Calm is a Skill: Teaching Regulation, Not Suppression
From Coffee with the Critters by The Animal Behavior Center
April 27, 2026 · 28 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the importance of teaching calm behavior in animals rather than suppressing it.
In this live episode of Coffee with the Critters, we’re breaking down what it actually means to build calm behavior, not suppress it. We’ll explore: • Why many behavior concerns are actually regulation problems • The difference between suppressing behavior and teaching calm • How to identify and reinforce observable calm behavior • What to measure if you want calm to become reliable If you’ve ever struggled with reactivity, overstimulation, or an animal that “can’t settle,” this conversation will change how you approach it.
Topics covered
- calm behavior
- behavior regulation
- reactivity
- overstimulation
- animal training
Keywords
- calm
- behavior concerns
- regulation problems
- observable calm behavior
- animal reactivity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Animal Behavior Center
More episodes of Coffee with the Critters
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- Labels Don’t Solve Behavior Problems · May 19, 2026 · 15 min
- If We Can’t Describe Behavior, We Can’t Change It · May 11, 2026 · 25 min
- Q&A with Lara · April 27, 2026 · 25 min
- Misunderstanding Motivation · March 25, 2026 · 19 min
- Reinforcement History · March 16, 2026 · 14 min
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