What is a CAAB?

Many people may be unfamiliar with the term CAAB. In fact, many pet owners encounter pet professionals with all sorts of letters after their names and it can be difficult to make sense of what is what. 

A Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, or CAAB, is someone with a Ph.D. in a field related to animal learning and behavior. Largely considered one of the most stringent certification programs, the Animal Behavior Society serves as an independent certification board for those professionals who meet educational and experiential requirements for certification. In addition to the doctorate degree, experience working with animals is required for certification. Most CAABs have examined animal learning in the laboratory or in field settings, and many contribute to the research literature in this area. Most CAABs have a deep and broad understanding of animal ethology, operant and classical conditioning, and behavior analysis.

Because the requirements are rigorous and the necessary training and experience are extensive, the group is an exclusive one, with less than 50 CAABs nationwide. For a complete list of CAABs nationwide, visit The Animal Behavior Society’s CAAB Directory

For more information on what a CAAB is, and how you might choose between different pet behavior professionals, visit the ASPCA’s link to Finding Professional Help.