CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, IAABC 1 Registered for the live event, get busy and cannot make it? Don't worry, you will automatically receive a recording! For dog lovers – and dog trainers in particular – communicating about reward-based dog training, the importance of enrichment, and management strategies for behaviour problems is an essential part of promoting good animal welfare. But sometimes it feels like we are mired in a sea of misinformation (and not just about dogs!). Drawing on research in psychology and science communication, this webinar will look at evidence-based ways to communicate more effectively. We will use the example of reward-based dog training in particular, but the strategies and techniques apply to any time we want to get an important message across. Psychological science gives us several reasons why debunking false information can backfire, including the fact that repetition can make false ideas seem true, and correcting wrong information can be a threat to people’s identity, serving instead to reinforce those ideas. But while arguing may not be beneficial, just a few dissenting voices can make a big difference to perceptions of consensus. Luckily, there are plenty of tips from science communication that apply to talking about dog training, and this webinar will look at what we can do to make a positive difference. Learning objectives: Understand why debunking misinformation can backfire Know the best approach to take when debunking ideas Develop ways to teach people how to evaluate information about dog training Create messages that will engage, inspire and inform. About The Presenter Zazie Todd PhD Zazie Todd is the creator of Companion Animal Psychology, a blog about how to have happier cats and dogs (according to science). She has a PhD in Psychology, an MFA Creative Writing, and is an honours graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers. She takes dogs and cats as clients through her business Blue Mountain Animal Behaviour. She has a Psychology Today blog called Fellow Creatures, and has also written about pets for Pacific Standard, The Psychologist, and Reader’s Digest. Her book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, will be published by Greystone Books in February 2020.
CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, IAABC 1
Registered for the live event, get busy and cannot make it?
Don't worry, you will automatically receive a recording!
For dog lovers – and dog trainers in particular – communicating about reward-based dog training, the importance of enrichment, and management strategies for behaviour problems is an essential part of promoting good animal welfare. But sometimes it feels like we are mired in a sea of misinformation (and not just about dogs!). Drawing on research in psychology and science communication, this webinar will look at evidence-based ways to communicate more effectively. We will use the example of reward-based dog training in particular, but the strategies and techniques apply to any time we want to get an important message across.
Psychological science gives us several reasons why debunking false information can backfire, including the fact that repetition can make false ideas seem true, and correcting wrong information can be a threat to people’s identity, serving instead to reinforce those ideas. But while arguing may not be beneficial, just a few dissenting voices can make a big difference to perceptions of consensus. Luckily, there are plenty of tips from science communication that apply to talking about dog training, and this webinar will look at what we can do to make a positive difference.
Learning objectives:
About The Presenter
Zazie Todd PhD
CEUs: PPAB 1, IAABC 1, KPA 1
Behavioural stereotypies in captive animals have been defined as repetitive, largely invariant patterns of behaviour that serve no obvious goal or function (Mason, 1991a; Ödberg, 1978). Stereotypies are commonly attributed to boredom and/or fear and are typically “treated” by trying to enrich the captive environment with distracting, appealing stimuli. These stimuli often include food presented at times outside of regular feeding times, and as a result, engage species-typical foraging behaviours in the process of reducing stereotypic activity.
This presentation examines the defining features and common hypotheses surrounding stereotypies, including what their function is and how they can be addressed. Of primary concern will be (1) what are stereotypies (what does and doesn’t meet the definition), (2) specific examples of how they’ve been discussed and dealt with, and (3) practical solutions for applied animal behaviourists for both defining and treating stereotypies. Emphasis will be placed on an empirical, functional approach to dealing with stereotypies, including how any scientist and/or practitioner can be most effective when dealing with this topic.
Learning Objectives
Eduardo J Fernandez, PhD
School of Behavior Analysis, Florida Institute of Technology
Dr. Eduardo J. Fernandez received his Ph.D. in Psychology (minors in Neuroscience and Animal Behavior) from Indiana University, where he worked with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Zoo. He received his M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, where he founded and was President of the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (ORCA). Most of his past and current work involves conducting research on the behavioural welfare of captive exotic animals found in zoos and aquariums. He has worked with close to 50 species of animals, with a focus on marine animals, carnivores, and primates. He is currently a Visiting Professor in the School of Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology. His past positions include an Affiliate Professorship in the Psychology Department at University of Washington, Research Fellowship with Woodland Park Zoo, and National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. While working with UW and Woodland Park Zoo, he started the Behavioral Enrichment Animal Research (BEAR) group, which conducted welfare research with the African and Asian elephants, hippos, Humboldt penguins, grizzly bears, sun bears, sloth bears, Sumatran tigers, jaguars, African wild dogs, meerkats, golden lion tamarins, and ostriches located at the zoo. Eduardo also continues to run the Animal Reinforcement Forum (ARF), a former listserv and now Facebook group, which is dedicated to group discussions on animal training and behaviour from a scientific perspective.
Become a Certified “Fun Scent Games” Instructor! Updated, Improved & New Learning Platform Earn Your DN-FSG1 Approved Continuing Educational Units PPAB 4, CCPDT 4.5, IAABC 2 Presented by Louise Stapleton-Frappell On Demand Viewing - Start Your Course as Soon as You Register! This is fabulous Certification Programme that provides you with the tools, skills and knowledge to run Fun Scent Games classes. You will learn all about canine olfaction and scent games, along with the what, how and why of operating a successful Fun Scent Games class. Offering "Fun Scent Games" group classes, private classes or workshops will broaden your service offerings as well as helping to build client loyalty and supporting the needs of your pet owning community. Dogs have an amazing natural scenting ability. Dogs participating in your Fun Scent Games classes will have fun, build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy! Level One Fun Scent Games Instructor Program Learning Objectives: Canine Olfaction history and scientific facts The training environment, philosophy and methodology Effects of air current Scent contamination Detection thresholds ORNs Olfaction streamlines Scent discrimination Canine scent capability Target odors and individual scents Scent amounts & fringing Appropriate training equipment & handling How to play, building criteria and areas of reinforcement Reading dogs during the "find" Recommended course curriculum Upon Successful Completion, You Will Receive: A DogNostics Instructor Certificate DN-FSG1 A Certification Badge to display on your website A listing on the DogNostics Fun Scent Game Instructor Registry A PDF copy of the Course Curriculum A student Certificate for you to co-brand to provide to your “Fun Scent Games” students Advertising copy describing the programme for your website Artwork for a promotional 8.5 x 11 flyer Access to the DogNostics Student Common Room - A Closed Facebook Group where DogNostics students can network with each other, exchange ideas and ask questions Mentoring support through the DogNostics Faculty Members The Total Programme cost is only $130.00. You will see a full return on your investment after one group class! Please Note: Level 1 will be a prerequisite for Level 2 You do not need to enrol in more advanced levels. Each applicant has 12 months to complete each programme Study at home in your own time! Easy access and progress tracking of your modules Program Certification 1. Attend the online course lessons 2. Successful completion of your open-book on-line lesson quizzes 3. The submission of 6 short 30 second videos to demonstrate your mechanical competency in the key scent dog training skills Louise Stapleton-Frappell - B.A. Hons, PCT- A, PCBC-A, CAP3, CTDI, DN-FSG, DN-CPCT2, CWRI Louise is a partner and faculty member of DogNostics Career Center and board member of The Pet Professional Guild. A professional canine trainer and behaviour consultant – accredited via the Pet Professional Accreditation Board, Louise is the regional coordinator of Doggone Safe in Spain, the membership manager of The Pet Professional Guild British Isles and the owner and head trainer of The DogSmith of Estepona. Louise Stapleton-Frappell’s experience, her background as a teacher and her impressive pet industry credentials means she is uniquely qualified to share her skills and knowledge with both the public and pet industry professionals. Louise gained her CAP3 with distinction and holds verified certification in Animal Behaviour and Welfare (Edinburgh University) and Dog Emotion and Cognition (Duke University). Louise’s professional credentials also include: Certified Trick Dog Instructor, Certified Whistle Recall Instructor, Level Two Certified Pet Care Technician, and Certified Fun Scent Games Instructor. Louise is proud to be a Pet Dog Ambassador Instructor and Assessor, a programme that acknowledges the hard work and commitment that guardians and their dogs undertake to make their shared lives enjoyable. Louise is the creator and instructor of the DogNostics Dog Trainer Certificate Course; Dog Trick Instructor Programme; Fostering Collaborative Care Programme; Walk This Way Instructor Programme, co-author of The Top Ten Dog Training Knowledge Concepts and the instructor and assessor of the DogNostics Fun Scent Games Instructor certification courses Louise has published numerous articles on dog training and dog behaviour and is also the published co-author of the following titles, A Lexicon of Practical Terms for Pet Trainers and Behavior Consultants and Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the Bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People.
Become a Certified “Fun Scent Games” Instructor!
Updated, Improved & New Learning Platform
Earn Your DN-FSG1
Approved Continuing Educational Units
PPAB 4, CCPDT 4.5, IAABC 2
Presented by Louise Stapleton-Frappell
On Demand Viewing - Start Your Course as Soon as You Register!
This is fabulous Certification Programme that provides you with the tools, skills and knowledge to run Fun Scent Games classes. You will learn all about canine olfaction and scent games, along with the what, how and why of operating a successful Fun Scent Games class.
Offering "Fun Scent Games" group classes, private classes or workshops will broaden your service offerings as well as helping to build client loyalty and supporting the needs of your pet owning community.
Dogs have an amazing natural scenting ability. Dogs participating in your Fun Scent Games classes will have fun, build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy!
Level One Fun Scent Games Instructor Program Learning Objectives:
Upon Successful Completion, You Will Receive:
Please Note:
Level 1 will be a prerequisite for Level 2
Program Certification
1. Attend the online course lessons
2. Successful completion of your open-book on-line lesson quizzes
3. The submission of 6 short 30 second videos to demonstrate your mechanical competency in the key scent dog training skills
Louise Stapleton-Frappell - B.A. Hons, PCT- A, PCBC-A, CAP3, CTDI, DN-FSG, DN-CPCT2, CWRI
Louise is a partner and faculty member of DogNostics Career Center and board member of The Pet Professional Guild. A professional canine trainer and behaviour consultant – accredited via the Pet Professional Accreditation Board, Louise is the regional coordinator of Doggone Safe in Spain, the membership manager of The Pet Professional Guild British Isles and the owner and head trainer of The DogSmith of Estepona.
Louise Stapleton-Frappell’s experience, her background as a teacher and her impressive pet industry credentials means she is uniquely qualified to share her skills and knowledge with both the public and pet industry professionals. Louise gained her CAP3 with distinction and holds verified certification in Animal Behaviour and Welfare (Edinburgh University) and Dog Emotion and Cognition (Duke University). Louise’s professional credentials also include: Certified Trick Dog Instructor, Certified Whistle Recall Instructor, Level Two Certified Pet Care Technician, and Certified Fun Scent Games Instructor. Louise is proud to be a Pet Dog Ambassador Instructor and Assessor, a programme that acknowledges the hard work and commitment that guardians and their dogs undertake to make their shared lives enjoyable.
