Karen Pryor was a pioneer in modern positive reinforcement animal training practices. She was a mentor to thousands of trainers, whether they met her in person or just knew of her from her dozens of books, courses, and programs. If you know clicker training, you have Karen to thank.

Karen passed away at the age of 92 on January 4, 2025. She will be greatly missed but her legacy will live on with every person who takes on the mantle of caring for animals.

I'm honoring Karen today with a discussion of her book On Behavior, a collection of essays and articles from her decades of teaching others the way of positive reinforcement training.

Listen to related Zoo-notables: Don't Shoot the Dog and Lads Before the Wind

Want a copy of Karen's books? Check out Karen Pryor Academy.

Connect with other animal trainers at ClickerExpo (January 24-25 online)