Dr. Mindy Waite

Clinical Assistant Professor in Animal Behavior 262.951.3401 mwaite@carrollu.edu

TEACHES IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM(S)

College of Arts and Sciences Animal Behavior

Education

Ph.D., Molecular Biology, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
M.S., Behavior Analysis, Marquette University – Milwaukee, WI
B.S., Genetics, University of Wisconsin – Madison, WI

Areas of Specialization

Dr. Waite specializes in applied behavior analysis of companion dog behavior. Her research tends to focus on owner-implemented protocols for measuring or intervening on dog behaviors.

Scholarly and Professional Achievements

Selected Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications

Waite MR, Kodak TM. (manuscript under review). Development and Validation of an Owner-Implemented Ear Cleaning Training Protocol for Companion Dogs.

Waite MR. (invited book chapter, under review). In Mehrkam L, Feuerbacher E, and Kalafut K (Ed.), Applied Animal Behavior Analysis: From Principles to Practice. Cambridge University Publishing.

Waite MR, Kodak TM. (2023). Owner-Implemented Food Preference Assessments for Dogs. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.846

Kodak TM, Bergmann S, Waite MR. (invited book chapter, 2023). Strengthening the Research-to-Practice Loop in Treatment Integrity. In JK Luiselli (Ed.), Applied Behavior Analysis Advanced Guidebook: A Manual for Professional Practice (2^nd ed., pp. 33-62). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2016-0-01055-0

Kodak T, Bergmann S, & Waite MR. (2022). Strengthening the procedural fidelity research-to-practice loop in animal behavior. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 118(2), 215–236. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.780

Waite MR, Harman M, Kodak TM. (2021). Frequency and animal demographics of mouthing behavior in companion dogs in the United States. Learning and Motivation, 74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2021.101726

Waite MR, Kodak TM. Owner-Implemented Functional Analyses and Reinforcement-Based Treatments for Mouthing in Dogs. (2022). Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15, 269–283.
https://doi.org/10.1007/S40617-021-00554-Y

Waite MR, Diab S, Adefisoye J. (2022). Virtual behavioral health treatment satisfaction and outcomes across time. Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, 9(3), 158–165. https://doi.org/10.17294/2330-0698.1918

Selected Recent Presentations

Waite MR, Kodak TM, Whang A. Development and Validation of a Caretaker-Implemented Ear Cleaning Teaching Protocol for Companion Dogs. Interdisciplinary Forum for Applied Animal Behavior. 2025 April; Blacksburg, VA.

Waite MR, Kodak TM, Whang A. Development and Validation of Owner-Implemented Protocols for Companion Dogs. Veterinary Behavior Symposium. 2024 June; Minneapolis, MN.

Waite MR, Kodak TM. Development and Validation of Owner-Implemented Protocols for Companion Dogs. Invited presentation to the Association for Behavior Analysis International. 2024 May; Philadelphia, PA.

Waite MR, Pfaller-Sadovsky N. Unravelling Agonistic Behavior: Implications for Behavior Change Practices and the Role of Animal Welfare Standards. Association for Behavior Analysis International. 2024 May; Philadelphia, PA.

Waite MR, Kodak TM. Development and Validation of an Owner-Implemented Ear Cleaning Training Protocol for Companion Dogs. Animal Behavior Society Conference. 2023 July; Portland, OR.

Waite MR, Kodak TM. Functional Analyses and Reinforcement-Based Treatments for Mouthing in Dogs. Applied Animal Behavior Analysis SIG Virtual Journal Club. 2023 June; Virtual, US.

Waite MR, Kodak TM, Bergmann S. Nailed It! Treatment Integrity as a Critical Component for Animal Behavior Interventions. Interdisciplinary Forum for Applied Animal Behavior. 2022 February; Tucson, AZ.

Waite MR, Kodak TM. Functional Analyses and Reinforcement-Based Treatments for Mouthing in Dogs. The Pet Professional Guild Geek Week. 2021 November; Virtual, US.

Waite MR, Kodak TM. Food Preference Assessments for Companion Dogs. The Pet Professional Guild Geek Week. 2021 November; Virtual, US.

Waite MR, Kodak TM. Simple Food Preference Assessments for Companion Dogs. Veterinary Behavior Symposium. 2021 August; Virtual, US.

Waite MR, Kodak TM. Simple Food Preference Assessments for Companion Dogs. Animal Behavior Society. 2021 August; Virtual, US.

Waite MR, Kodak Simple Food Preference Assessments for Companion Dogs. Association for Behavior Analysis International. 2021 May; Virtual, US.

Waite MR, Harman M, Kodak TM. Mouthing is Common in Companion Dogs: Biting is in the Eye of the Beholder. Interdisciplinary Forum for Applied Animal Behavior. 2021 May; Virtual, US.

Waite MR, Harman M, Kodak TM. Frequency and Animal Demographics of Mouthing Behavior in Companion Dogs in the United States. Animal Behavior Society. 2020 July; Virtual, US.

Waite MR, Kodak TM, Bergmann SCJ, Fulton CJ. Developing Functional Analysis-Informed Interventions to Reduce Mouthing in Dogs. Association for Behavior Analysis International Conference; 2019 May; Chicago, IL.

Service to Carroll University and Profession

2025: Reviewer, Animals
2025: Reviewer, Behavioral Sciences
2025: Reviewer, Behavior Analysis in Practice
2024: Reviewer, Pets
2024 - current: Committee Member, Carroll University IACUC
2023 - current: Program Board Member, Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)
2022 - 2024: Behavior Expert, Senior Tail Waggers
2022: Reviewer, Learning and Motivation
2022: EC Reviewer, NIH Study Section: Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning, and Ethology
2022 - current: Co-chair, Interdisciplinary Forum for Applied Animal Behavior Conference (2025 Treasurer)
2022: Reviewer, Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior
2022: Reviewer, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis in Animal Training
2021 - current: Applied Animal Behavior Committee Member, Animal Behavior Society
2020 - current: Reviewer, Animal Behavior Society Student Research Grants
2020: Reviewer, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Honors and Awards

2025: PioScholars Grant: Development and Validation of an Efficient, Efficacious, Ethical Protocol to Crate Train Dogs
2024: Teaching Impact Grant, Carroll University
2023: Fear Free Grant, Validating a Training Protocol to Increase Cooperation and Reduce Fear, Anxiety, and Stress During Ear Cleaning for Dogs
2021: Fear Free Research Award, Veterinary Behavior Symposium, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
2020: Fear Free Grant, Testing a Simple Preference Assessment for Dog Owners
2019: Marian Breland-Bailey Award, Applied Animal Behavior Special Interest Group
2019: Scheik Travel Award, Marquette University

What is your teaching style?

I don’t really know how to answer this. I love what I teach, so I guess I’m enthusiastic? I’m delighted when students want to come to office hours to chat about what they learned in class or research ideas they have.

Why do you do what you do?

I absolutely love research and how it can be applied to improve the lives of animals, their families, and their caretakers. There’s nothing quite like being able to talk research with students, colleagues, and the public!

How do you make learning engaging?

People learn best when they see how something can be applied to a topic that interests them. So my first goal is to help students see how what they’re learning can be valuable, and then try and teach the content.

What should students know about you?

Although I specialize in canine behavior, I’m very interested in branching out and applying behavioral principles to the behavior of other species.