Louise is the creator and instructor of the DogNostics Dog Trainer Certificate Course; Dog Trick Instructor Programme; Fostering Collaborative Care Programme; Walk This Way Instructor Programme, co-author of The Top Ten Dog Training Knowledge Concepts and the instructor and assessor of the DogNostics Fun Scent Games Instructor certification courses
Louise has published numerous articles on dog training and dog behaviour and is also the published co-author of the following titles, A Lexicon of Practical Terms for Pet Trainers and Behavior Consultants and Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the Bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People.
Sponsored by DogNostics Career Center
PPG 3 CEUs, CCPDT 3 CEUs and IAABC - 3 CEUs
Presented on a professional platform. Access the programme from any device, whenever you like! Group and Team Discounts Available! Email Rebekah King to inquire how to secure yours The original contents of this programme were developed in conjunction with a Licensed Veterinarian and a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Florida, USA. You Owe it to Yourself; You Owe it to Your Customers; You Owe it to Your Pets - Be Prepared – Whether you are a pet owner or a pet professional you owe it to yourself and the pets you care for to be prepared for any emergency. And being prepared is as simple and easy as turning on your computer and attending the DogNostics Pet First Aid Programme. Join our extensive Pet First Aid Certification programme delivered through multiple individual bite size lessons via your computer, or any electronic device, in the comfort of your own home. Certification requires the completion of an open-book test and the submission of four short videos. Both technical skills and knowledge are assessed to ensure a specific level of competency. This programme does not just cover the typical pet emergencies, it also covers the following common problems that you may encounter when caring for a pet: Choking Gastrointestinal Toxicities Insect Bites & Stings Dehydration Vomiting & Diarrhea Seizures CPR & Triage Dog Breed Medication Sensitivity The Pet First Aid Kit Heat Stroke Lacerations Wound Care Hot Spots Broken Toenails Bandaging Burns Corneal Abrasions Prolapsed Eyes Fractures Luxations (Dislocations) Hypoglycemia Diabetes Keep growing in your profession – As Pet Owners and Pet Professionals, we all know how important it is to keep up on the cutting edge of new information, methods and techniques. Science continues to provide us with better and easier ways to perform our job. Studies of best practices often reveal improved techniques that can help us be more effective and even save lives. The DogNostics Pet First Aid Programme provides you with the necessary skills to manage a pet emergency covering topics from heat stroke to snake bites, CPR, wound management and how to safely transport a pet to the care of a veterinarian professional. Your Pets Deserve the Best – Whether they are clients or family members, our pets deserve the best. But to provide the best you have to be prepared to take care of those pets you are responsible for and be able to handle all emergencies. Most importantly, you need the training and experience to make sound decisions in stressful situations. DogNostics Pet First Aid makes a valuable addition to your pet care toolkit so you can be prepared for any emergency. Raise Yourself Above Your Competition – What sets you apart? You’re a pro. You have the confidence, skills and experience to deal with any situation you may face. You are more dedicated to your profession, your career, your business than the ‘here-today-gone-tomorrow’ types you see come and go. You take your responsibilities seriously and make the effort to get the training you need to stay at the top. Make the best investment in pet care you can, by getting your First Aid Certificate.Certification Requirments: Pass a 50 question open-book test and submit 4 short videos to show your skill competency. Learn more here
Presented on a professional platform. Access the programme from any device, whenever you like!
Group and Team Discounts Available! Email Rebekah King to inquire how to secure yours
You Owe it to Yourself; You Owe it to Your Customers; You Owe it to Your Pets - Be Prepared –
Whether you are a pet owner or a pet professional you owe it to yourself and the pets you care for to be prepared for any emergency. And being prepared is as simple and easy as turning on your computer and attending the DogNostics Pet First Aid Programme.
Join our extensive Pet First Aid Certification programme delivered through multiple individual bite size lessons via your computer, or any electronic device, in the comfort of your own home.
Certification requires the completion of an open-book test and the submission of four short videos. Both technical skills and knowledge are assessed to ensure a specific level of competency.
This programme does not just cover the typical pet emergencies, it also covers the following common problems that you may encounter when caring for a pet:
Keep growing in your profession – As Pet Owners and Pet Professionals, we all know how important it is to keep up on the cutting edge of new information, methods and techniques. Science continues to provide us with better and easier ways to perform our job. Studies of best practices often reveal improved techniques that can help us be more effective and even save lives. The DogNostics Pet First Aid Programme provides you with the necessary skills to manage a pet emergency covering topics from heat stroke to snake bites, CPR, wound management and how to safely transport a pet to the care of a veterinarian professional.
Your Pets Deserve the Best – Whether they are clients or family members, our pets deserve the best. But to provide the best you have to be prepared to take care of those pets you are responsible for and be able to handle all emergencies. Most importantly, you need the training and experience to make sound decisions in stressful situations. DogNostics Pet First Aid makes a valuable addition to your pet care toolkit so you can be prepared for any emergency.
Raise Yourself Above Your Competition – What sets you apart? You’re a pro. You have the confidence, skills and experience to deal with any situation you may face. You are more dedicated to your profession, your career, your business than the ‘here-today-gone-tomorrow’ types you see come and go. You take your responsibilities seriously and make the effort to get the training you need to stay at the top. Make the best investment in pet care you can, by getting your First Aid Certificate.
CEUs: PPAB 1.5 On Demand Listening - Watch at your Convenience An intense crash course in learning the picky details that can make or break your plans for helping the fearful dog. Learning Objectives Get Pavlov on your side! Learn why it’s not enough to say, “Pavlov is on your shoulder.” Get the association to the trigger, not other things that are getting in your dog’s way. Overshadowing and blocking effects - the death of creating the positive associations you need Learn how to work from classical conditioning and then move into operant, while maintaining the association. Learn how to create behaviours where you create positive associations to triggers. Learn the critical rules for achieving faster results and more robust associations. Smart strategies for breaking big problems into manageable steps. Why your hardest working clients need to learn to take a break and work less, not more. When to use yes/click and when it’s just extra unnecessary work. How to deal with trigger stacking. Which fearful trigger do you do first? Salience, what’s important to your dog’s brain? Learning preparedness. Dealing with dogs that are already fearful before they notice or see the trigger. Why is food so darn important when dealing with fearful dogs? Toys and praise just aren’t the same. There’s a reason why. Questions to ask when it comes to using medication. About The Presenter Yvette Van Veen Yvette Van Veen has two decades of experience training dogs, lives and works in London Ontario. She offers both group and private sessions. She has worked extensively with formerly feral dogs. Yvette’s writing has been a long-standing feature in Ontario’s newspapers, currently appearing in the Toronto Star. Her life is shared with her son Jordan, her formerly feral dog, “Kipper the ex-crotch ripper”, border collie, “Karma” and Icarus the cat. You can reach Yvette at info@awesomedogs.ca or follow her at: https://www.facebook.com/londondogtrainer/
CEUs: PPAB 1.5 On Demand Listening - Watch at your Convenience
CEUs: PPAB 1.5
On Demand Listening - Watch at your Convenience
An intense crash course in learning the picky details that can make or break your plans for helping the fearful dog.
Yvette Van Veen
Yvette Van Veen has two decades of experience training dogs, lives and works in London Ontario. She offers both group and private sessions. She has worked extensively with formerly feral dogs. Yvette’s writing has been a long-standing feature in Ontario’s newspapers, currently appearing in the Toronto Star. Her life is shared with her son Jordan, her formerly feral dog, “Kipper the ex-crotch ripper”, border collie, “Karma” and Icarus the cat. You can reach Yvette at info@awesomedogs.ca or follow her at: https://www.facebook.com/londondogtrainer/
On Demand Listening! Listen Whenever You Want, From Wherever You Are! CEUs: PPAB 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5 Register and get immediate access to your audio recording and presentation PDF Learning Objectives: Overview of an applied behaviour analysis (ABA) approach. Understanding a functional behavioural assessment. Practical examples of analysing aggressive behaviours. Your Presenter Chirag Patel PG Cert (CAB) BSc (Hons) DipCABT runs UK-based animal behaviour and training specialists Domesticated Manners and conducts consults with pet owners, organisations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind UK; The Kong Company, and zoos. He also presents seminars worldwide; writes for popular dog magazines and blogs; works part-time as an assistant head of canine training and behaviour at Dogs Trust, and is the scientific advisor for the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Training Group. Patel has a BSc (Hons) in veterinary sciences from the Royal Veterinary College in London, England as well as a post-graduate certificate from the University of Lincoln in clinical animal behaviour under veterinary behaviourists Prof. Daniel Mills and Helen Zulch. Patel previously worked at the university as the head trainer. He is currently doing his MSc in applied behaviour analysis at Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. This webinar is available as soon as you sign up and includes an audio file and presenter notes!
On Demand Listening!
Listen Whenever You Want, From Wherever You Are!
CEUs: PPAB 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5
Register and get immediate access to your audio recording and presentation PDF
Learning Objectives: Overview of an applied behaviour analysis (ABA) approach. Understanding a functional behavioural assessment. Practical examples of analysing aggressive behaviours. Your Presenter Chirag Patel PG Cert (CAB) BSc (Hons) DipCABT runs UK-based animal behaviour and training specialists Domesticated Manners and conducts consults with pet owners, organisations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind UK; The Kong Company, and zoos. He also presents seminars worldwide; writes for popular dog magazines and blogs; works part-time as an assistant head of canine training and behaviour at Dogs Trust, and is the scientific advisor for the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Training Group. Patel has a BSc (Hons) in veterinary sciences from the Royal Veterinary College in London, England as well as a post-graduate certificate from the University of Lincoln in clinical animal behaviour under veterinary behaviourists Prof. Daniel Mills and Helen Zulch. Patel previously worked at the university as the head trainer. He is currently doing his MSc in applied behaviour analysis at Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. This webinar is available as soon as you sign up and includes an audio file and presenter notes!
Learning Objectives:
Your Presenter
Chirag Patel PG Cert (CAB) BSc (Hons) DipCABT runs UK-based animal behaviour and training specialists Domesticated Manners and conducts consults with pet owners, organisations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind UK; The Kong Company, and zoos. He also presents seminars worldwide; writes for popular dog magazines and blogs; works part-time as an assistant head of canine training and behaviour at Dogs Trust, and is the scientific advisor for the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Training Group.
Patel has a BSc (Hons) in veterinary sciences from the Royal Veterinary College in London, England as well as a post-graduate certificate from the University of Lincoln in clinical animal behaviour under veterinary behaviourists Prof. Daniel Mills and Helen Zulch. Patel previously worked at the university as the head trainer. He is currently doing his MSc in applied behaviour analysis at Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
This webinar is available as soon as you sign up and includes an audio file and presenter notes!
CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5
Ferster and Skinner’s (1957) Schedules of Reinforcement was a landmark book, introducing the scientific community to the different schedules and their effects on behaviour. Since that time, the various schedules of reinforcement have been used in thousands of basic and applied research studies to examine issues as widely diverse as work performance, drug use, and legislative bill passing. While the importance of these consequential schedules on all behaviour is unmistakable, how they relate to our day-to-day lives is not always clear. This webinar focuses on some of the core principles involved in schedules of reinforcement, namely what they are and what are their effects on behaviour. Throughout the webinar, we will detail (1) the history of these schedules, from Skinner to modern-day animal training procedures, (2) some of the past confusion of such schedules, including “variable” vs. intermittent reinforcement, and (3) how can we understand and apply schedules of reinforcement in the most effective manner. The goal will be to provide a general, empirical framework for schedules of reinforcement so that any person, trainer and scientist alike, can readily identify them and how they relate to all aspects of behaviour. Learning Objectives Understand how we operationally define a schedule of reinforcement. Identify the four basic types of schedules, as well as the difference between continuous, intermittent, and “variable” reinforcement. Recognise applied instances of schedules of reinforcement, including how different schedules might be effective for our applied animal behaviour purposes.
