Animal Training Academy

In this insightful conclusion to our two-part conversation, Ellen Yoakum—Certified Separation Anxiety Pro Behavior Consultant, KPA CTP, and Behavior Consultant with Pet Harmony—returns to explore how we can thoughtfully apply the learning principles we use with our animal learners to ourselves and the humans we work with. Building on the foundations of Part One, Ellen and Ryan dive into the complexities of generalization—how humans, much like our non-human learners, can struggle to transfer skills across contexts. From communication and empathy to client coaching and professional growth, Ellen offers compassionate strategies for building fluency, resilience, and sustainability in both behavior change and life. Together, they explore: ✅ Translating behavioral principles from dogs to humans—and ourselves ✅ Creating safe learning spaces for clients, colleagues, and trainers alike ✅ How understanding "pain points" can reshape client plans and improve outcomes ✅ Teaching for generalization without overwhelming lea