Virtual Summit Recorded Webinar
(One of 25 webinars that were featured in PPG's August Virtual Pet Care Summit)

Presented by Claire Staines

CEUs: PPAB 1

This presentation will cover all aspects of dog walking. Is dog walking for you? It appears to be an easy way to earn a living but there is more to it than meets the eye. Not only do you require good business skills but your customer service has to be personable as well as professional. The presentation will include topics such as setting up, transporting and walking groups or individual dogs in a safe, fun yet stimulating manner while ensuring you follow the Pet Professional Guild’s code of ethics to help set a standard in a growing industry.

Webinar Objectives

Presented by Claire Staines

CEUs PPAB 1, IAABC 1,

Initial risk assessments on each dog and the environment you intend to have them in is essential for a stress free life for both you and the dogs in your care.

Whether you are a dog walker, run a dog day care centre, dog training classes or own multiple dogs, handling multiple dogs isn’t about a group, it is about catering for every individual within that unit.  This needs to be done safely and with compassion, ensuring the physical & emotional well-being of all. With the dog care profession booming at this present time, I would like to share how I tackle this.

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Webinar Objectives

• Learn how to carry out a risk assessment
• Understand if a dog is suitable for group settings
• Learn the best ways to introduce new dogs to each other
• Learn an effective way to handle multiple dogs

About The Presenter

Claire Staines has owned and successfully managed a dog walking business for 10 years. She now has multiple walkers within her business, Lothlorien, which caters for puppies to veterans and social dogs to reactive dogs.

Claire is also a dog trainer in Linlithgow, West Lothian, where she runs classes and workshops and recently opened her first training centre to further the scope for offering classes that are inclusive to all. Claire is a Victoria Stilwell Positively Trainer and a PPGBI steering committee member.

CEUs: PPAB 1.5, IAABC 1.5, KPA 1.5

Pain in dogs affects more than their physical side. It affects their well-being, quality of life, interactions with people and other animals, and may lead to behavior problems. For all these reasons it is paramount to identify signs of pain.

This webinar focuses both on obvious signs of pain and the very subtle ones that can easily go unnoticed or may be masked as a behavior problem. Highly motivated dogs, for example, are "masters of disguise". Vulnerable dogs in multi-dog households may hide pain as a means of self-protection. Reactivity and aggression are easily exacerbated by pain.

By becoming aware of the many ways pain can be manifested and recognized, dog professionals who strive to improve canine well-being will be better prepared to bring the same awareness to dog owners.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the importance of recognizing signs of pain.
• Become acquainted with factors that hinder pain assessment (communication barrier; adaptation and masking of pain; chronic pain can be insidious).
• Understand how dogs manifest pain through: Behavior changes; Physical signs; Vocalizations; Changes in activity level and mobility (for example, adopting different urination postures); Neurological signs; Physiological signs.

About Your Presenter

      

Catarina Santos

Catarina Santos is a physical therapist licensed by Escola Superior de Saúde Egas Moniz, Portugal. She is also a canine rehabilitation therapist certified by Formaterapia and mentored by Canadian animal physical therapist Laurie Edge-Hughes, and Dutch animal physical therapist May Römer-Bartels.

She has contributed with a chapter on special care for the book "How to Leash Train Your Dog and Enjoy Walking Him".

Catarina works from her private practice in Lisbon, Portugal, where she lives. She also presents seminars and webinars related to canine exercise and sports, rehabilitation, well-being and health in Portugal and Brazil.