Happy Birthday, Karen Pryor!

Today is a special day to celebrate Karen Pryor, but for years she has given us so much to celebrate.

As a pioneer of positive reinforcement training and as the founder and leading proponent of clicker training, Karen has improved the lives of countless animals. Her bestselling book, Don't Shoot the Dog, became the "bible" of positive training, leading trainers and pet owners to put down their choke chains in favor of a kinder, more effective way of training. Her recent book, Reaching the Animal Mind, explains to the world how to understand and communicate with the animals in our lives. Thanks to Karen's efforts in educating scientists, professional trainers, and pet owners, clicks can now be heard not only in households with pets, but in zoos, veterinary offices, shelters, oceanariums, pastures, and even in the gym. Through her dog-training school, Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior, she has certified hundreds of clicker trainers throughout the world, trainers who have implemented this life-changing tool in their own communities, and in ways that we never imagined.

Trainers at the New England Aquarium in Boston
recently presented Karen with a "birthday card"
created by one of her biggest fans -- a fur seal!

Today, as Karen celebrates her 80^th birthday, many people wonder what will be next. One thing is for sure—Karen shows no signs of slowing down. Karen remains an active, leading spokesperson and teacher, traveling the globe to increase the awareness and understanding of effective, force-free training in those who have the power to implement change.

Thank you, Karen, not only for giving us positive, powerful tools to make changes in our own relationships, but for giving us the most powerful example of what it means to leave a positive imprint in the world. In the words that you use to describe clicker training, it "works like a charm."