Ferster and Skinner’s (1957) Schedules of Reinforcement was a landmark book, introducing the scientific community to the different schedules and their effects on behaviour. Since that time, the various schedules of reinforcement have been used in thousands of basic and applied research studies to examine issues as widely diverse as work performance, drug use, and legislative bill passing. While the importance of these consequential schedules on all behaviour is unmistakable, how they relate to our day-to-day lives is not always clear.
This webinar focuses on some of the core principles involved in schedules of reinforcement, namely what they are and what are their effects on behaviour. Throughout the webinar, we will detail (1) the history of these schedules, from Skinner to modern-day animal training procedures, (2) some of the past confusion of such schedules, including “variable” vs. intermittent reinforcement, and (3) how can we understand and apply schedules of reinforcement in the most effective manner. The goal will be to provide a general, empirical framework for schedules of reinforcement so that any person, trainer and scientist alike, can readily identify them and how they relate to all aspects of behaviour.
Eduardo J Fernandez, PhD Dr. Eduardo J. Fernandez received his Ph.D. in Psychology (minors in Neuroscience and Animal Behavior) from Indiana University, where he worked with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Zoo. He received his M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, where he founded and was President of the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (ORCA). Most of his past and current work involves behavioral research applied to the welfare and training of zoo and companion animals. He has worked with over 50 species of animals, with a focus on marine animals, carnivores, and primates. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide in Australia. His past positions include a Visiting Professorship in the School of Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology, an Affiliate Professorship in the Psychology Department at the University of Washington, a Research Fellowship with Woodland Park Zoo, and a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. While working with UW and Woodland Park Zoo, he started the Behavioral Enrichment Animal Research (BEAR) group, which conducted welfare research with many of the species and exhibits located throughout the zoo. Eduardo also continues to run the Animal Reinforcement Forum (ARF), a former listserv and now Facebook group, which is dedicated to group discussions on animal training and behavior from a scientific perspective. Many of his past publications, research projects, and presentations can be found on his ResearchGate profile
Most of his past and current work involves behavioral research applied to the welfare and training of zoo and companion animals. He has worked with over 50 species of animals, with a focus on marine animals, carnivores, and primates.
He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide in Australia. His past positions include a Visiting Professorship in the School of Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology, an Affiliate Professorship in the Psychology Department at the University of Washington, a Research Fellowship with Woodland Park Zoo, and a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. While working with UW and Woodland Park Zoo, he started the Behavioral Enrichment Animal Research (BEAR) group, which conducted welfare research with many of the species and exhibits located throughout the zoo.
Eduardo also continues to run the Animal Reinforcement Forum (ARF), a former listserv and now Facebook group, which is dedicated to group discussions on animal training and behavior from a scientific perspective. Many of his past publications, research projects, and presentations can be found on his ResearchGate profile
CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, IAABC 1, KPA 1 Veterinarians used to routinely recommend that your dog be neutered (spayed or castrated) at 6 months of age. That recommendation has been questioned in the past decade as information about the possible health consequences of early age neuter (or neuter at any age) comes to light. Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD, will discuss what we know about the relationship of spay/neuter timing and changes in the risk of development of cancer and/or of orthopedic injuries such as cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCL tear). She will also talk about how spay/neuter can affect behaviour, for better or worse. She will specifically discuss some recent studies and will detail problems designing effective studies to ask these questions. She will also cover alternative approaches to the traditional spay/neuter surgery. If you are wondering when, or if, you should neuter your dog, make your decision based on facts, not emotions. Learning Objectives: Interpret recent findings about spay/neuter outcomes in light of what those studies can actually tell us Make reasoned decisions about the risk of cancer/orthopedic disease and early spay/neuter List alternatives to traditional spay/neuter and compare their pros and cons to traditional spay/neuter RELAX about this decision! About The Presenter Dr. Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD Jessica is a veterinary researcher who is fascinated by dog behavior. After eleven years working as a computer programmer, she decided to go back to school to research the causes of behavior problems in dogs. She received her veterinary degree in 2012 from the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts, where she also received a Master's degree for her work on stress behaviors in hospitalized dogs. After graduation, she completed a year-long internship specializing in shelter medicine at the University of Florida Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program. She received her PhD in genetics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studying a group of foxes (often known as the "Siberian silver foxes") which have been bred over many generations to be friendly to humans. She is currently working at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard as a postdoctoral associate, studying the genetics of behavior in pet dogs through the Darwin's Ark project and the Working Dogs Project. Her ultimate goal is to find genetic causes of fearfulness in dogs, to work with behaviorally challenged shelter dogs, and to help people better understand the science behind dog behavior. She also frequently teaches online classes and webinars about canine genetics and behavior. Jessica lives in Raymond, NH with her husband and three dogs. You can follow her on Twitter @dogzombieblog or on Facebook at facebook.com/dogzombieblog.
CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, IAABC 1, KPA 1
Veterinarians used to routinely recommend that your dog be neutered (spayed or castrated) at 6 months of age. That recommendation has been questioned in the past decade as information about the possible health consequences of early age neuter (or neuter at any age) comes to light.
Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD, will discuss what we know about the relationship of spay/neuter timing and changes in the risk of development of cancer and/or of orthopedic injuries such as cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCL tear). She will also talk about how spay/neuter can affect behaviour, for better or worse. She will specifically discuss some recent studies and will detail problems designing effective studies to ask these questions. She will also cover alternative approaches to the traditional spay/neuter surgery. If you are wondering when, or if, you should neuter your dog, make your decision based on facts, not emotions.
Dr. Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD
Jessica is a veterinary researcher who is fascinated by dog behavior. After eleven years working as a computer programmer, she decided to go back to school to research the causes of behavior problems in dogs. She received her veterinary degree in 2012 from the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts, where she also received a Master's degree for her work on stress behaviors in hospitalized dogs. After graduation, she completed a year-long internship specializing in shelter medicine at the University of Florida Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program. She received her PhD in genetics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studying a group of foxes (often known as the "Siberian silver foxes") which have been bred over many generations to be friendly to humans. She is currently working at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard as a postdoctoral associate, studying the genetics of behavior in pet dogs through the Darwin's Ark project and the Working Dogs Project. Her ultimate goal is to find genetic causes of fearfulness in dogs, to work with behaviorally challenged shelter dogs, and to help people better understand the science behind dog behavior. She also frequently teaches online classes and webinars about canine genetics and behavior. Jessica lives in Raymond, NH with her husband and three dogs. You can follow her on Twitter @dogzombieblog or on Facebook at facebook.com/dogzombieblog.
CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, IAABC 1, KPA 1 Anxiety is a major problem for many pet dogs. What happens in your dog's brain and body when something scares her? How long can you expect her stress response to last? In this webinar, Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD, will talk about the stress response in dogs. She will explain the original evolutionary purpose of the stress response; what the hormones involved in it (like cortisol) do in the body; the difference between acute and chronic stress and the different effects they have on dogs' health; and what we know about how long it takes the body to clear those hormones. You will definitely learn some cool stuff about how the brain works and what that means for your stressed-out dog! Learning Objectives: Describe how the stress response functions and what its purpose is. Describe health effects (both positive and negative!) for acute versus chronic stress. Explain how the stress response affects the dog's brain and their ability to think clearly and behave normally. Describe how long it takes the stress response to clear from the body, and list possible alternative explanations for dogs who display signs of stress longer than it takes for stress hormones to be cleared. About The Presenter Dr. Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD Jessica is a veterinary researcher who is fascinated by dog behavior. After eleven years working as a computer programmer, she decided to go back to school to research the causes of behavior problems in dogs. She received her veterinary degree in 2012 from the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts, where she also received a Master's degree for her work on stress behaviors in hospitalized dogs. After graduation, she completed a year-long internship specializing in shelter medicine at the University of Florida Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program. She received her PhD in genetics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studying a group of foxes (often known as the "Siberian silver foxes") which have been bred over many generations to be friendly to humans. She is currently working at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard as a postdoctoral associate, studying the genetics of behavior in pet dogs through the Darwin's Ark project and the Working Dogs Project. Her ultimate goal is to find genetic causes of fearfulness in dogs, to work with behaviorally challenged shelter dogs, and to help people better understand the science behind dog behavior. She also frequently teaches online classes and webinars about canine genetics and behavior. Jessica lives in Raymond, NH with her husband and three dogs. You can follow her on Twitter @dogzombieblog or on Facebook at facebook.com/dogzombieblog.
Anxiety is a major problem for many pet dogs. What happens in your dog's brain and body when something scares her? How long can you expect her stress response to last?
In this webinar, Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD, will talk about the stress response in dogs. She will explain the original evolutionary purpose of the stress response; what the hormones involved in it (like cortisol) do in the body; the difference between acute and chronic stress and the different effects they have on dogs' health; and what we know about how long it takes the body to clear those hormones. You will definitely learn some cool stuff about how the brain works and what that means for your stressed-out dog!
Suzanne Clothier’s Really Real Relaxation Protocol (RRR) is based on her commitment as a trainer to creating authentic responses rather than faux or “looks like” (but actually is not) behaviors. This requires a careful assessment of what the authentic behavior actually is in terms of arousal, body language, response and volitional behavior. RRR promotes true relaxation. Other relaxation protocols are based in keeping the dog in a down position in a particular place in the hopes that this will result in relaxation. Remaining in place as directed does not always lead to authentic relaxation. Additionally, these protocols ignore the importance of social referencing, expecting the dog to remain in place regardless of what the handler does or does not do; this is more accurately the goal of a well-trained stay. RRR involves the handler and social referencing so that the relaxation becomes a shared response, not an action independent of the handler and relationship. Finally, being prompted to assume a specific position does not involve volitional behavior or self-modulation, and remains extrinsically reinforced behavior, rather than the intrinsically driven choices and reinforcement of choosing the body posture and arousal that is truly aligned with authentic relaxation. Dogs learn self-modulation through discovery, facilitating behavioral changes and shifts in emotional and cognitive state, making it ideal for “reactive” dogs. RRR is easily taught in one session, generalizes readily (as with most intrinsically reinforced behaviors), is suitable for use with dogs of any age, in group classes as well as private sessions, and can be used in any setting where the dog is in the Think & Learn Zone (productive arousal). Handlers do not need specific or sophisticated skills or knowledge, and RRR is as suitable for children as for adults. This was previously aired at Geek Week 2021
Suzanne Clothier’s Really Real Relaxation Protocol (RRR) is based on her commitment as a trainer to creating authentic responses rather than faux or “looks like” (but actually is not) behaviors. This requires a careful assessment of what the authentic behavior actually is in terms of arousal, body language, response and volitional behavior. RRR promotes true relaxation.
