When it comes to dog and puppy training (as well as training of parrots and other species), I believe whole heartedly in using and teaching the most positive approaches for creating behavior change. LIMA is an acronym for ‘least intrusive, minimally aversive’ training and it speaks so perfectly to my commitment to helping people and pets to live their best possible life together. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) all came out in strong support of LIMA.. I wanted to share more about it and why it is important to me.
A Bold Statement From Professional Organizations
Those three respected professional training organizations joined in September, 2018, to adopt and announce Standards of Practice and Code of Conduct. Listed at the very top of that statement is: understanding and promoting LIMA training and behavior work.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior issued a position statement against the use of punishment-based training.
In part, it reads, “ AVSAB’s position is that punishment (e.g. choke chains, pinch collars, and electronic collars) should not be used as a first-line or early-use treatment for behavior problems. This is due to the potential adverse effects which include but are not limited to: inhibition of learning, increased fear-related and aggressive behaviors, and injury to animals and people interacting with animals. “
What is LIMA?
In an oversimplified description, LIMA refers to trainers and behavior consultants having competency and commitment to teaching behaviors by teaching the learner to work FOR something positive rather than work to AVOID something negative. LIMA is about asking the question, “What do you want the animal TO DO instead?” It is also about following the Humane Hierarchy of Behavior Change – Procedures for Humane and Effective Practices.
DEFINITION: LIMA requires that trainers and behavior consultants use the “least intrusive, minimally aversive technique likely to succeed in achieving a training (or behavior change) objective with minimal risk of producing aversive side effects.” It is also a competence criterion, requiring that trainers and behavior consultants be adequately trained and skilled in order to ensure that the least intrusive and aversive procedure is in fact used.
LIMA does not justify the use of punishment in lieu of other effective interventions and strategies. In the vast majority of cases, desired behavior change can be affected by focusing on the animal’s environment, physical well-being, and operant and classical interventions such as differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior, desensitization, and counterconditioning.
The Humane Hierarchy
Dr. Susan Friedman’s Humane Hierarchy is a ranking of training methods going from least intrusive for the learner to most intrusive.
Level 1 is the most socially acceptable, giving the animal the highest amount of control.
Please click here to read more about the Humane Hierarchy.
If you are routinely reaching for aversive outcomes as a means for changing behavior, then I highly recommend you seek the help of a professional who is committed to LIMA.
How I Came To Be Committed To LIMA
I have been a non-human animal lover for my entire life. I was the little kid who would come home with a turtle, crayfish, little frog, gerbils, a guinea pig, fish, am abandoned baby raccoon and lizards. I would feed the stray cat. I’d play with neighbor dogs. And I loved our family dogs.
Yet, it wasn’t until later in my adult life (over 19 years ago) when I found myself not knowing how to solve a behavior problem with my then newest pet – Barnaby, an African Grey parrot. I didn’t like the information I read online or the advice I received from other pet owners. It all seemed to be focused on solving issues by using unpleasant strategies designed to stop behavior. But I always felt compassion for animals in my care and I had a difficult time doing something hurtful to them. It really upset me.
That is when I stumbled upon an online group (no longer in existence) run by Dr. Susan Friedman (the worldwide pioneer who brought Applied Behavior Analysis to the forefront in the care of captive and companion animals), that taught parrot owners about ABA in solving their own pet issues. Finding that list and finding Susan not only helped me to solve my problem, it strengthened my relationship with my pets, and opened a floodgate to learning.
Later, I became a part of the leadership team for that group and have not stopped wanting to pursue ABA and training education since. And later still, I began doing dog and puppy training (and parrot behavior consulting) professionally, and earned my first certifications.
Over and over I see the benefits to training solving pet problems using what Susan would describe as ‘the most positive, least intrusive’ approaches. LIMA training strategies speak to the same principles. I see animals were shut down, avoiding interaction, having greater quality of life. I see people having less stress with their non-human companions. I see relationships grow.
That is my greatest reward for doing training.
