Karen Pryor Obituary, Animal Behavior Expert Passes Away at 92

The marine mammal training world mourns as Karen Pryor, a trailblazing Dog Trainer and Animal Behavior Expert dies tragically.

Over time, Karen Pryor’s methods have shaped the industry tremendously. More importantly, her works and juxtapositions have continued to impact the industry.

According to reports, she died on Saturday, the 4th of January, 2024. She left this world at the age, of 92.

The Association of Dog Pet Trainers took to social media to express their pain and pay tribute to the legend. In their statement, they described how Karen Pryor’s work and contributions have been very useful.

In their statement:

‘We are deeply saddened to learn of Karen Pryor’s passing. She was a pioneer in animal training and behavior whose contributions have shaped modern dog training as we know it. Her innovative approach and entrepreneurial spirit transformed the industry, paving the way for countless trainers and animals to benefit from science-based, positive reinforcement methods.

Karen’s work extended far beyond the Karen Pryor Academy, which has educated and inspired trainers worldwide. Her book, Don’t Shoot the Dog, introduced an entire generation of trainers to the principles of clicker training and remains a cornerstone of dog training literature. The annual Clicker Expos she founded became vital opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, and community-building within the field. Her legacy also includes Reaching the Animal Mind, a profound exploration of the science and art of animal training.

Karen’s vision, intelligence, and compassion revolutionised how we communicate with and understand our canine companions. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on the lives of trainers and the dogs they work and live with. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire and guide the animal training community for generations to come.

Our thoughts are with Karen’s family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.

’

A friend of hers, Terry Golson had announced her death on social media.

Karen Pryor passed away today. She was 92 and it was not unexpected, but there is now a void that wasn’t there before. She was my best friend. We bonded over the craft of writing, and went off on retreats together. We’d hole up in our respective hotel rooms, and come out for meals and conversation. We also went to the symphony and the circus, museums and flea markets. If you want to know how she transformed the world with her work and her writing, see her website www.KarenWPryor.com. As for how she transformed my life with her friendship—this writer can’t put it into words.  #karenpryor #clickertraining

In the industry, she had one of the most impressive educational journeys. She bagged a bachelor’s degree at Cornell University followed by graduate degrees from the University of Hawaii, New York University, and Rutgers University respectively.

Her contributions are so impactful, that senior colleagues in the industry explained that she had set the bar so high for upcoming generations.

Karen Pryor developed her understanding of behavioral theory in the 1960s when she joined the Sea Life Park as a marine mammal trainer. This developed her career and incontrovertibly shaped the industry as a whole.

She will be missed greatly.