Trust the Process: Shaping Behavior with Compassion

At Totally Feline, we believe training is more than teaching behaviors—it’s about building trust, communication, and confidence. Just like life, training is a process. There are small wins, learning curves, pauses, and moments of celebration along the way. When we slow down and honor each step, the end result becomes even more meaningful.

Training Is a Journey 
Training mirrors life in many ways. It isn’t always linear, and it rarely happens overnight. There may be bumps in the road and moments where progress feels subtle—but those moments matter. Each experience shapes understanding, resilience, and trust.
When we focus only on the final behavior, we miss the beauty of the journey. At Totally Feline, we celebrate the process just as much as the outcome.

What Is Shaping?
Shaping is a positive, science-based training method that teaches behavior through small, achievable steps. Instead of expecting an animal to perform a full behavior right away, we reinforce successive approximations—tiny actions that move closer and closer to the goal.
Each step is rewarded, building confidence and clarity. Over time, those small successes naturally come together to form the complete behavior. Shaping allows animals to learn at their own pace, promotes choice, and creates a positive emotional experience around learning.

A Skateboard Adventure; Learning Through Shaping
My training goal was to help my bird feel comfortable riding on a skateboard. While we often see impressive videos of birds confidently rolling along, what we don’t always see is the thoughtful, patient process behind that success.

Using positive reinforcement and classical conditioning, I shaped the behavior step by step. While I’m not a certified bird trainer, I’ve adapted many of the same humane techniques I use when working with cats. The principles of learning—choice, clarity, and reinforcement—remain the same across species.
At Totally Feline, our goal is always to make training fun, empowering, and enriching for both the animal and the human.

Step-by-Step: Building Comfort and Confidence 
I began by introducing the skateboard using a target stick, encouraging gentle interaction at a comfortable distance. Gradually, the target moved closer to the skateboard and eventually onto it. Each interaction was rewarded, reinforcing curiosity and calm engagement.

As comfort increased, I phased out the target stick and used my fingers as a familiar form of support—drawing from step-up training. This helped my bird feel secure as she explored placing one foot on the skateboard.

With time, patience, consistency and lots of praises, she began placing both feet on the board. Throughout the process, I used continuous reinforcement to create positive associations. As her confidence grew, I transitioned to intermittent reinforcement, rewarding longer durations spent on the skateboard.

Listening to the Learner
Every step required observation, flexibility, and respect. Body language guided the pace. When signs of hesitation appeared, we paused. When curiosity returned, we continued.

Most importantly, Simon Simone controlled the session. When she chose to disengage, the training ended. Choice and consent are essential components of ethical, compassionate training.

Why the Process Matters 
Shaping isn’t about perfection—it’s about partnership. It allows animals to learn without pressure, builds trust through clarity, and turns training into a shared experience rather than a demand.

Whether you’re teaching a cat to enter a carrier, a bird to explore a new object, or any animal to feel safe in a novel situation, the process matters. When we trust it, the results often exceed our expectations.
To be continued on Simon Simone’s skateboard adventure.
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Gentle Disclaimer: The training examples shared here are for educational and enrichment purposes only. Every animal is an individual, and progress, comfort levels, and outcomes will vary. Always observe your animal’s body language, respect their choice to participate, and move at a pace that supports their emotional and physical well-being. If you have concerns about your animal’s behavior or health, consult a qualified veterinary or behavior professional.
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