Other relaxation protocols are based in keeping the dog in a down position in a particular place in the hopes that this will result in relaxation. Remaining in place as directed does not always lead to authentic relaxation. Additionally, these protocols ignore the importance of social referencing, expecting the dog to remain in place regardless of what the handler does or does not do; this is more accurately the goal of a well-trained stay. RRR involves the handler and social referencing so that the relaxation becomes a shared response, not an action independent of the handler and relationship.
Finally, being prompted to assume a specific position does not involve volitional behavior or self-modulation, and remains extrinsically reinforced behavior, rather than the intrinsically driven choices and reinforcement of choosing the body posture and arousal that is truly aligned with authentic relaxation. Dogs learn self-modulation through discovery, facilitating behavioral changes and shifts in emotional and cognitive state, making it ideal for “reactive” dogs.
RRR is easily taught in one session, generalizes readily (as with most intrinsically reinforced behaviors), is suitable for use with dogs of any age, in group classes as well as private sessions, and can be used in any setting where the dog is in the Think & Learn Zone (productive arousal). Handlers do not need specific or sophisticated skills or knowledge, and RRR is as suitable for children as for adults.
This was previously aired at Geek Week 2021
Goals Teaching dog to find authentic relaxation through their own choices. Teaching handler to relax with the dog while maintaining connection. Maintenance of dog/handler connection that can easily be modulated up or down as desired. Benefits Simple, effective, quickly established – no need for laborious protocols. Dog learns to self-modulate through volunteered, not prompted, behavior. Handler learns to relax themselves while providing social reference for the dog. Readily generalized. Suitable for any age dog. Appropriate for companion, service, shelter/foster, behavior case, competitive/sport, and working dogs. Learning Objectives: Understand the value of volitional behavior, intrinsic reinforcement and social referencing. Understand the steps involved in teaching RRR. Be able to start any dog with RRR. Understand various applications and considerations for one-on-one and group sessions Be able to recognize common errors or challenges RRR is a must-have tool for any trainer. This presentation will cover the details of teaching RRR, and a variety of applications.
About Your Presenter Suzanne Clothier Suzanne Clothier has been working with animals professionally since 1977, with a deep, broadly varied background of experience. She is well respected for her humane, practical and sensible Relationship Centered Training (RCT™) approach to dogs and the people that love them. She has taught throughout the US and internationally on a variety of topics. Her thoughtful, effective tools and materials have been put to use by everyday pet owners, and by trainers, breeders, veterinarians, academics, in guide and service dog organizations, and in animal assisted therapy. She also serves as a consultant to guide and service dog schools. Regarded as an innovative trainer with exceptional observation skills and a broad range of knowledge, Suzanne is always in demand as an exciting, informative and entertaining speaker capable of making complex topics easily grasped and practical. Her works includes: CARAT™ - a novel temperament assessment and scoring system. The Enriched Puppy Protocol™ – a program for early puppyhood development, from birth to 9 weeks. RAT™ (Relationship Assessment Tool) – a dog/human relationship dynamics assessment. FAT™ (Functional Assessment Tracking) – a 15-dimension functional assessment of an individual dog. CCC™ (Connection, Cooperation & Control, with Cindy Knowlton) – a puzzle-based training program. Your Athletic Dog: A Functional Approach – a gait and movement assessment. An award-winning author of videos, books, and numerous articles, Suzanne’s writings have appeared around the world in countless languages from Danish to Japanese. Her book Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs (Warner, 2002) has received widespread praise from every corner of the dog world, including being included twice in The Wall Street Journal's list of Top 5 Dog Books. Suzanne is a member of PPG and IAABC. A long time German shepherd breeder, she lives on an upstate New York farm with husband John Rice, and their considerable animal family.
Suzanne Clothier
Suzanne Clothier has been working with animals professionally since 1977, with a deep, broadly varied background of experience. She is well respected for her humane, practical and sensible Relationship Centered Training (RCT™) approach to dogs and the people that love them.
She has taught throughout the US and internationally on a variety of topics. Her thoughtful, effective tools and materials have been put to use by everyday pet owners, and by trainers, breeders, veterinarians, academics, in guide and service dog organizations, and in animal assisted therapy. She also serves as a consultant to guide and service dog schools.
Regarded as an innovative trainer with exceptional observation skills and a broad range of knowledge, Suzanne is always in demand as an exciting, informative and entertaining speaker capable of making complex topics easily grasped and practical. Her works includes:
An award-winning author of videos, books, and numerous articles, Suzanne’s writings have appeared around the world in countless languages from Danish to Japanese. Her book Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs (Warner, 2002) has received widespread praise from every corner of the dog world, including being included twice in The Wall Street Journal's list of Top 5 Dog Books.
Suzanne is a member of PPG and IAABC. A long time German shepherd breeder, she lives on an upstate New York farm with husband John Rice, and their considerable animal family.
An effective behavior change strategy in any behavior case often includes assessing the external factors in the environment, such as the antecedents and conditions that precede the behaviors. In aggression cases, it can be paramount for successful outcomes to properly recognize and address the underlying motivations and emotional responses in a dog that displays aggressive behavior. In this session, aggression specialist Michael Shikashio CDBC will be highlighting how to determine what emotions may be in play when a dog shows aggression, and what we can do to help. This was previously aired at Geek Week 2021. Learning Objectives
An effective behavior change strategy in any behavior case often includes assessing the external factors in the environment, such as the antecedents and conditions that precede the behaviors. In aggression cases, it can be paramount for successful outcomes to properly recognize and address the underlying motivations and emotional responses in a dog that displays aggressive behavior.
In this session, aggression specialist Michael Shikashio CDBC will be highlighting how to determine what emotions may be in play when a dog shows aggression, and what we can do to help.
This was previously aired at Geek Week 2021.
Identify contexts and behaviors that can indicate certain underlying motivations and emotional responses in dogs displaying aggression. Review the body language of dogs in a variety of emotional states. Understand physiological factors that can impact the intensity of aggressive behaviors.
About Your Presenter Michael Shikashio Michael Shikashio CDBC is the founder of AggressiveDog.com and focuses on teaching other professionals around the world on how to successfully work aggression cases. He is a five-term president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and a full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). Michael is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Fox News, The List TV, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women’s Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale’s Pet World. He also hosts the popular podcast show The Bitey End of the Dog where he chats with leading experts on dog aggression. He is a featured keynote speaker at conferences, universities, and seminars around the world, and offers a variety of educational opportunities on the topic of canine aggression, including the Aggression in Dogs Master Course and the annual Aggression in Dogs Conference.
Michael Shikashio
Michael Shikashio CDBC is the founder of AggressiveDog.com and focuses on teaching other professionals around the world on how to successfully work aggression cases. He is a five-term president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and a full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).
Michael is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Fox News, The List TV, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women’s Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale’s Pet World. He also hosts the popular podcast show The Bitey End of the Dog where he chats with leading experts on dog aggression.
He is a featured keynote speaker at conferences, universities, and seminars around the world, and offers a variety of educational opportunities on the topic of canine aggression, including the Aggression in Dogs Master Course and the annual Aggression in Dogs Conference.
CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT 1.5, KPA 1.5
This webinar teaches the basics of dog learning behavior. Do you know why your dog runs to the door and barks at the mailman? Does your dog beg when you eat dinner? Learn how we can use basic theories of dog behavior to teach your dog new things. Also learn why dogs learn these common misbehaviors and how to change them. This 1.5-hour webinar was designed for anyone who loves dogs! Whether you are a veterinarian, a veterinary technician, groomer, a dog parent or just a dog lover this class will help your dog learn faster! Learning Objectives: Learn the basics of how dogs learn Learn how to change misbehaviors
This webinar teaches the basics of dog learning behavior. Do you know why your dog runs to the door and barks at the mailman? Does your dog beg when you eat dinner? Learn how we can use basic theories of dog behavior to teach your dog new things. Also learn why dogs learn these common misbehaviors and how to change them. This 1.5-hour webinar was designed for anyone who loves dogs! Whether you are a veterinarian, a veterinary technician, groomer, a dog parent or just a dog lover this class will help your dog learn faster!
About Your Presenter Shannon Riley-Coyner An internationally sought-after speaker, Shannon has been a pet lover all her life and a dog trainer for over 20 years. She has spent her life observing, caring for and training animals of all kinds. She spoke at Pet Professional Guilds Geek Week Australia in 2021, has worked in the Bird Department at Marine World Africa USA, and worked as a handler and trainer for an African Serval Cat at Safari West, a private zoo in Santa Rosa, California. She has participated in behavior studies including observations of bald eagles and addax antelope through the San Francisco Zoo and Safari West. Her education includes a Biology Degree, specializing in Zoology from Sonoma State. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Shannon created Truly Force Free Animal Training in 2015 so that anyone, anywhere could have access to force free, positive reinforcement animal training. In 2018, Shannon published “The Evolution of Dog Training” available in audio, print and Ebook. Shannon’s dog training philosophy revolves around force free, positive reinforcement; however, her goal is for healthy happy relationships between pets and their people. Diet, exercise, environment, and training all play a significant role in achieving this goal. Shannon spent many years as the head dog trainer for PAWS for Healing, a pet assisted therapy organization. She performed temperament testing and assisted in the training of therapy dogs who visited hospitals, veteran groups, special educational facilities, and convalescent homes. She believes strongly in the benefits of developing the human animal bond and can assist in coaching for pets and their human companions to develop that connection. Shannon is a past President for the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians.
Shannon Riley-Coyner
An internationally sought-after speaker, Shannon has been a pet lover all her life and a dog trainer for over 20 years. She has spent her life observing, caring for and training animals of all kinds. She spoke at Pet Professional Guilds Geek Week Australia in 2021, has worked in the Bird Department at Marine World Africa USA, and worked as a handler and trainer for an African Serval Cat at Safari West, a private zoo in Santa Rosa, California. She has participated in behavior studies including observations of bald eagles and addax antelope through the San Francisco Zoo and Safari West.
Her education includes a Biology Degree, specializing in Zoology from Sonoma State. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.
Shannon created Truly Force Free Animal Training in 2015 so that anyone, anywhere could have access to force free, positive reinforcement animal training. In 2018, Shannon published “The Evolution of Dog Training” available in audio, print and Ebook.
Shannon’s dog training philosophy revolves around force free, positive reinforcement; however, her goal is for healthy happy relationships between pets and their people. Diet, exercise, environment, and training all play a significant role in achieving this goal.
Shannon spent many years as the head dog trainer for PAWS for Healing, a pet assisted therapy organization. She performed temperament testing and assisted in the training of therapy dogs who visited hospitals, veteran groups, special educational facilities, and convalescent homes. She believes strongly in the benefits of developing the human animal bond and can assist in coaching for pets and their human companions to develop that connection.
Shannon is a past President for the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians.
CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, KPA 1 Join us for this webinar where Stefani a licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in parent coaching and child development discussed how cynophobia (fear of dogs) develops and how the use of exposure therapy can treat it. Stefani developed the Overcoming Fear of Dogs Protocol (OFOD) and will walk the audience through the system so they can use it to help people learn to feel more comfortable around dogs. The webinar will focus on safety around dogs, reading dog body language and the benefits of the human animal bond. This webinar is for anyone who are afraid of dogs, parents of fearful children, dog trainers, therapists, therapy dog handlers, teachers, dog lovers - pretty much everyone! Learning Objectives To educate people on the fear of dogs and how it develops To grasp the OFOD process and how it can be implemented to help people overcome the fear of dogs.
CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, KPA 1
Join us for this webinar where Stefani a licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in parent coaching and child development discussed how cynophobia (fear of dogs) develops and how the use of exposure therapy can treat it. Stefani developed the Overcoming Fear of Dogs Protocol (OFOD) and will walk the audience through the system so they can use it to help people learn to feel more comfortable around dogs.
The webinar will focus on safety around dogs, reading dog body language and the benefits of the human animal bond.
This webinar is for anyone who are afraid of dogs, parents of fearful children, dog trainers, therapists, therapy dog handlers, teachers, dog lovers - pretty much everyone!
About Your Presenter Stefani Cohen - LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) As a parenting expert, I have over thirty years of experience working with parents to help them develop and implement positive parenting strategies to maximize their children’s social and emotional development. I have developed a niche of helping children who are afraid of dogs overcome their fear through exposure therapy using a live dog. Together with my canine assistants, we have also done presentations for school children and scout troops on humane education, kindness to animals and bite prevention. My love of animals, especially dogs, developed when I was a young child. Dogs have always been an integral part of my life. When I realized that my daughter, Becky, was afraid of dogs I began to develop and implement the Overcoming Fear of Dogs Protocol (OFOD). Since then I have perfected this method and have helped many children to feel safe and comfortable around dogs. My book is the culmination of my efforts. It was born out of my wish and need for guidance when I needed resources to help my daughter overcome her fear of dogs. I basically wrote the book I wish I had had back then.
About Your Presenter
Stefani Cohen - LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
As a parenting expert, I have over thirty years of experience working with parents to help them develop and implement positive parenting strategies to maximize their children’s social and emotional development.
I have developed a niche of helping children who are afraid of dogs overcome their fear through exposure therapy using a live dog. Together with my canine assistants, we have also done presentations for school children and scout troops on humane education, kindness to animals and bite prevention.
My love of animals, especially dogs, developed when I was a young child. Dogs have always been an integral part of my life. When I realized that my daughter, Becky, was afraid of dogs I began to develop and implement the Overcoming Fear of Dogs Protocol (OFOD).
Since then I have perfected this method and have helped many children to feel safe and comfortable around dogs. My book is the culmination of my efforts. It was born out of my wish and need for guidance when I needed resources to help my daughter overcome her fear of dogs. I basically wrote the book I wish I had had back then.
CEUs: PPAB 1 Dominance - What it is. What it isn’t… the impacts on dog training and why it’s not an argument for force. How can the research and information on dominance be contradictory? Join this webinar to learn about social dominance, starting with an overview of conflict resolution in various species of animals. Queen bees and workers. Why do some individuals sacrifice themselves during mating? Isn’t that maladaptive? A look at haplodiploid species and why anyone would “serve the hive." Learning Objectives Learn how social structure can lead to adaptive processes such as sex changes to avoid conflict. How does the sociality of the species impact displays, mating, and group dynamics. Learn why we cannot extrapolate data from one species to another without concern. The role of sex in various social societies. Why do some species have harems? How exactly do dogs fit into all of this? Are dogs “dominant” if yes, does it matter? How much does dominance impact dog training? About Your Presenter
CEUs: PPAB 1
Dominance - What it is. What it isn’t… the impacts on dog training and why it’s not an argument for force.
How can the research and information on dominance be contradictory? Join this webinar to learn about social dominance, starting with an overview of conflict resolution in various species of animals.
Queen bees and workers. Why do some individuals sacrifice themselves during mating? Isn’t that maladaptive? A look at haplodiploid species and why anyone would “serve the hive."
Yvette Van Veen Yvette Van Veen has two decades of experience training dogs, lives and works in London Ontario. She offers both group and private sessions. She has worked extensively with formerly feral dogs. Yvette’s writing has been a long-standing feature in Ontario’s newspapers, currently appearing in the Toronto Star. Her life is shared with her son Jordan, her formerly feral dog, “Kipper the ex-crotch ripper”, border collie, “Karma” and Icarus the cat. You can reach Yvette at info@awesomedogs.ca or on Facebook at facebook.com/londondogtrainer/
Yvette Van Veen has two decades of experience training dogs, lives and works in London Ontario. She offers both group and private sessions. She has worked extensively with formerly feral dogs. Yvette’s writing has been a long-standing feature in Ontario’s newspapers, currently appearing in the Toronto Star. Her life is shared with her son Jordan, her formerly feral dog, “Kipper the ex-crotch ripper”, border collie, “Karma” and Icarus the cat. You can reach Yvette at info@awesomedogs.ca or on Facebook at facebook.com/londondogtrainer/
In this webinar, Kristi Benson will delve into the ways the guardians of a multi-dog household can make their living situations more peaceful and joyful, for both the humans and the dogs involved. She’ll review safety factors in having a home with multiple dogs, including how dogs function as social carnivores and how and why other pets and small children may be at risk. She will delve into “management”, or the prevention of problem behaviours before they start, when dealing with multiple animals. She will also cover useful tricks and tools for both management and training, how to maximise training set-ups, how and when to train on-the-fly, and the logistics of comfortable down-time. Kristi will cover how to comfortably bring clients on board with kinder techniques and dismantling client myths about behaviour and dynamics among multi-dog homes. She will also tackle how to have tricky conversations about re-homing and permanent separation of animals in a single home. Kristi has lived with up to 13 dogs in her home when she was running a sled dog rescue and has tested and streamlined effective and welfare-forward techniques to meet everyone’s needs while keeping the (relative) peace in a busy home. Learning Objectives: Identify safety considerations for multi-dog households, including with cats and children. Understand the basics of predatory behaviour and acquired bite inhibition. Understand and implement management (response prevention) for multi-dog households to reduce problem behaviours including fighting. Identify useful and important training plans, and how to effectively train in a multi-dog household. Understand the basics of classical conditioning and how to use it in a solo-counterconditioning protocol on-the-fly. Identify and reduce risk/harm in worst-case scenarios.
In this webinar, Kristi Benson will delve into the ways the guardians of a multi-dog household can make their living situations more peaceful and joyful, for both the humans and the dogs involved. She’ll review safety factors in having a home with multiple dogs, including how dogs function as social carnivores and how and why other pets and small children may be at risk. She will delve into “management”, or the prevention of problem behaviours before they start, when dealing with multiple animals. She will also cover useful tricks and tools for both management and training, how to maximise training set-ups, how and when to train on-the-fly, and the logistics of comfortable down-time. Kristi will cover how to comfortably bring clients on board with kinder techniques and dismantling client myths about behaviour and dynamics among multi-dog homes. She will also tackle how to have tricky conversations about re-homing and permanent separation of animals in a single home.
Kristi has lived with up to 13 dogs in her home when she was running a sled dog rescue and has tested and streamlined effective and welfare-forward techniques to meet everyone’s needs while keeping the (relative) peace in a busy home.
About Your Presenter Kristi Benson Kristi is an honours graduate of, and now on staff at, the Academy for Dog Trainers. At the Academy, she is a student mentor and coach, and is in charge of the weekly webinars. Kristi is also in charge of special projects, including the Husbandry Project, which is a large co-operative veterinary care research study working with hundreds of dog owners, testing the efficiency and usefulness of a series of training plans. In her private practice, Kristi works with dog guardians through her self-paced online classes. She also loves helping both the dogs and the humans in the equation and brings her trademark combination of humour and compassion to her courses, no matter the topic. Kristi also enjoys reaching out to dog owners through writing. Besides her own blog, she also regularly writes for the Academy for Dog Trainers’ blog and is a Special Correspondent to Zazie Todd’s Companion Animal Psychology. For ten years, she ran a sled dog micro-rescue with her partner, and fostered, house-trained, obedience-trained, and re-homed racing sled dogs. She lives rurally in northern British Columbia, Canada. She has gained the PCBC-A credential, is Fear Free certified, and is on the Fear Free Speaker’s Bureau.
Kristi Benson
Kristi is an honours graduate of, and now on staff at, the Academy for Dog Trainers. At the Academy, she is a student mentor and coach, and is in charge of the weekly webinars. Kristi is also in charge of special projects, including the Husbandry Project, which is a large co-operative veterinary care research study working with hundreds of dog owners, testing the efficiency and usefulness of a series of training plans. In her private practice, Kristi works with dog guardians through her self-paced online classes. She also loves helping both the dogs and the humans in the equation and brings her trademark combination of humour and compassion to her courses, no matter the topic.
Kristi also enjoys reaching out to dog owners through writing. Besides her own blog, she also regularly writes for the Academy for Dog Trainers’ blog and is a Special Correspondent to Zazie Todd’s Companion Animal Psychology. For ten years, she ran a sled dog micro-rescue with her partner, and fostered, house-trained, obedience-trained, and re-homed racing sled dogs. She lives rurally in northern British Columbia, Canada. She has gained the PCBC-A credential, is Fear Free certified, and is on the Fear Free Speaker’s Bureau.
CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending) Whether training dogs, birds, insects or any other animal, how they sense the world likely differs from our mental representation of the world around us. When animals see, smell, taste, hear and feel elements in the environment can serve as cues that elicit learned behaviours or fixed action patterns (FAPs). If we fail to consider the animal’s sensory reality, we may miss that which is right before us, but invisible to our senses. Learning Objectives How does human perception work, especially sight? How does a 2D image become a 3D representation in our minds? What do other species see? A look at the fascinating world of “seeing” with touch. Looking at species that see UV light physically seeing things that are present but are hidden from our sight. How does polarized light look and how does it work to help animals get around? What are pheromones and how do they assist some species. How are these things tested if we cannot perceive what we are investigating? Early exposure with senses impacts later abilities. The case for “enriched” environments. Socialization. Looking at a scientific study of what happens when animals are raised in a restrictive rearing environment, and why that matters so much to dogs. Working with a dog’s sense of smell and making the case for the notion that, “They are not sniffing nothing.” When “nothing” cues behaviour. How stimuli may be creating a cascade effect in dog behaviour problems such as marking. What is a fixed action pattern (also called Modal action pattern) and can you train around a behaviour with strong genetic predispositions? Visualizing scents as cues, both positive and negative. About Your Presenter
CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)
Whether training dogs, birds, insects or any other animal, how they sense the world likely differs from our mental representation of the world around us. When animals see, smell, taste, hear and feel elements in the environment can serve as cues that elicit learned behaviours or fixed action patterns (FAPs). If we fail to consider the animal’s sensory reality, we may miss that which is right before us, but invisible to our senses.
Socialization. Looking at a scientific study of what happens when animals are raised in a restrictive rearing environment, and why that matters so much to dogs.
CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5 Feeding a dog in the presence of an eliciting stimulus is often masked as counter conditioning him. When it doesn´t work we label the process as ineffective or assume it’s not the best choice for that particular dog or situation. But the only times counter conditioning doesn’t work is if it’s not counter conditioning, if it’s not performed correctly, or if there is some physiological or neurological process inhibiting learning. There are pillars that support a counter conditioning procedure. Novelty, salience, contingency, contiguity and timing are the main ones. Similarly, there are factors – mainly human error – that hinder the process. In this webinar we will explore those pillars and discuss human errors that make counter conditioning “ineffective”. Learning Objectives - Understand the importance and impact of novelty. - What is more important? Contiguity, contingency, or both? - Learn how pre-exposure to the US can make it less effective. - Increase US salience while decreasing trigger salience. - Learn about trace conditioning, simultaneous conditioning, short and long-delay conditioning and when to use them. - The role of backward conditioning. - Avoid common errors during a counter conditioning procedure. - Some practical examples.
