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CEUs: PPAB 1.5

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Learning Objectives:

• Re-thinking the traditional behaviortist-client model to a more integrative and collaborative approach.
• A behavioral approach to changing client behavior.
• Practical tips on helping clients living with their dog's aggressive behaviors.

Your Presenter

Chirag Patel PG Cert (CAB) BSc (Hons) DipCABT runs UK-based animal behavior and training specialists Domesticated Manners and conducts consults with pet owners, organizations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind UK and 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 behavior 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, England in clinical animal behavior under veterinary behaviorists Prof. Daniel Mills and Helen Zulch. Patel previously worked at the university as the head trainer. He is currently doing his MSc in applied behavior analysis at Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Presented by Dr. Lynn Honeckman

CEUs: PPAB 1.5

Cats who hiss, scratch, or bite are often vilified in popular cartoons, videos, and social media memes. From Grumpy Cat to Cinderella’s Lucifer, at times cats have been greatly misunderstood. It is important to help families gain empathy toward aggressive behavior, an issue that is often misinterpreted.

Bringing feline friends into our homes means learning new ways to communicate, and, especially, understanding that cats are not small dogs. Learning to differentiate the causes of aggressive behavior in cats can lead toward more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans that are specific to the behavioral needs of the patient, and can help to rebuild relationships between cats and the families who love them.This session will be a case-based discussion of the variety of causes of feline aggression in a household. The discussion will cover the different types of aggressive behaviors that are seen with cats, focusing on inter-cat household aggression as well as human-directed aggression. Cases will be explored and studies from a veterinary viewpoint will be included. It is essential to conduct a complete medical and behavioral evaluation for all cats before diagnosing the cause of aggression. A review of feline socialization and methods of introducing cats into household will also be discussed, in addition to how life stages can influence the type of aggression that is seen.The session will include the development of an effective treatment plan including all aspects of management, behavior modification, and the possibility of medication. Discussion will include the different classes of medication that can be considered in these cases, including the potential benefits and adverse effects that may be seen.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain understanding of feline communication.
• Learn to recognize and identify signs of stress in cats.
• Learn to identify the different types of feline aggression.
• Understand what medical differentials must be ruled-out before a behavior diagnosis can be made.
• Understand how to work together with veterinary behaviorists to develop the most effective treatment plan.

About The Presenter

Dr Lynn Honeckman graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1993, and has practiced in small animal medicine and exotics over the past 23 years In Illinois, New York, and Florida. She had experience in wildlife rehabilitation in the Chicago area as well as shelter medicine at New York's North Shore Animal League, before moving to Orlando, Florida in 1999.

In 2010, Dr Honeckman opened Veterinary Behavior Solutions, to focus on behavior cases throughout the greater Orlando area. Dr Honeckman is on the special council of the Pet Professional Guild and has helped create the Central Florida Force-Free Behavior and Trainers Network, where she works very closely with other professionals in the community to help reduce and treat fear, anxiety, and aggression in the companion pet. Dr Honeckman is the committee chairperson for AVSAB position statements, and is on the advisory board for Dr Marty Becker's Fear-Fear(™) Initiative as well as a certified fear-free professional. Dr Honeckman has recently started a non-conforming residency in veterinary behavior with Dr Karen Overall.

On Demand Listening!

Listen Whenever You Want, From Wherever You Are!

CEUs: PPAB 1.5

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A 7-year-old in upstate New York is bitten on the face while assisting in a group training class. A 63-year-old in south Florida exits his apartment with his Maltese dog and is mauled by a bull mastiff that a dog walker could not restrain. Two dogs got into an altercation in a group class and one of the dog owners now has permanent impairment to her wrist and fingers from her attempt to break up the fight. All of these are examples of actual dog bite claims that have been experiences by pet service professionals.

This session will look into dog bite liability and the most common types of dog bite claims the insurer sees year in and year out to pet care professionals. It will discuss the life cycle of a dog bite claim from when it first occurs to when it is ultimately settled by the insurance company, so you will know what to expect should it ever occur to you.

