Karen Pryor (May 14, 1932–January 4, 2025) was an American author who specialized in behavioral psychology and marine mammal biology.
She was the founder and proponent of clicker training.
I want to share with our readers—especially those who are novice pet guardians or new to animal training—the importance of Karen Pryor’s lifelong work. I figured that her books would be an excellent starting point. I posted online in the hope that others who knew her work would help me. I asked, “You are talking with a friend, a class student, a training client, about what Karen’s work has meant to you. What books of Karen’s would you recommend to introduce them to her training, and why?”
Here are some of their answers.
Marilyn Marks (Connecticut) Of her books, I’ve read only Don’t Shoot the Dog, which was written for dealing with relationships and behavior in all areas of life, not just dog behavior; for example, raising kids or dealing with a difficult co-worker. There isn’t a better tome for applying the quadrants to our lives in a way that increases respect and love. Life is not only about quadrants, but knowing what we’re doing and why is always helpful.
Peggy Modjeski (Kentucky) I love her work. If I were recommending only one book to read, it would be Don’t Shoot the Dog. It’s interesting and accessible for everyone interested in a better relationship with their dog.
Amy Shojai (Texas) Clicker Training for Cats and Clicker Training for Dogs. Excellent for a great foundation starting your training journey with your special pet.
Kathleen Huggins (Washington) Reaching The Animal Mind.
Anne Marie Zeck (Washington) Don’t Shoot the Dog, of course. A revelation when we read it. How grateful we were to find a science-based, kind way to train!
Linny Colucci (Washington) Don’t Shoot the Dog.
Julie Ellingson (California) Don’t Shoot the Dog.
Carol Byrnes (Washington) Don’t Shoot the Dog. It is required reading for our new Positive Dog prison training program handlers. After that, Clicker Training for Dogs to learn the training mechanics, and then Reaching the Animal Mind to broaden their perspective. Our latest group of trainees were all very sad to hear of Karen’s passing when I told them in class on Tuesday.
From the Karen Pryor Academy
“With profound sadness and immense gratitude, we honor the life and legacy of Karen Pryor, a true pioneer in the fields of animal behavior and positive reinforcement training. Karen’s groundbreaking work revolutionized how we communicate with animals—and each other—leaving an indelible mark on science, education, and the lives of countless species around the world.”
Remembering Karen Pryor:
The Legacy of a Trailblazer Who Ignited a Global Training Revolution
From Karen Pryor | Home
Karen Pryor had many interests. She was an observer of the smallest detail (as a child she studied butterfly anatomy) but what made her life’s work exceptional was that she also saw the big picture. It would have been enough that Karen was one of the first marine mammal trainers who used behavior science and positive reinforcement, but she took that experience and turned it into a culture-changing perspective on animal behavior, communication between species, and humanity. We are all fortunate that Karen was an effective and engaging writer, making her observations accessible to readers worldwide.
She initially learned about behavior theory as a pioneering dolphin trainer in the 1960s. But early on she had mentors from fields that rarely intersected, such as behaviorist B.F. Skinner and ethologist Konrad Lorenz. Karen has said: “I consider my gifts as a scientist to be the ability to synthesize apparently opposing fields of thought and to apply theory in the real world.”
In the real world, using her perspective, she brought positive reinforcement (clicker) training to the dog and zoo worlds, gave confidence to hundreds of thousands of breast-feeding women, developed techniques for teaching people with autism, and changed how surgeons learn their skills which in turn creates less stressful and more error-free operation rooms. The common thread through all of her work is how she effectively reduces gratuitous violence and creates a culture that is productive, yet filled with kindness.
From Amazon.com
“Karen Pryor’s clear and entertaining explanation of behavioral training methods made Don’t Shoot the Dog! a bestselling classic. Now this revised edition presents more of her insights into animal—and human—behavior.
“A groundbreaking behavioral scientist and dynamic animal trainer, Karen Pryor is a powerful proponent of the principles and practical uses of positive reinforcement in teaching new behaviors. Here are the secrets of changing behavior in pets, kids—even yourself—without yelling, threats, force, punishment, guilt trips … or shooting the dog.
“Learn why pet owners rave, ‘This book changed our lives!’ and how these pioneering techniques can work for you too.”
Don’t Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training (Revised Edition)
Here is a starter list of books by Karen Pryor, many available at public libraries:
▪ Don’t Shoot The Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training—1984, 1999, 2002, 2006
▪ A Dog & A Dolphin 2.0: An Introduction to Clicker Training—1996
▪ Getting Started: Clicker Training for Cats—1999, 2002, 2004
▪ Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs—1999, 2002, 2005
▪ Reaching The Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About Animals—2009
