Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples

In this fascinating episode of the Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples podcast, host Shelly Wood sits down with Alamelu Sankaranarayanan—a KPA-certified training partner based in the San Francisco Bay Area—for a deep dive into the intersection of technology, science, and the evolving dialogue between humans and animals. Alamelu shares her remarkable journey from pursuing a PhD in computer engineering and designing microchips to finding her "true north" in the world of positive reinforcement animal training. Alamelu reflects on her roots in India, where the cultural message to stay away from street dogs eventually gave way to a profound curiosity and a secret relationship with the neighborhood packs. She discusses how these early experiences, combined with a "remarkable chain of lucky encounters," led her to the Karen Pryor Academy and Dr. Susan Friedman's Living and Learning with Animals course—experiences that helped her articulate her ethics and lead with clarity and kindness. The conversation also explores Alamelu's unique ability to marry her tech background with her passion for dogs, including her development of the Canine Rally app for competitors and her current labor of love, Woof School. Alamelu candidly shares a powerful learning moment from her certification process involving a complex 10-behavior chain with her Golden Retriever, Monty, and how a "failed" assessment became a masterclass in understanding hidden cues and behavioral repair. Together, Shelly and Alamelu explore: ✅ From Microchips to Mutts: How a career in tech informed a systematic and analytical approach to animal behavior. ✅ The Internal Compass: The life-changing experience of finding community and philosophy at Clicker Expo. ✅ Everything is on Cue: A deep dive into the idea that even "wrong" behaviors are often responses to cues we aren't aware we're giving. ✅ The Chicken Camp Comeback: How working with a new species helped break a spell of dejection and rediscovered the joy of being a learner. ✅ Husbandry and Choice: Moving from "no-choice" contingencies to honoring "yes" and "no" buttons for procedures like nail dremeling. ✅ Digital Ripples: The story behind the Canine Rally app and using technology to make dog sports more accessible. ✅ The Dialogue of Training: Why training is a constant dance of communication where the animal is cueing the handler just as much as the handler cues the animal. This episode is a celebration of the "discovery path" and the humility required to stay a student of behavior. Alamelu's story is a beautiful reminder that when we treat training as a dialogue rather than a monologue, we don't just achieve fluency—we build a partnership rooted in trust, clarity, and mutual respect. Links [email protected]

In this enlightening episode of the Animal Training Academy: Making Ripples podcast, host Shelly Wood sits down with Simone Tuten—an animal behavior consultant and trainer based in Western Australia—for a deep conversation about the evolution of empathy, the science of behavior, and the profound impact of giving animals a voice . Simone works with both dogs and horses, bringing a unique multi-species perspective grounded in the firm belief that animals are sentient individuals who deserve to feel safe and understood . Simone shares her journey from a "shy child" who once comforted a distressed kitten at a school fair to a professional behaviorist who has navigated the transition from traditional, pressure-based methods to compassionate, force-free training . With a background in conservation biology and a previous career as a "weed scientist," Simone's path to full-time animal behavior was sparked by a spontaneous decision to join a dog training course that eventually changed her life . The conversation explores the "human side" of the training equation, with Simone reflecting on the patience and empathy required for both animals and their owners to make a true mindset shift. She candidly discusses her own experience of taking over a year to fully "click" with positive reinforcement for complex behavior challenges—a realization that fuels her compassionate approach to mentoring fellow trainers and supporting families. Together, Shelly and Simone explore: ✅ The Multi-Species Lens: Bridging the gap between canine and equine behavior through a shared philosophy of choice . ✅ The Year-Long Shift: Why it takes time to rewrite our own learning history and fully embrace force-free behavior modification . ✅ From Social Science to Science: How her background in conservation and government research informs her analytical approach to behavior . ✅ Consent in Practice: Helping owners read and respond to subtle body language cues to build lasting trust . ✅ Collaborative Care: The importance of working alongside veterinarians and specialists for holistic animal welfare . ✅ The Power of Mentorship: Focusing on the practical application of theory to help new trainers manage real-world client expectations . This episode is a celebration of the quiet, steady work of building trust across species. Simone's story is a powerful reminder that when we prioritize the animal's right to a "say" in their own lives, we don't just solve behavior problems—we create a partnership built on mutual respect . Links https://simonetuten.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/SimoneTutenDogAndHorseBehaviourConsultant