{"id":26976,"date":"2025-02-05T09:45:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T14:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/karenpryoracademy.com\/?p=26976"},"modified":"2025-02-05T09:54:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T14:54:48","slug":"february-kpa-ctp-of-the-month-ryan-cartlidge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/karenpryoracademy.com\/february-kpa-ctp-of-the-month-ryan-cartlidge\/","title":{"rendered":"February KPA CTP of the Month: Ryan Cartlidge"},"content":{"rendered":"

February 2025 KPA CTP of the Month<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
Ryan Cartlidge, KPA CTP, of Wellington, New Zealand, runs <\/i>Animal Training Academy<\/i><\/a>. Ryan completed the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA)\u00a0Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program<\/a> in October of 2022. We met with Ryan virtually to discuss the people, animals, and moments that have shaped his training and career. Through touching stories, Ryan reminds us to slow down and celebrate each incremental approximation toward our goals.<\/i><\/div><\/div>
\"KPA<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Tell us about the first animal you ever trained.<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span>The first animal I ever trained in a zoo setting, where I truly understood the principles of positive reinforcement, was a wedge-tailed eagle named Reg. Before that, I had worked with animals but hadn\u2019t yet been introduced to the science of behavior or positive reinforcement. That changed when I started reading more, traveling, and meeting others in the field, which expanded my knowledge and network.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Reg was housed at Cairns Tropical Zoo. When I first met him, he would lunge at me with his talons every time I approached his enclosure. I knew I had to take things slow. I began by simply walking past his enclosure, tossing food inside each time. Gradually, I worked up to cracking the door open slightly and tossing food in, then increasing the door\u2019s opening a little more each time until I could fully enter his space.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Eventually, Reg stayed calm with his feet planted on the perch as I moved closer, and I was eventually able to touch his feet while wearing a falconer\u2019s glove. From there, we worked on building trust and getting him comfortable with the necessary husbandry tasks. The process was a careful shaping of both of our behaviors, our relationship, and Reg\u2019s trust in me.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>This experience was deeply rewarding, and it showed me the power of positive reinforcement.<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you do to continue your training education?<\/b><\/p>\n

I run Animal Training Academy, an online membership platform offering ongoing educational resources for animal trainers. I also host ATA\u2019s podcast and run two webinars each month with subject matter experts from around the world, many of whom are affiliated with the Karen Pryor Academy. This allows me to learn directly from some of the best in the industry while continuing to grow in my own training education.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, I actively participate in programs that align with my professional interests. For example, I recently completed Jennifer Shryock's Family Paws Parent Educator Program, where I\u2019m now an educator. I also earned my Level 1 TAGteach certification, which I\u2019m very excited about. My next goal is to pursue my TAGteach Level 2 certification.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who has been your inspiration in the animal training community?<\/b><\/p>\n

There are so many individuals in the animal training community who have inspired me, but a couple that stand out are Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D., and Eva Bertilsson. I\u00a0 had the privilege of meeting Dr. Friedman in 2010, and she has been incredibly influential in my training, a guiding force in my practice, and a friend and mentor ever since. Her impact on my work has been profound.<\/span><\/p>\n

More recently, I've also been deeply inspired by Eva Bertilsson. I was fortunate enough to bring Eva out to New Zealand at the end of 2024, where she hosted a series of dog workshops and, together, we worked with exotics. Eva's expertise and skills have been invaluable to me, and I\u2019m grateful for the chance to learn from her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you were a dog, what breed would you be?<\/b><\/p>\n

If I were a dog, I\u2019d probably be a mix between a Chihuahua and a Silky Terrier\u2014just like my current dog, Fibi, who I love to pieces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there any species that you would love to work with?<\/b><\/p>\n

I\u2019d love the opportunity to work with the Harpy Eagle. While I\u2019ve had the chance to meet Harpy Eagles, I\u2019ve never actually worked with them. I\u2019ve always had a deep appreciation for eagles, and the Harpy Eagle, being one of the largest eagle species, is incredibly powerful and majestic. They\u2019re an amazing species, and I have so much respect for them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have a memorable or touching training story you\u2019d like to share?<\/b><\/p>\n

The first story that comes to mind is from my time in Australia, rehabbing a red-tailed black cockatoo. This bird came into care as an adult, showing signs of fear around people and not flying. We housed it in an aviary and decided on a very hands-off approach: opening the door during the day to give it space to roam and exercise as much as possible (lots of wing flapping but no actual flying). Aside from that, we didn\u2019t interfere much with its daily life.<\/span><\/p>\n

One day, a group of wild red-tailed black cockatoos flew overhead, and I quickly opened the aviary door. The rehab bird stood at the edge of the enclosure, flapping its wings frantically. I could hear the wild birds calling to it, and I thought, \"Oh, they want to be friends, but this bird can't fly.\" Then, out of nowhere, the rehab bird took off. It wasn\u2019t a smooth flight\u2014more of a labored, up-and-down struggle\u2014but it managed to get airborne and join the wild cockatoos in a tree. They sat together, calling to each other, before all flying off together as a group.<\/span><\/p>\n

This moment was a powerful lesson in the influence of antecedents and motivating operations! I like to think that the hands-off approach we took with this bird, along with the opportunities to build strength outside of its aviary, helped boost its confidence and strength, eventually allowing it to fly off with its wild counterparts.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the most important piece of advice you can give to a new trainer?<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the most important pieces of advice I can give to new trainers is to remember to celebrate their approximations. Borrowing that term from Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D., I mean that while it\u2019s easy to get excited about our goals\u2014rightly so since they help us stay focused\u2014we can sometimes overlook the incredible approximations that lead to those goals. It's crucial to celebrate all the small achievements along the way. This advice applies to both new and experienced trainers, and it's something I have to remind myself of often, too.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Image\"<\/span><\/div><\/div>
While it\u2019s easy to get excited about our goals\u2014rightly so since they help us stay focused\u2014we can sometimes overlook the incredible approximations that lead to those goals. It's crucial to celebrate all the small achievements along the way.<\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>
\"Image\"<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

How can people learn more about you?<\/b><\/p>\n

atamember.com<\/a><\/p>\n

ryan@animaltrainingacademy.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Podcast<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

FIND A KPA CERTIFIED TRAINER <\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

All dogs deserve great dog trainers<\/p><\/div>

FIND A TRAINER NEAR ME<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ryan Cartlidge, KPA CTP, of Wellington, New Zealand, runs Animal Training Academy. We met with Ryan virtually to discuss the people, animals, and moments that have shaped his training and career. 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