About Us

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Nicky has over 20 years experience working directly in zoos in the UK with a huge variety of species. She specialises in teaching other animal caregivers the power of positive reinforcement training and how to better work cooperatively with their animals She is a certified professional bird trainer and a certified professional animal trainer through the IATCB (www.iatcb.org) and holds a BSc. 

Nicky has presented and published her work on managing behaviour utilising positive reinforcement to international audiences at conferences worldwide and via Zoom.

Nicky has worked with leading industry professionals such as Steve Martin (www.naturalencounters.com ) and Chirag Patel (www.domesticatedmanners.com )

Nicky sits on the Board of Directors of the International Avian Trainers Certification Board (www.iatcb.org), the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (www.iaate.org) and is a mentor through the Professional Development Committee run by IAATE.

Want to teach your animals to cooperate in husbandry behaviours like crating, weighing, recall, shifting on cue, interacting with enrichment or stationing on view? We can help. Want to have animals voluntarily participate in their own veterinary care? We can help you teach positioning for hand injections, hand/foot or other body part presentation, open mouth, even voluntary blood draws and ultrasounds!

By choosing Shaping Behaviour to work with your team you are taking a step forward in cooperative husbandry and the management of your animals, educating your staff and allowing them to develop better partnerships with the animals in their care. This will empower your animals and keepers, improve relationships and welfare whilst continuing to conserve species.

Previous and current clients include WAPCA (West African Primate Conservation Action), in Ghana; Old MacDonald's Farm, Brentwood; ZooMarine, Algarve, Portugal; Mid Kent College; The Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover; WILD! Zoological Park in the Midlands, and Hemsley Conservation Centre in Kent.

Shaping Behaviour currently offers tailor made zoo consulting sessions (which can be weekly, monthly, quarterly or as required) which involve working with staff on existing behaviour management, in house staff workshops, one to one coaching as required within the business and can also offer support via Zoom or email once behaviour management protocols are established after initial consultation.

Behaviour management protocols will be written and sent to the collection, and can be uploaded to ZIMS if required.

Startup behaviours for shows and problem solving for specific issues on request.

Nicky runs theoretical and practical workshops throughout the year at various locations. If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please get in touch.

For any other needs, a purpose-built package can be discussed.

Please email Nicky@shapingbehaviour.com