The Animal Behavior Clinic in Davis College is offering services to the local community.
A new clinic within the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources will offer behavior modification and training services for companion animals to the community starting in September.
Texas Tech University’s Animal Behavior Clinic (TTU-ABC) aims to provide affordable, science-based dog training to the public while giving students hands on learning opportunities.
The student focused program will be led by faculty members from the Department of Animal & Food Sciences who specialize in companion animal science.
“I believe the TTU-ABC will be a transformative resource for both our students and the community,” said assistant professor Anastasia Stellato, one of four faculty members leading the clinic. “Our students have excelled in applying behavioral and training principles in class, and this program will allow them to further develop their skills in a real-world setting.”
Community members interested in private training or behavior consultation will be asked to fill out a registration form. They will then schedule training sessions which will be handled by students under faculty supervision from and fellow Animal & Food Science faculty members Kristina O’Hanley, Nathan Hall and Edgar Aviles-Rosa.
For students, the clinic offers the chance to work with clients while providing an affordable service to the community under the supervision of experienced professors.
“It will not only enhance their career prospects but also give them hands-on experience that fosters confidence and growth,” Stellato said. “This program will reinforce Texas Tech’s commitment to being a vital and supportive presence in our community. We’re excited to support the community and their pets, particularly in addressing complex behavioral issues, and look forward to the positive impact this program will have.”
The behavior clinic uses only positive reinforcement training methods to help with pet issues like fear, aggression, separation anxiety, chewing, scratching, leash walking and litter box issues.
The registration form can be found here and the clinic operates on a pay-what-you-can model.