Feeding a dog in the presence of an eliciting stimulus is often masked as counter conditioning him. When it doesn´t work we label the process as ineffective or assume it’s not the best choice for that particular dog or situation. But the only times counter conditioning doesn’t work is if it’s not counter conditioning, if it’s not performed correctly, or if there is some physiological or neurological process inhibiting learning.
There are pillars that support a counter conditioning procedure. Novelty, salience, contingency, contiguity and timing are the main ones. Similarly, there are factors – mainly human error – that hinder the process. In this webinar we will explore those pillars and discuss human errors that make counter conditioning “ineffective”.
- Understand the importance and impact of novelty.
- What is more important? Contiguity, contingency, or both?
- Learn how pre-exposure to the US can make it less effective.
- Increase US salience while decreasing trigger salience.
- Learn about trace conditioning, simultaneous conditioning, short and long-delay conditioning and when to use them.
- The role of backward conditioning.
- Avoid common errors during a counter conditioning procedure.
- Some practical examples.
About Your Presenter Alexandra Santos Alexandra Santos is a professional canine behavior consultant and trainer, with formal education through The Animal Care College in the U.K. where she graduated with honors for the Diploma of Advanced Canine Psychology, and through The Companion Animal Sciences Institute where she graduated with distinction for the Diploma of Advanced Dog Training. She is the author of the books “Puppy Problems”, “Puppy Training: How to housetrain your puppy effectively”, “How to leash train your dog and enjoy walking him”, “O meu cão e eu”, “Cão educado, dono feliz” (published in Portugal), and has also authored and co-authored several scientific articles for the Journal of Applied Companion Animal Behavior and the International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior. Alexandra lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal, as a guest professor at Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias and provides individual coaching for dogs and their people. She has been a presenter at several seminars in Portugal and Brazil on positive reinforcement-based training and regularly presents webinars for the Pet Professional Guild in the USA and Edogtorial in Spain.
Alexandra Santos
Alexandra Santos is a professional canine behavior consultant and trainer, with formal education through The Animal Care College in the U.K. where she graduated with honors for the Diploma of Advanced Canine Psychology, and through The Companion Animal Sciences Institute where she graduated with distinction for the Diploma of Advanced Dog Training.
She is the author of the books “Puppy Problems”, “Puppy Training: How to housetrain your puppy effectively”, “How to leash train your dog and enjoy walking him”, “O meu cão e eu”, “Cão educado, dono feliz” (published in Portugal), and has also authored and co-authored several scientific articles for the Journal of Applied Companion Animal Behavior and the International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior.
Alexandra lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal, as a guest professor at Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias and provides individual coaching for dogs and their people. She has been a presenter at several seminars in Portugal and Brazil on positive reinforcement-based training and regularly presents webinars for the Pet Professional Guild in the USA and Edogtorial in Spain.
The ABCs and 123s for Developing a powerful Memory to Enhance Pet Professional Development & Lifelong Learning Free to PPG Members CEUs: PPAB 1 Learn from the world’s leading memory skills expert! In this very fun & interactive presentation, U.S. Memory Champion, Chester Santos – “The International Man of Memory” will help you to develop life-changing skills to greatly enhance your professional development & lifelong learning. Unlock your mind's hidden power to easily remember names, facts/figures, presentations, processes/procedures, famous quotes, foreign languages, software commands/directories, complex terminology, laws/statutes, exam/training material, and much more. This is an entertaining, educational, and “memorable” program with wide appeal! Learning Objectives: Master the fundamental principles for developing powerful memory skills Exercise your visualization ability, creativity, and imagination Learn to better remember names to get more out of networking at conferences/meetings and improve professional & personal relationships Better retain learned information and consolidate knowledge for enhanced professional & personal development Become inspired by the incredible power of your mind and increase your thirst for knowledge and continuing education About the Presenter Chester Santos Chester Santos – “The International Man of Memory” has left an impression on all corners of the earth. With his unique ability to not only demonstrate extraordinary feats of the mind, but also educate others to do the same, this U.S. Memory Champion is widely regarded to be the world’s leading memory skills expert. Through his entertaining & educational television and movie appearances, professional seminars, and best-selling books, Chester has helped millions of people around the world to realize the benefits of an improved memory and sharper mind. He is highly sought-after by the media for his exceptional skills and expertise. CNN, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, BBC, and the Science Channel have all featured Chester and his memory building tips for viewers. When newspapers and magazines need memory improvement tips for their readers, they also seek out Chester Santos. He has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, and most recently, TIME Magazine featured his advice for remembering numbers in a December 2018 Special Edition entitled, “The Science of Memory”. The 2020 documentary film, "David vs. Goliath" features Chester Santos and his memory skills training. Chester is also a best-selling author. His first book, “Instant Memory Training for Success”, was published by leading academic publisher John Wiley & Sons (Wiley) in 2016. It quickly became a bestseller in WHSmith stores across the UK and also on the Amazon UK website in multiple categories. Chester’s second book, “Mastering Memory: Techniques to Turn Your Brain from a Sieve to a Sponge”, was published by leading nonfiction publisher Sterling Publishing (Sterling) in 2018. It is currently (as of 2019) still featured in the Psychology section of almost every Barnes & Noble store across the USA. Chester’s books have been acquired by 246 public libraries worldwide. As the preeminent thought leader on memory skills and their effect on one’s professional, personal, and academic success, Chester has been booked to give presentations in over 30 countries. He has entertained and educated people of varying backgrounds, including executives for CEO Clubs International and YPO, investment professionals for NASDAQ and Credit Suisse, students for organizations at Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard, and even actors for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) Foundation. His keynote speaking credits include TEDx with some of the nation’s most highly regarded professors and scientists, the prestigious Talks at Google program featuring “the world’s most influential thinkers, creators, makers and doers”, and the International Festival of Brilliant Minds in Puebla that had him speaking to an audience of 5000 people along with Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, and other luminaries. Chester Santos is also the personal memory and mind coach to some notable celebrities, politicians, professional athletes, and high-powered executives.
The ABCs and 123s for Developing a powerful Memory to Enhance Pet Professional Development & Lifelong Learning Free to PPG Members CEUs: PPAB 1
Free to PPG Members
Learn from the world’s leading memory skills expert! In this very fun & interactive presentation, U.S. Memory Champion, Chester Santos – “The International Man of Memory” will help you to develop life-changing skills to greatly enhance your professional development & lifelong learning.
Unlock your mind's hidden power to easily remember names, facts/figures, presentations, processes/procedures, famous quotes, foreign languages, software commands/directories, complex terminology, laws/statutes, exam/training material, and much more.
This is an entertaining, educational, and “memorable” program with wide appeal!
About the Presenter
Chester Santos
Chester Santos – “The International Man of Memory” has left an impression on all corners of the earth. With his unique ability to not only demonstrate extraordinary feats of the mind, but also educate others to do the same, this U.S. Memory Champion is widely regarded to be the world’s leading memory skills expert. Through his entertaining & educational television and movie appearances, professional seminars, and best-selling books, Chester has helped millions of people around the world to realize the benefits of an improved memory and sharper mind.
He is highly sought-after by the media for his exceptional skills and expertise. CNN, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, BBC, and the Science Channel have all featured Chester and his memory building tips for viewers. When newspapers and magazines need memory improvement tips for their readers, they also seek out Chester Santos. He has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, and most recently, TIME Magazine featured his advice for remembering numbers in a December 2018 Special Edition entitled, “The Science of Memory”. The 2020 documentary film, "David vs. Goliath" features Chester Santos and his memory skills training.
Chester is also a best-selling author. His first book, “Instant Memory Training for Success”, was published by leading academic publisher John Wiley & Sons (Wiley) in 2016. It quickly became a bestseller in WHSmith stores across the UK and also on the Amazon UK website in multiple categories. Chester’s second book, “Mastering Memory: Techniques to Turn Your Brain from a Sieve to a Sponge”, was published by leading nonfiction publisher Sterling Publishing (Sterling) in 2018. It is currently (as of 2019) still featured in the Psychology section of almost every Barnes & Noble store across the USA. Chester’s books have been acquired by 246 public libraries worldwide.
As the preeminent thought leader on memory skills and their effect on one’s professional, personal, and academic success, Chester has been booked to give presentations in over 30 countries. He has entertained and educated people of varying backgrounds, including executives for CEO Clubs International and YPO, investment professionals for NASDAQ and Credit Suisse, students for organizations at Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard, and even actors for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) Foundation.
His keynote speaking credits include TEDx with some of the nation’s most highly regarded professors and scientists, the prestigious Talks at Google program featuring “the world’s most influential thinkers, creators, makers and doers”, and the International Festival of Brilliant Minds in Puebla that had him speaking to an audience of 5000 people along with Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, and other luminaries.
Chester Santos is also the personal memory and mind coach to some notable celebrities, politicians, professional athletes, and high-powered executives.
Dogs bark for many reasons! This interactive seminar will explain why dogs bark and give you strategies to stop it. Learning Objectives: Learn why dogs bark and what may be triggering it. Understanding canine body language Creating a behavior modification plan
CEUs: PPAB 1.5 Handlers of reactive dogs struggle to find ways to help their dogs feel less worried, overwhelmed or pushed past their thresholds. But progress can be slow, particularly if the dog continues to be triggered despite the trainer and the handler’s best efforts. As a trainer, I work with many handlers who are discouraged or frustrated. In many cases, there are holes in the training plan, invisible holes that are not always readily apparent. Inevitably, the training falls apart, the dog is triggered, the handler is embarrassed or upset, and the trainer is disappointed. Why does this happen so often? This webinar dives into what you need to know to help reactive dogs through carefully controlled set-ups. Attendees will learn: The pitfalls of "training in the wild" How to recognize pause button vs uncontrolled variables Assessing individual dog's triggers (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, social, chase) Applying the Trainers' Mixing Board: Distance, Intensity & Duration Understanding and using Line of View and Field of View If you’ve ever wished for a PAUSE button on life to help a reactive dog, this webinar is for you. The practical information provided will help anyone create successful training moments in many situations. Find out why so many clients and their dogs have benefitted from this sensible approach to controlled setups for success.
Handlers of reactive dogs struggle to find ways to help their dogs feel less worried, overwhelmed or pushed past their thresholds. But progress can be slow, particularly if the dog continues to be triggered despite the trainer and the handler’s best efforts.
As a trainer, I work with many handlers who are discouraged or frustrated. In many cases, there are holes in the training plan, invisible holes that are not always readily apparent. Inevitably, the training falls apart, the dog is triggered, the handler is embarrassed or upset, and the trainer is disappointed. Why does this happen so often?
This webinar dives into what you need to know to help reactive dogs through carefully controlled set-ups. Attendees will learn:
If you’ve ever wished for a PAUSE button on life to help a reactive dog, this webinar is for you. The practical information provided will help anyone create successful training moments in many situations. Find out why so many clients and their dogs have benefitted from this sensible approach to controlled setups for success.
