Discover how to train animals through compassionate wisdom in this new home study course with Dr. Jenifer Zeligs. 

This new on demand course is based on the newest book by Dr. Zeligs - Mindful Partners: The Zen art and science of working with animals, published in late 2021.  Learn how to use mindfulness to troubleshoot your behavioral challenges and solve them. You will be able to see your weekly progress and better connect with your animals, no matter what species!

This four-session (6 hour) course was originally offered and recorded as 4 weekly seminars.  Based on the sciences of mindfulness and behavior modification, it is designed for connecting with awareness to the animals in your life whether that is dogs, cats, horses, birds or even exotics.  This course is for all flexible and curious people wanting to plant the seed of partnership with their animals. In addition, it will nourish and enrich prior experience learning from Dr. Zeligs either in workshops, classes or having read Animal Training 101 (no personal coaching included).  Improve your animal’s behavior using home exercises along with each seminar.

Only $48! Sign up below

(for a signed copy of the book please visit: https://animaltraining.us/mindful-partners-the-zen-art-and-science-of-working-with-animals/)

This online course will:

  • Show you how to use mindfulness with animals to bring joy to both you and to them.
  • Provide 4 sessions (originally weekly meetings – available now by popular demand to watch at your own pace)– each with a mindfulness exercise, short seminar, and recorded discussion of common participant questions and experiences from the live course.
  • Practice and troubleshoot your personal training challenges.
  • Pick one or several issues to work with during the course home exercise challenges.
  • Be available for unlimited on-demand replays for one year on our Thinkific learning site.


Week One: What is mindfulness and how is it useful in animal behavior management and making connections with animals?

Learn how to begin by centering yourself with a basic awareness and intention practice.   From a centered viewpoint, begin to mindfully recognize your behavioral ABCs (Antecedent, Behavior and Consequence) and put them towards more positive outcomes. Understand your personal training goals in ways that show you how to make the necessary steps to progress and change behavior. Practice exercises for home study will focus on building confidence through calm and generous connections.

Week Two: Mindful antecedents - how to set the animal up for success

Learn the four aspects of antecedent arrangements that are critical causes and conditions of behavior.  These are the trainer’s mind and body and the animal’s mind and body.  Learn to recognize where certain aspects may be holding you back or contributing to undesirable outcomes. Discover how to find a middle path between intention and flexibility using an open mindfulness and curiosity.

Week Three: Mindful Behavior

Learn to break your behavior challenges down into proper sized steps.  Find more places to start seeing the rightness and bring out the best behaviors one step at a time.   Discover ways to begin to cultivate patience and duration in your behaviors.

Week Four: Mindful Consequences

Find ways to increase your animal’s enthusiasm and motivation for working with you.  Learn how to expand the use of positive reinforcement safely and without developing nagging or mugging behavior.  Improve your skills in mindful marking of correct and incorrect behavior.

About the instructor

Instructor Dr. Jenifer A. Zeligs

Dr. Jenifer Zeligs, world famous animal trainer and author of Animal Training 101: The complete and practical guide to the art and science of behavior modification, offers her unique and inspiring insight into the world of animal behavior modification with this one-of-a-kind lecture series.  Dr. Zeligs has been training animals of all types; domestic and exotic, terrestrial and aquatic, for over 35 years, and teaching animal training at California State University for over 15 years to students from all over the world. Her award-winning teaching is now available to a wider audience through this on-line class experience.

Praise for this course:

5 star rating

The course I was looking for.

Silvia Montecchio

I loved the book so I decided to enroll in the course to have more insights. I litterally dove into it. I have been practising mindfullness for a while, bu...

Read More

I loved the book so I decided to enroll in the course to have more insights. I litterally dove into it. I have been practising mindfullness for a while, but linking it to my training changed everything, not only improved my training but also the relationship with my pets. I can't wait for the next "Mindful"courses.

Read Less
5 star rating

Beyond my expectations!

Samantha Mirzaee

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first registered for this course but the conversations, instruction and material went above and beyond my expectati...

Read More

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first registered for this course but the conversations, instruction and material went above and beyond my expectations. I thoroughly appreciated the practical approach which was supported by research and deeply aligned with my values of training animals in a humane and compassionate way. I liked that the content was generalized enough to be applicable to training any type of animal and was fascinated by the anecdotes Dr. Zeligs provided about training a wide variety of animals from big cats to sea lions to horses and so many more! The value I garnered from this course was well above what I expected and I look forward to continuing to apply what I learn as I continue to work with my animals. I am keenly interested in learning more from Dr. Zeligs and I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone who wants to bring their own training journey with their animals to the next level!

Read Less
5 star rating

This class was amazing!

Joyce Dorsey

I wish this class was longer than 4 weeks! There was so much important information. My favorite 'nugget' was-'drop by drop the bucket is filled'. This phr...

Read More

I wish this class was longer than 4 weeks! There was so much important information. My favorite 'nugget' was-'drop by drop the bucket is filled'. This phrase, for me, is what 'training' is all about-little by little, slice by slice-communication is established. I feel so fortunate to have been able to participate in this class. I look forward to more classes and so does my horse. He also gives it 5 hooves as his owner has become so much more aware of what he has been saying. Joyce Dorsey

Read Less

Course Curriculum

    1. Basic breathing meditation practice

    1. Mindful Partners Week One

    2. Mindful Partners Class Video Week 1: Part A

    3. Mindful Partners Class Video Week 1: Part B

    4. Home Practice Week 1 Execises

    1. Mindful Partners Week 2

    2. Mindful Partners Class Video Week 2: Part A

    3. Mindful Partners Class Video Week 2: Part B

    4. Mindful Partners Week 2 home exercises

    1. Mindful Partners Week 3

    2. Mindful Partners Class Video Week 3: Part A

    3. Mindful Partners Class Video Week 3: Part B

    4. Mindful Partners Week 3 home exercises

    1. Week Four: Mindful Consequences

    2. Mindful Partners Week 4 home exercises

    3. Mindful Partners Class Video Week 4: Part A

    4. Mindful Partners Class Video Week 4: Part B

About this course

  • $48.00
  • 17 lessons
  • 6 hours of video content

You may also be interested in...

  • $35.00

    Animal Training 101 Audio Book Lecture Series

    Buy Now
  • $400.00

    Animal Training 101- full online course (no certification)

    Buy Now