In addition, we will discuss all the various liability exposures pet service professionals share, whether they offer dog training, dog walking, pet sitting, pet boarding or pet grooming. We will cover general liability, professional liability, workers compensation, and much more, so you will know how to properly insure your business and make certain you are protected when the unthinkable occurs.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the primary insurance exposures of a pet service professional.
• Learn how to properly cover your business against these exposures.
• Understand what is involved with a dog bite liability insurance claim.
• Understand how to properly cover the dogs/pets in your care/classes
• Learn the difference between general and professional liability coverage.
• Learn how to protect yourself as well as your clients.

Your Presenter

David Pearsall CIC CWCA

David Pearsall CIC CWCA is co-owner of Business Insurers of the Carolinas, a multi-line commercial insurance agency specializing in insurance for pet service professionals since 1992. He obtained his insurance license and began his insurance career with Business Insurers of the Carolinas in 1995. The following year, he began working in the agency’s pet service’s department. At that time the agency worked with approximately 500 pet sitters and dog trainer’s nationwide, providing insurance coverage to cover dog bite liability and other bodily injury/property damage claims to third parties, as we well as care, custody or control coverage to cover pets while in the care of pet sitters, dog walkers and trainers.

In 2002, he obtained his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation, and in 2003 his Certified Workers Compensation Advisor (CWCA) designation. Today, he is responsible for managing the pet services programs for Business Insurers of the Carolinas and continues to try to educate the pet world on the types of claims that occur to pet service professionals. Over the last 23 years he has handled and/or been involved with thousands of insurance claims, from dog bites to cat urination and everything in between.

Business Insurers of the Carolinas now works with 10 of the leading pet services associations and schools in the US, including the Pet Professional Guild. They have expanded their offerings and currently work with thousands of pet service professionals nationwide, including pet sitters/dog walkers, dog/pet trainers, pet boarding/daycare facilities, in home boarding facilities, pet grooming, pet massage, pet first aid instructors, pet stores, and veterinarians. Pearsall and Business Insurers of the Carolinas are licensed in all 50 states and offer comprehensive coverage for pet service providers including general liability, bonding, workers compensation, commercial property/equipment, commercial auto, employment practices liability, cyber liability and excess liability/umbrellas.

On Demand Listening!

Listen Whenever You Want, From Wherever You Are!

CEUs: PPAB 1.5

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For decades, researchers have been producing papers that look at what can be loosely described as the epidemiology of dog bites through a variety of lenses. Generally, they conclude with well-intentioned recommendations on how to reduce the frequency of dogs bite to people. The studies themselves, unfortunately, often conflate injurious and non-injurious incidents and pathologize aggression. The academic medical literature in particular is riddled with fear mongering, while the vast majority of dog bite injuries are at the Band-Aid level, while these in turn are dwarfed by the bites that do no physical harm at all. But these papers often lead to discrimination against specific groups of dogs and alarmist responses when a pet expresses any grouchiness. Studies often have the ability to do harm in the real world, despite authors’ best intentions and earnest caveats.  Researchers have a responsibility to be mindful of this.

Meanwhile, the rate of injurious dog bites remains the same. The only reliable source of injurious dog bite data in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Top of Form’s emergency department reporting system, shows that the rate at which dogs hurt people with their teeth remains remarkably stable. Both good science and good advocacy suggest that we might be better off admitting that we don’t know why this is so and focusing on how to find out. For example, since the ways that people live with dogs have changed considerably in the last few decades, and dog professionals have been busily making and publicizing dog bite prevention recommendations, it is possible that we don’t actually know what, if anything, would change the rate of these events.  

If we want to continue pursuing this issue at all, it is time to reconsider which research questions might yield answers relevant to human welfare. This presentation will make the case for focusing on the bites that actually impact public safety, those that cause significant injury. A better understanding of how to reduce the incidence of human injury is unlikely to be achieved as long as researchers continue to lump all dog bites into a single category regardless of severity.  

Learning Objectives:  

• Understand the current situation—things have been pretty much the same for decades. 

• Question what has been studied and how. 

• Consider more productive approaches. 