On Demand - Access the Recording as Soon as You Register! CEU's: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)
On Demand - Access the Recording as Soon as You Register!
CEU's: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)
In this webinar, Karolina discusses how to recognize the subtle signs of fear in cats and dogs. She talks about why it's important to nip fear in the bud, what makes animals fearful and how fear learning may impact the animal's personality, behaviour and welfare. Also, how we can prevent and reduce fear through addressing the animals' learning as well as making changes to the environment. Learning Objectives Recognize fearful behaviours in cats and dogs Name common innate fear stimuli What is fear learning and why is it important What is latent inhibition and how can you use it What is counterconditioning, how can you use it - and what are the common mistakes that people make? Why systematic desensitization is better than flooding How you can arrange the environment to prevent and reduce fear
In this webinar, Karolina discusses how to recognize the subtle signs of fear in cats and dogs. She talks about why it's important to nip fear in the bud, what makes animals fearful and how fear learning may impact the animal's personality, behaviour and welfare. Also, how we can prevent and reduce fear through addressing the animals' learning as well as making changes to the environment.
About The Presenter Dr. Karolina Westlund Karolina Westlund helps pet lovers and animal professionals get happier animals that thrive in the care of humans. She grew up pining for a kitten for several years, and pestering her parents until they gave up. The green-eyed black half-siamese cat that she got for her seventh birthday became a true friend who lived to be 21 years old, but an easily startled cat who often went into hiding when there were visitors. Karolina had grand ideas about becoming a field biologist, but that never came about – the closest she got was working as a trekking travel guide in France and Madeira. Instead she majored in Ethology and developed a passionate interest in animal welfare seen through a multidisciplinary lens, including Behaviour Analysis and Affective Neuroscience. She is now an Associate Professor of Ethology at the University of Stockholm, mostly teaching how behaviour management can be used to improve animal welfare. She offers live seminars, free online webinars and masterclasses in addition to more extensive online courses, as well as the occasional blog post or scientific publication on the topic of enrichment, animal training and wellbeing. She lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with her husband, two kids, and, hopefully soon, another cat.
About The Presenter Dr. Karolina Westlund
Karolina Westlund helps pet lovers and animal professionals get happier animals that thrive in the care of humans. She grew up pining for a kitten for several years, and pestering her parents until they gave up. The green-eyed black half-siamese cat that she got for her seventh birthday became a true friend who lived to be 21 years old, but an easily startled cat who often went into hiding when there were visitors.
Karolina had grand ideas about becoming a field biologist, but that never came about – the closest she got was working as a trekking travel guide in France and Madeira. Instead she majored in Ethology and developed a passionate interest in animal welfare seen through a multidisciplinary lens, including Behaviour Analysis and Affective Neuroscience. She is now an Associate Professor of Ethology at the University of Stockholm, mostly teaching how behaviour management can be used to improve animal welfare.
She offers live seminars, free online webinars and masterclasses in addition to more extensive online courses, as well as the occasional blog post or scientific publication on the topic of enrichment, animal training and wellbeing. She lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with her husband, two kids, and, hopefully soon, another cat.
CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5 If you're struggling to get visitors to come to your website to learn about your services, or they're coming but not booking, learning more about SEO is definitely for you! Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the art and science of getting your website and Google Business Profile to be better found by search engines such as Google, Bing and more. This webinar will go over what SEO is, common misconceptions about how it works, and how you can implement SEO on your own to your site, as well as how to find and hire a professional for more advanced services. Learning objectives: Learn what SEO is and how it's implemented on a website. Learn about importance of fixing technical issues on a website. Learn about importance of keyword research and implementation on a website. Learn about importance and use of a Google Business Profile for local search. Learn how to do some SEO on your own as well as how to find a professional to work with for more advanced strategies.
If you're struggling to get visitors to come to your website to learn about your services, or they're coming but not booking, learning more about SEO is definitely for you! Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the art and science of getting your website and Google Business Profile to be better found by search engines such as Google, Bing and more. This webinar will go over what SEO is, common misconceptions about how it works, and how you can implement SEO on your own to your site, as well as how to find and hire a professional for more advanced services.
About Your Presenter Mychelle Garrigan Mychelle Garrigan runs Firelink Digital Marketing, which serves small- to medium-size businesses and nonprofits, with a special niche for pet care professionals, which she serves through Pet Pro Marketing, a division of her company. She provides a full range of online business services include website design, SEO, Google My Business setup and management, website audits, copywriting and strategy development for content marketing and social media marketing. She also has specialties in helping individuals develop online courses and events and web accessibility, and runs an online course platform for pet care professionals at Hippocampus Online. She studied web design, internet technology and programming at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Iron Yard Front End Engineering program. Mychelle's professional background includes over 20 years working in administration, development, and marketing/communications positions in the nonprofit world. She has a master’s (social work with a concentration on community administration, planning and programs) from the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to her digital marketing and web design experience, she has worked as both a professional editor and writer, and has written for several websites on dog and cat behavior and training, and small animal, bird, and reptile care. She has worked as both a volunteer and staff person in shelters and rescues across the US and previously worked in administration for the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and the United States Dog Agility Association. She is also certified dog behavior consultant via IAABC. She currently serves on the board of directors of SiouxperCon. Mychelle lives with her dogs Kaylee and Jack, two bearded dragons, a ball python, chickens, and several fish in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Mychelle Garrigan
Mychelle Garrigan runs Firelink Digital Marketing, which serves small- to medium-size businesses and nonprofits, with a special niche for pet care professionals, which she serves through Pet Pro Marketing, a division of her company. She provides a full range of online business services include website design, SEO, Google My Business setup and management, website audits, copywriting and strategy development for content marketing and social media marketing. She also has specialties in helping individuals develop online courses and events and web accessibility, and runs an online course platform for pet care professionals at Hippocampus Online. She studied web design, internet technology and programming at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Iron Yard Front End Engineering program.
Mychelle's professional background includes over 20 years working in administration, development, and marketing/communications positions in the nonprofit world. She has a master’s (social work with a concentration on community administration, planning and programs) from the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to her digital marketing and web design experience, she has worked as both a professional editor and writer, and has written for several websites on dog and cat behavior and training, and small animal, bird, and reptile care. She has worked as both a volunteer and staff person in shelters and rescues across the US and previously worked in administration for the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and the United States Dog Agility Association. She is also certified dog behavior consultant via IAABC.
She currently serves on the board of directors of SiouxperCon. Mychelle lives with her dogs Kaylee and Jack, two bearded dragons, a ball python, chickens, and several fish in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
CEUs: PPAB 1 Emily came across a desperate post in a local rabbit rescue Facebook group, begging someone to take a beautiful rabbit who was scheduled to be euthanized the next day for aggression. She instantly responded to take the case pro bono and would work with anyone who took on this bunny. Shortly after, Emily received a friend request from the person who was dropping everything to pick up Luna, and they immediately got to work. As Emily watched Luna throw herself, growling and snarling, at the fence separating them, she wondered if she had bitten off more than she could chew! Luna's aggression is more severe than any case Emily had experienced in her career working with rabbits. Luna's triggers ranged from everything to the sound of a person approaching to the appearance of food falling into her pen. Anything associated with human interaction was met with a flying leap, a growl, and a fierce bite. While Luna's clear stress and discomfort were a main focus of their efforts, Emily was equally concerned with giving Luna's humans the tools to manage her safely, without (any more) bloodshed! Carefully managing Luna's triggers, mindful counterconditioning, and enrichment were the tools we used to gradually build trust. Luna began to relax, and so could everyone around her! Luna's story is not just her own, but the story of many rabbits who are euthanized in shelters for behavior issues. Rabbits whose issues are often created by the environment. This presentation will be useful to anyone who cares for rabbits in any capacity. Learning Objectives The importance of stress management in aggression cases Minimizing triggers in an environment where everything seems to be a trigger Developing safe ways to interact with and care for an extremely over-threshold animal Direct juxtaposition of force-free strategies and force-based common methods in handling rabbit aggression Managing learned aggression in bunnies
Emily came across a desperate post in a local rabbit rescue Facebook group, begging someone to take a beautiful rabbit who was scheduled to be euthanized the next day for aggression. She instantly responded to take the case pro bono and would work with anyone who took on this bunny. Shortly after, Emily received a friend request from the person who was dropping everything to pick up Luna, and they immediately got to work. As Emily watched Luna throw herself, growling and snarling, at the fence separating them, she wondered if she had bitten off more than she could chew!
Luna's aggression is more severe than any case Emily had experienced in her career working with rabbits. Luna's triggers ranged from everything to the sound of a person approaching to the appearance of food falling into her pen. Anything associated with human interaction was met with a flying leap, a growl, and a fierce bite. While Luna's clear stress and discomfort were a main focus of their efforts, Emily was equally concerned with giving Luna's humans the tools to manage her safely, without (any more) bloodshed! Carefully managing Luna's triggers, mindful counterconditioning, and enrichment were the tools we used to gradually build trust. Luna began to relax, and so could everyone around her!
Luna's story is not just her own, but the story of many rabbits who are euthanized in shelters for behavior issues. Rabbits whose issues are often created by the environment. This presentation will be useful to anyone who cares for rabbits in any capacity.
The importance of stress management in aggression cases
Minimizing triggers in an environment where everything seems to be a trigger
Developing safe ways to interact with and care for an extremely over-threshold animal
Direct juxtaposition of force-free strategies and force-based common methods in handling rabbit aggression
Managing learned aggression in bunnies
About Your Presenter Emily CassellEmily earned her BS in Animal Science, with a specialization in Equine Science, from the University of Florida. Since 2010, she has been providing professional behavior assistance to pets and their people. She completed two internships, one at ZooTampa working primarily with Florida Manatees, and one at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, working with dolphins, otters, and pelicans. While in school, she worked with Class Act for Dogs, in Gainesville, Florida, under Dee Zurberg, an accomplished trainer who emphasized not only kindness to dogs, but kindness to their people as well. Since then, she has continued her career in the zoo field working with a variety of species including tigers, otters, Flying foxes, gibbons, and as well as various avian, aquatic, and reptile species. Her main focus, however, is caring for orangutans. While not working at the zoo, she has spent years working with dogs as a group class instructor and behavior consultant at Courteous Canine, Inc. This led her to create Small Animal Resources, a place for guardians of small pets to find accurate, reliable information and to highlight the behavioral needs of small mammals. She has published articles for the Pet Professional Guild and the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants on various topics related to rabbit care and behavior. She has presented at various conferences, workshops, and webinars, for both the Pet Professional Guild, the Animal Behavior Management Alliance, and the Florida Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Emily Cassell
CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5 This webinar will offer a deep dive into the everyday practice of canine sniffing—not organized nose or scent work, but the behavior dogs constantly engage in when left to their own devices out in the backyard or just walking down the block. Sniffing is critical to canine welfare because dogs navigate the world first and foremost through their noses. Smelling is dogs’ most ancient sense and they have evolved a remarkable olfactory anatomy to maximize this. We have all heard about the ability of dogs to sniff out explosives, drugs, human remains and even biological disease. But did you also know that sniffing functions as a central form of cognition for dogs not to mention an important mode of social problem-solving. It is even essential for dogs’ recovery from emotional trauma. I will guide viewers through the world of ordinary sniffing by looking at the most recent science as well as offering real-life case studies of sniffing’s transformative power. This will include a component on sniffing for horses because our equine partners love to sniff, too! Learning Objectives: Increased understanding of dogs’ and horses’ normal sniffing behavior including its cognitive & emotional benefits. Increased understanding of sniffing’s centrality to the welfare of all dogs, not just those engaged in scent sports or who work in scent detection of any kind. Increased understanding of how to enable sniffing and scenting opportunities for the average household dog as well as horses and make it an important part of their daily lives.
