Dr. Mindy Waite, Ph.D., is a Certified Dog Behaviorist at SeniorTailWaggers.com. She is one of the most knowledgeable experts about dog behavior in the United States: she is a Certified Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Free-Free Certified Professional, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in Animal Behavior at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI (Professor Profile page). At Carroll University, she currently teaches courses about “Advanced Skills in Canine Management and Training” and “The Science of Animal Behavior” (2023). Previously, she worked as a researcher on dog behavior at the University of Wisconsin (View her published research).
Dr. Waite is also one of 41 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAAB directory). CAABs are certified by the Animal Behavior Society, and have a Ph.D. / MS, with a focus on animal behavior, or a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. They also have several years of work experience in animal behavior, make science-based recommendations, attend scientific conferences and are up to date on animal behavior research (with a re-certification process every five years).
Published Research About Dog Behavior
- Frequency and Animal Demographics of Mouthing Behavior in Companion Dogs
- Owner-Implemented Functional Analyses and Reinforcement-Based Treatments for Mouthing in Dogs
Dr. Waite’s research has been focused on analyzing animal & dog populations with behavioral health issues and studying novel interventions to improve their outcomes. Her previous behavioral research focused on real-world observations to determine the cause of problem behavior, analyzing behavioral frequencies and social impact.
She has published several peer-reviewed papers on brain development and given talks at national conferences on animal behavioral research. Her behavioral research has received several awards, including the Schiek Immediate Impact Research Scholarship and the Marian Breland Bailey Award.
Academic Degrees
- Ph.D., Cellular & Molecular Biology: concentration on Developmental Neuroscience at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.
- MS in Behavior Analysis at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI.
Recent Articles by Mindy Waite on Senior Tail Waggers
Why Dogs Don’t Like Toys + 7 Ideas from Our Dog Trainers - Every pup needs daily mental and physical activities. But for some dogs, toys might not feel like their preferred play.… [...]
Why Do Dogs Lick Their Toys? Our Certified Dog Trainer Explains - When your dog licks his toys, it might be a simple act of enjoying his favorite stuffy or squeaker. After… [...]
Why Dogs Eat Poop & How to Stop It – According to Our Dog Experts - Right up there among politics, religion, and money is another topic banned from public discussion—poop. Especially if it involves your… [...]
Bucket List: 18 Things to Do Before Putting Your Dog to Sleep - At Senior Tail Waggers, we talk a lot about the difficult process of putting your dog to sleep and saying… [...]
Is Your Dog Not Barking? Our Dog Behaviorist Explains Why - Birds tweet, cats meow, and dogs bark. As a pet owner, you are no doubt accustomed to sharing your home… [...]
Should a Puppy Be Locked in a Crate All Night? [Dog Trainer Advice] - If you have ever brought home a puppy, then you know how difficult the first night can be. Of course,… [...]