyst by training dogs in your practice:
Does the data support a need for intervention? Is there a meaningful impact on the individual's quality of life, safety, or access to reinforcement?
YES → Proceed to assessment NO → Document reasoning, monitor
A functional assessment should guide intervention selection. Avoid defaulting to standard protocols without individual analysis. Consider environmental variables, setting events, and private events.
YES → Select evidence-based approach matched to function NO → Complete assessment first
Goals should be co-developed. Assent and informed consent are ethical requirements. The individual's preferences and values matter in selecting both goals and methods.
YES → Proceed with collaborative plan NO → Engage in shared decision-making
This course covers the clinical and ethical dimensions in detail with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
Paws for Thought: Becoming a better behavior analyst by training dogs — Keira Moore · 2 BACB Ethics CEUs · $30
Take This Course →We extended this decision guide with research from our library — dig into the peer-reviewed studies behind each approach, in plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
2 BACB Ethics CEUs · $30 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide
Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
You earn CEUs from a dozen different places. Upload any certificate — from here, your employer, conferences, wherever — and always know exactly where you stand. Learning, Ethics, Supervision, all handled.
No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.