This webinar will offer a deep dive into the everyday practice of canine sniffing—not organized nose or scent work, but the behavior dogs constantly engage in when left to their own devices out in the backyard or just walking down the block. Sniffing is critical to canine welfare because dogs navigate the world first and foremost through their noses. Smelling is dogs’ most ancient sense and they have evolved a remarkable olfactory anatomy to maximize this. We have all heard about the ability of dogs to sniff out explosives, drugs, human remains and even biological disease. But did you also know that sniffing functions as a central form of cognition for dogs not to mention an important mode of social problem-solving. It is even essential for dogs’ recovery from emotional trauma. I will guide viewers through the world of ordinary sniffing by looking at the most recent science as well as offering real-life case studies of sniffing’s transformative power. This will include a component on sniffing for horses because our equine partners love to sniff, too!
About Your Presenter Dr. Laura DonaldsonDr. Laura Donaldson is a Professor Emeritus from Cornell University located Ithaca, New York, United States. She is an award-winning writer on dog training and behavior who has worked as a canine behavior specialist for over 16 years. Laura is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), a Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP) and a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI). She founded Four Paws, Four Directions Dog Training & Behavior Consulting LLC as well as the very popular Slow Thinking is Lifesaving for Dogs® program. Dr. Donaldson also offers a Thinkific-based webinar on Trauma and Aggression in Dogs. She currently lives in upstate New York with her husband, three dogs, three cats, an African Gray parrot named Obi and a small flock of Navajo Churro sheep. She can be reached through her website: https://fourpawsfourdirections.com or by email: fourpaws@twcny.rr.com.
Dr. Laura Donaldson
Free Webinar for PPG Members CEUs: PPAB 1, IAABC 1 Are you interested in developing better self-control in dogs? Then this talk is for you! Executive function refers to the mental processes that are involved in the self-regulation of behavior. For example, maintaining focus and avoiding distraction, inhibiting behavior, adjusting behavior for different environments, and working toward a goal. Obviously, these behaviors are critical for pet, performance, and working dogs alike. This webinar is a review of everything we know about the development of executive function in dogs. You don't want to miss this talk! Learning Objectives: Define executive function Explain the relationship between executive function attention, emotional regulation, impulse control, stress resilience and behavior issues List the factors that influence executive function in dogs Discuss ways of improving executive function in dogs About the Presenter Dr. Kristina Spaulding Dr. Spaulding has a PhD in biopsychology - the study of the biological basis of behavior - and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist through the Animal Behavior Society. She specializes in stress and behavior, social cognition and emotion, positive welfare and the prevention and treatment of behavior problems in dogs. In addition to her academic background, she has been in the dog training and behavior profession for 19 years. She currently splits her time between private behavior work and teaching other dog trainers and behavior consultants online and through seminars and conferences. In addition, Dr. Spaulding is a long-standing member of the APDT Education Committee. She is also a member of the Fear Free Advisory Group and an authorized Speaker for Fear Free. She also chairs a task force for Meeting of the Minds, a coalition of top dog professionals across the country charged with improving the quality of life for our dogs and is a member of the IAABC Foundation Board. Use this link to find out more about her on her website: http://smartdogtrainingandbehavior.com/online-services/
Free Webinar for PPG Members CEUs: PPAB 1, IAABC 1
Free Webinar for PPG Members
CEUs: PPAB 1, IAABC 1
Are you interested in developing better self-control in dogs? Then this talk is for you! Executive function refers to the mental processes that are involved in the self-regulation of behavior. For example, maintaining focus and avoiding distraction, inhibiting behavior, adjusting behavior for different environments, and working toward a goal.
Obviously, these behaviors are critical for pet, performance, and working dogs alike. This webinar is a review of everything we know about the development of executive function in dogs. You don't want to miss this talk!
Dr. Kristina Spaulding
Dr. Spaulding has a PhD in biopsychology - the study of the biological basis of behavior - and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist through the Animal Behavior Society. She specializes in stress and behavior, social cognition and emotion, positive welfare and the prevention and treatment of behavior problems in dogs. In addition to her academic background, she has been in the dog training and behavior profession for 19 years. She currently splits her time between private behavior work and teaching other dog trainers and behavior consultants online and through seminars and conferences.
In addition, Dr. Spaulding is a long-standing member of the APDT Education Committee. She is also a member of the Fear Free Advisory Group and an authorized Speaker for Fear Free. She also chairs a task force for Meeting of the Minds, a coalition of top dog professionals across the country charged with improving the quality of life for our dogs and is a member of the IAABC Foundation Board. Use this link to find out more about her on her website: http://smartdogtrainingandbehavior.com/online-services/
DMAIC IT! - Improve the Accuracy and Efficiency of Your Pet Behavior Consulting Process Adopt the DMAIC Process to Eliminate Errors and Improve Client Satisfaction! With Niki Tudge CEUs: PPAB 1.5 , CCPDT 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5 Working through a pet behavior change program can be heavy lifting! As Behavior Specialists we find ourselves in counseling roles, working as change agents and improvement specialists. We also set and negotiate the change landscape and individual behavior goals and, of course, oversee the entire project from start to finish. Being successful in business is very challenging in today’s market and it requires that we not only meet the needs of our client but that we are efficient and effective in how we engineer and deliver our services. Ensuring high quality and consistency are key to our long-term business success. Building behavior change programs is a process with several inputs and outputs and this requires good process and project management. When our services lack quality management then they are vulnerable to error and costly mistakes. Mistakes impact results of the program, which in turn effects the client’s perception of you and your business. Learn a systematic way to approach your behavior and training programs where they are data driven and free from process errors and defects. Free up time, limit the cost of mistakes and improve your client satisfaction by implementing the DMAIC Six Sigma philosophy. Six Sigma is a results-oriented project focused approach to improving quality. It’s a way of measuring and setting goals for services directly connected to your clients’ goals. In this webinar you will: 1. Learn what Six Sigma is and how it’s ingredients can be used by professionals in behavior change programs as an entire concept and for individual aspects of your business. 2. Learn about a simple and easily implementable process that: a. Places a genuine focus on the client – the end-user, pet and owner. b. Is data and fact driven. c. Looks at continual process improvement. d. Promotes sustainable results for you and your clients. 3. Learn how to identify and eliminate the defects and errors in your approach and process of managing client programs. 4. Understand how to set up data dashboards to monitor and control the results of your programs. 5. Get access to a couple of free tools that can be used in your business immediately to help you improve the quality and effectiveness of your work.
Adopt the DMAIC Process to Eliminate Errors and Improve Client Satisfaction!
With Niki Tudge
CEUs: PPAB 1.5 , CCPDT 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5
Working through a pet behavior change program can be heavy lifting! As Behavior Specialists we find ourselves in counseling roles, working as change agents and improvement specialists. We also set and negotiate the change landscape and individual behavior goals and, of course, oversee the entire project from start to finish.
Being successful in business is very challenging in today’s market and it requires that we not only meet the needs of our client but that we are efficient and effective in how we engineer and deliver our services. Ensuring high quality and consistency are key to our long-term business success.
Building behavior change programs is a process with several inputs and outputs and this requires good process and project management. When our services lack quality management then they are vulnerable to error and costly mistakes. Mistakes impact results of the program, which in turn effects the client’s perception of you and your business.
Learn a systematic way to approach your behavior and training programs where they are data driven and free from process errors and defects. Free up time, limit the cost of mistakes and improve your client satisfaction by implementing the DMAIC Six Sigma philosophy.
Six Sigma is a results-oriented project focused approach to improving quality. It’s a way of measuring and setting goals for services directly connected to your clients’ goals.
In this webinar you will:
1. Learn what Six Sigma is and how it’s ingredients can be used by professionals in behavior change programs as an entire concept and for individual aspects of your business.
2. Learn about a simple and easily implementable process that:
a. Places a genuine focus on the client – the end-user, pet and owner.
b. Is data and fact driven.
c. Looks at continual process improvement.
d. Promotes sustainable results for you and your clients.
3. Learn how to identify and eliminate the defects and errors in your approach and process of managing client programs.
4. Understand how to set up data dashboards to monitor and control the results of your programs.
5. Get access to a couple of free tools that can be used in your business immediately to help you improve the quality and effectiveness of your work.
About Your Presenter Niki Tudge MBA PCBC-A CABC CDBC. Six Sigma Certified Black Belt Niki Tudge MBA PCBC-A CABC CDBC is the founder and president of the Pet Professional Guild, DogNostics Education and The DogSmith. She has substantial leadership experience in business management and administration, particularly in the nonprofit sector, which encompasses her role as the president of Doggone Safe, a nonprofit educational organization. She has published numerous articles, which have been featured in publications such as the New York Times. She has also authored five books; her most recent project, Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People, which she co-authored, was published in 2019. Before following her passion into small business and nonprofit management, she enjoyed a distinguished career in the hospitality industry, holding executive positions all over the world. Her real passion in her corporate role was the identification and development of female talent in the workplace. She enjoyed managing and coaching her team through both their personal and professional development and loved watching the process of female empowerment and growth at a high level of management. Along with her business degrees from Oxford Brookes University in the U.K., her professional credentials include ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer and she is Six Sigma Black Belt Certified, specializing in data analysis and process improvement. She is also an International Training Board (HCITB) certified people trainer at levels TS1, TS2 & TS3 and a certified facilitator and project manager. In addition, she was recognized for her outstanding contribution to the business community and honored with a Fortune 500 Company Leadership Award for her accomplishments.
Niki Tudge MBA PCBC-A CABC CDBC is the founder and president of the Pet Professional Guild, DogNostics Education and The DogSmith. She has substantial leadership experience in business management and administration, particularly in the nonprofit sector, which encompasses her role as the president of Doggone Safe, a nonprofit educational organization. She has published numerous articles, which have been featured in publications such as the New York Times. She has also authored five books; her most recent project, Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People, which she co-authored, was published in 2019.
Before following her passion into small business and nonprofit management, she enjoyed a distinguished career in the hospitality industry, holding executive positions all over the world. Her real passion in her corporate role was the identification and development of female talent in the workplace. She enjoyed managing and coaching her team through both their personal and professional development and loved watching the process of female empowerment and growth at a high level of management.
Along with her business degrees from Oxford Brookes University in the U.K., her professional credentials include ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer and she is Six Sigma Black Belt Certified, specializing in data analysis and process improvement. She is also an International Training Board (HCITB) certified people trainer at levels TS1, TS2 & TS3 and a certified facilitator and project manager. In addition, she was recognized for her outstanding contribution to the business community and honored with a Fortune 500 Company Leadership Award for her accomplishments.
