Educational Webinars & Resources
on the LIFE Model
 

The Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective (LIFE): A Modern Approach to Ethical Animal Training Methods was developed and presented by Dr. Eduardo J. Fernandez, PhD. School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide (Australia). The LIFE model focuses on the importance of established behavioral principles, terminology, and procedures, as well as its ability to promote optimal welfare for the animals under our care and in our lives. Dr. Fernandez published a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.

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A webinar on the LIFE model was recorded on June 14, 2023 and is available on the Shelter Playgroup Alliance YouTube channel.

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Dr. Eduardo J. Fernandez also presented a webinar on the plagiarism of the LIFE model recorded on April 12, 2025 where he discussed animal training in terms of intellectual property (and plagiarism), how to forward with collaboration (rather than simply copying), and what the future of describing ethical animal training looks like for  practitioners and scientists (our shared industry) alike. Download a pdf of the presentation and get your anti-plagiarism gear here!

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