Your Presenter

Janis Bradley

Janis Bradley is the author of Dogs Bite, but balloons and slippers are more dangerous, the complete guide to research on dog bites, along with Dog Bites: Problems and Solutions for The Animals and Society Institute, and The Relevance of Breed in Selecting a Companion Dog for the National Canine Research Council.

Between 2000 and 2009, she trained more than 400 professional pet dog trainers at the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Academy for Dog Trainers, and, in 2011, founded the Dog Training Internship Academy.

She is director of communications and publications at the National Canine Research Council, a think tank whose mission is to produce, support and distribute the best current science studying domestic dogs in the context of a human environment. She has co-authored papers regarding canine behavior for peer reviewed journals and has spoken at numerous professional conferences.

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.

Free Webinar for PPG Members

CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT (pending), KPA (pending), IAABC (pending)

What is habit, really? How does it impact behavior and how can we use it to improve outcomes? This webinar will cover the basics of habit and how it influences the behavior of the animals we work with (including people). We'll also discuss how you can use it to train more effectively and to help you communicate important concepts to pet parents.

Learning Objectives:

• Define habit
• Explain how habits influence behavior
• Explain how habits are formed and changed
• Describe how habits are influenced by stress

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. You can find out more about her on her website. (http://smartdogtrainingandbehavior.com/online-services/)

CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)

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.

CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)

When working towards solving behavior problems our focus tends to be on the behavior. This happens for a couple of reasons: firstly, behaviors are much more noticeable than the emotions that drive them; secondly, from the human perspective the behavior is the problem, not the emotion. From the dog’s perspective, however, the emotion is the problem, not the behavior!

It is true that respondent conditioning and operant conditioning occur almost simultaneously, which results in an interplay between emotions and what the dog learns from punishers and reinforcers. Because of this interplay, we prioritize the “get the behavior” approach. But how much faster could a behavior problem be solved if we prioritized the “change the emotion” approach? Let’s remember that emotional states are antecedent stimuli, that motivation is an emotional process, and that emotional responses are more immediate than thought-out ones.

This webinar will revisit respondent techniques such as classical extinction, systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning, as well as explain how to apply them effectively taking different variables into account.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the impact of emotions on behavior.
• Become aware of emotional states as antecedent stimuli.
• Learn how motivation contributes towards reinforced behaviors not being displayed and punished behaviors being displayed.
• Learn why emotional responses are more immediate than though-out ones.
• Understand classical extinction and how to apply it, reinstatement of an extinguished response, renewal and spontaneous recovery.
• Learn the various types of counter conditioning and how to apply them effectively.
• Develop skills to ensure a smooth desensitization process.
• Avoid the pitfalls of flooding.

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 house train 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 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.

November 11-15, 2020

Early Bird Registration Prior to September 30, 2020

Get Your “Geek On” & Save Your Spot!

With globally respected presenters delivering education at less than $1.55 per hour it’s a Geek Brainer. So many great sessions around the clock and you can watch from your lounge in your very own geek apparel. Join us on our "Virtual Platform" where you can cruise the exhibitor hall, chat to vendors, win prizes, network with peers and really geek out!

CHECKOUT THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM HERE - Read the full schedule!

CEUs

PPAB 36, PPGA 24, CPDs INTODogs 30, KPA 30, CCPDT 30, IAABC 36

Your Geek Week Presenters - Click here 

Co-hosted & Sponsored by

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If you are a member of a sponsoring organization then please make sure you have the registration code so you can acess the membership rates. 

Early Bird – Before September 30, 2020 Member $200.00 Public $380.00

Post September 30, 2020 Member $220.00 Public $440.00

CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)

This talk covers the meaning of ‘aggression’ and explores the possible differentials for aggressive behaviour in dogs. Treatment of aggression is not discussed.

