Visiting Instructor
Lindsay Parenti is an Associate Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (ACABC),
who has been training dogs for nearly 10 years. She earned her Master’s degree
in Applied Behavior Analysis from West Virginia University and is currently
working toward completion of a Ph.D. in Human-Animal Interactions at WVU. Her expertise
in service dog training has been sought out by the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, where Lindsay serves as a consultant for Project ROVER, a research
program designed to assess the service dog needs of veterans with PTSD. Lindsay developed
and currently teaches three courses in West Virginia University’s Animal Sciences
department that focus on assistance animals. Lindsay has experience teaching puppy
kindergarten and adult dog group obedience classes as well as providing private behavioral
consultations to owners whose pets are experiencing a wide range of behavior problems.
Educational Background
In August 2010, Lindsay received her Master's degree in Applied Behavior
Analysis from West Virginia University's Department of Psychology. She is currently
completing her Ph.D. in Human-Animal Interactions in WVU's Agricultural Sciences
Department. During her education, Lindsay has received extensive training in
the design and implementation of behavioral treatments that reduce behavior problems
and enhance skill acquisition in pets. She has worked with parents, teachers,
researchers, and community members to implement behavior-analytic strategies
designed to teach both typically-developing children, children diagnosed with
developmental or intellectual disabilities, pet dogs, cats, and birds, and assistance
dogs. Before earning her Master's degree, Lindsay received her Bachelor's
degree in Psychology from West Virginia University in May 2006. For many years,
Lindsay had been interested in pet behavior, how psychology could be used to
treat pet behavior problems and improve the welfare of pets, and human-animal
interactions. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant with Certified
Applied Animal Behaviorists Dr. Kennon A. Lattal and Megan E. Maxwell. In this
research, Lindsay examined the role of delays to reinforcement on canine learning
and behavior. Her research experiences, combined with her ongoing work with dogs
outside of academic settings, convinced her to pursue a career in animal behavior.
Pet Training/Experiential Background
After completing her bachelor's degree, Lindsay received her certifications as
a Service Dog Instructor and as a High School Assistance Dog Instructor from
California's Assistance Dog Institute (now known as The Bergin University for
Canine Studies). She returned to teach classes in WVU's Animal and Veterinary
Sciences program. In these classes, for which Lindsay designed all curricula
and wrote instruction manuals, undergraduate students learn how to apply the
strategies of behavior analysis (e.g., positive reinforcement, extinction, shaping)
to the training of assistance dogs. Lindsay currently serves as Director
of Program Development for a local, nonprofit assistance dog training organization.
She is responsible for the behavioral wellness of several assistance dogs in
training and teaches service dog training courses at WVU. Lindsay has extensive
experience working directly with families whose pets exhibit a wide range of
behavior problems. She also has taught puppy kindergarten classes and group obedience
classes at Cheat Lake Animal Hospital and the Animal Medical Center in Morgantown,
WV.Lindsay is an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator, certified
to administer the Canine Good Citizen, AKC Community Canine (an advanced level
of CGC), and Urban Canine Good Citizen evaluations. For more information about
the Canine Good Citizen program, visit www.akc.org.Lindsay is also an Associate
Certified Animal Behavior Consultant in the Dog Division through the International
Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.