Learning Objectives

• Terminology busting. Understand the common phrases or words used when discussing ‘aggression’ in dogs.
• Recognise the underlying emotions that can result in aggressive behaviour, and the possible motivations for aggression.
• Rule out emotional/motivational differentials for aggression based on observation and history.
• Appreciate a range of additional factors that could influence the expression of aggressive behaviour in dogs

About Your Presenter

Sezan Ozgunay - Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB)

Sezan is a Regional Clinical Animal Behaviourist for the Dogs Trust, where she has worked for the past 4 years. She is qualified with a BSc and MSc in Welfare and Behaviour Sciences, as well as being a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB). Sezan’s past experiences include working as a behaviour consultant at the University of Bristol, before travelling to Melbourne to work as a Training and Behaviour advisor for the RSPCA. Sezan is passionate about education and enjoys translating evidence-based concepts into practical advice that works for both people and animals. She is particularly fond of in helping owners understand and get the best from their relationships with their ‘high drive’ dogs.

CEUs: PPAB 1.5, CCPDT (pending), IAABC (pending), KPA (pending)

This talk will discuss the use of desensitisation and counter conditioning along with their associated tools, for reducing a dog’s aggression caused by fear and/or frustration.

Learning Objectives

• What is desensitisation and when should it be used?
• What is counter conditioning and when should it be used?
• What tools can we use to aid our use of desensitising and counter conditioning a dog to something they are fearful of and/or frustrated by.
• The pros and cons of these tools.
• The importance of not applying ‘a one size fits all’ approach for behaviour modification.
• Real life tips for real life walking environments.
• Case studies, for group discussion.

About Your Presenter

      

Kris Glover – Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Kris has been employed by Dogs Trust as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist since April 2018. In February 2019 she took on the role of Manager for the Clinical Animal Behaviour team. Previous to her employment with Dogs Trust she was self-employed and ran a private behavioural and training practise based in Berkshire from 2004-2018. 

During her 16 year career in the pet behaviour industry she has seen over 4000 dog behaviour cases, and around 1000 cat behaviour cases. Behaviour problems she has worked with range from separation related issues, sound phobias, people and dog aggression as well as some more unusual cases such as idiopathic overnight bed wetting. 

She very much enjoys working with humans and their pets, and has a special interest in how the relationship between dog and owner influences the success of behavioural rehabilitation programmes. 

Kris has a BA (Hons) degree in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling, a MSc also in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling and is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (accredited through ASAB).

A 2-Day Workshop with Leslie McDevitt

New Dates - Moved From April 2020. Registrants notified 3/12/2020

Reactive to Relaxed: Next Steps in Control Unleashed 

CEUS: PPAB 12, CCPDT 13, IAABC Working: 15 Auditor: 12

Both Working Spots & Auditor Spots Available

Want Monthly Payments?

If you would like to spread your payments over a few months, then go ahead and register. Do not pay the initial invoice you receive. Email Sharon Nettles within 24 hours of registration and she can help get you all set up.

Daily Schedule

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, with breaks at 10:30 AM-10:45 AM (refreshments), 12 Noon-1 PM (lunch) and 2:30 PM-2:45 PM (refreshments).

Come learn what's new in Leslie McDevitt's groundbreaking Control Unleashed training program!

In this workshop, Leslie will teach material from her newest book Control Unleashed: Reactive to Relaxed.

Working dogs will enjoy discovering they can make choices and control outcomes with counter conditioning games such as Pattern Games, Voluntary Sharing, and Requested Approach Training. Using these games and other foundational training from the Control Unleashed program, we will explore how to use voluntary or 'start-button' behavior to empower anxious or reactive dogs to direct their own learning experience.

Leslie McDevitt MLA CDBC CPDT-KA

Leslie is a dog behavior consultant, author, and speaker who specializes in creating operant counter conditioning procedures to empower working, performance, and pet dogs to feel safe and comfortable so they can function confidently in stressful environments. She has taught the material from her groundbreaking book Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog to students all over the world, and her books have been translated into multiple languages. She has also presented at various conferences including Clicker Expo, Penn Vet Working Dog Conference, The UK Puppy Conference, and is looking forward to her debut at PPG.

Workshop Location

This event is sponsored and hosted at the DogSmith Training Center & DogNostics Career Center. The facility is a 2000 square foot fully air-conditioned indoor training room on 24 acres, with Kings Lake as a backdrop. RVs are welcome but there is no water or power hookup. The confirmation email gives local accommodation details and directions to the facility. See pictures here . Event location is 9122 Kenton Road, Wesley Chapel. FL 33545