Cognition Under Stress 

with Daniel Shaw

CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, KPA 1, PMCT 1 & IAABC 1

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No worries you will automatically receive a recording!

This webinar aims to examine the impact of environmental stressors on canine cognition. Specifically, examining the way the brain perceives and interprets information and how learning in the presence stressors such as poor welfare or punitive training methods lead to negative outcomes for the animals.

About Your Presenter

Daniel Shaw BSc (Hons), GMBPsS, CDBC is an animal behaviourist with a background in animal behaviour, psychology and neuroscience. As the owner of Animal Behaviour Kent, Daniel has a successful track record of supporting dogs and cats with behaviour problems, and has a special interest in the effects of trauma on animals. Daniel is a degree qualified psychologist, a certified dog behaviour consultant with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC), and is currently obtaining a masters degree in neuroscience.

Presented by Shay Kelly

CEUs:  PPAB 1

Pending CEUs: CCPDT ,  KPA ,  IAABC &  PMCT

A Webinar Sponsoring The Pet Training Science Alliance 

This webinar explores Tinbergen's four questions relating to the mechanism, survival value, development, and evolution of behaviour. During the webinar, we will ask whether these questions are still relevant and what other questions we should ask about behaviour.

About Tinbergen according to The University of Oxford.

In 1963 Niko Tinbergen published a seminal paper entitled ‘On the aims and methods of ethology’, which laid the foundation for how to conduct research in the fledging field of animal behaviour.

Tinbergen formulated four different, albeit somewhat interlinked, approaches to the study of animal behaviour, or four different types of questions we can ask about an observed behaviour

The four questions are:

1. Function (or adaption): Why is the animal performing the behaviour? How does the behaviour increase the animal’s fitness (i.e. its survival and reproduction)?

2. Evolution (or phylogeny): How did the behaviour evolve? How has natural selection modified the behaviour over evolutionary time?

3. Causation (or mechanism): What causes the behaviour to be performed? Which stimuli elicit or what physiological mechanisms cause the behaviour?

4. Development (or ontogeny): How has the behaviour developed during the individual's lifetime?

Learning Objectives 

• The learner will be able to identify and evaluate distinct causes of behaviour, based on Tinbergen's four questions.
• The learner will be able to consider further questions of behaviour.
• The learner will be able to consider the relevance of Tinbergen's questions, in relation to modern-day canine behaviour assessment.

About Your Presenter

Shay Kelly is a behaviour consultant and author of three books. Canine Enrichment: the book your dog needs you to read, Dog Training & Behaviour: a guide for everyone, and Puppy Nurture: raising your puppy with love.

Shay holds a Foundation degree in Applied Canine Behaviour & Training, Bachelor's degree in Canine Behaviour Management, and a Master's degree in Applied Animal Behaviour & Training. Shay has specific interests in enrichment and olfaction.

Preseners Business 

To Spay or Not to Spay – That is the Question.

Presented by Dr. Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD

CEUs: PPAB 1, CCPDT 1, IAABC 1, KPA 1, and PMCT 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 behavior, 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.

Crucial Cues Your Shelter Dogs, Volunteers & Adopters Should Know - 'Sit' Not Included 

with Leo Taylor 

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

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Join Leo Taylor for this webinar

Shelters often market dog volunteer positions as 'dog walking' opportunities but there's an argument to be made that the physical exercise a shelter dog is receiving is not nearly the most important piece of the puzzle. The adage that a 'tired dog is a happy dog' has long been bemoaned by qualified dog professionals who are aware of the bigger wellness picture. The expectations placed on shelter dogs are A LOT for them to process both mentally and emotionally, and without conscientious volunteer training that prioritizes consistency and predictability they become susceptible to confusion, frustration, punishment, and behavioral decline. Similarly, transferring these simple skills to the dog's adopter can make or break their ability to bond while transitioning into a new home.

Training and being a conscientious dog volunteer involves so much more than simply taking a dog on a walk and this webinar aims to highlight skills that will benefit nearly every dog during their shelter stay. It will not only help volunteers learn how to effectively execute the skills included, but will also emphasize the multifaceted benefits to both dog and human when becoming fluent in said skills. Our volunteers are here to help, so let's be sure we're providing them with the tools they need to make interactions with shelter dogs as stress-free as possible for both ends of the leash!

Your Professional Bio: Leo "LT" Taylor has worked and volunteered in San Francisco shelters for 13 years. As they have told the hundreds of dog volunteers they've trained, it's rarely the case that a dog would choose to be in even the 'nicest' shelter, so it's our job to bring the light back into their lives during an otherwise difficult and taxing chapter. LT is currently a senior in the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers and is thrilled to be serving on the PPG Shelter & Rescue Division committee. They're in the midst of launching their own training business - Little King Trash Dog Behavior Consulting and Training -

About Your Presenter - Leo Taylor CPDT-KA

Leo "LT" Taylor has worked and volunteered in San Francisco shelters for 13 years. As they have told the hundreds of dog volunteers they've trained, it's rarely the case that a dog would choose to be in even the 'nicest' shelter, so it's our job to bring the light back into their lives during an otherwise difficult and taxing chapter. LT is currently a senior in the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers and is thrilled to be serving on the PPG Shelter & Rescue Division committee. They're in the midst of launching their own training business - Little King Trash Dog Behavior Consulting and Training - named after their deaf shelter dog, Lemmy, who was found evading people and digging through trash cans in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. LT believes every shelter dog deserves patience, respect, and an understanding of why they are the way they are by the people entrusted with their care.

Triage for Dog Training Professionals: An interactive webinar

Presented by Kristi Benson and  Jean Donaldson 

CEUs: PPAB , CCPDT , KPA , & IAABC 

A Webinar Sponsoring The Pet Training Science Alliance 

Triage—that is, identifying and prioritizing issues in order of urgency for treatment—is an important skill for dog training professionals, who are often presented with dogs that have a veritable laundry list of issues and dog guardians who have limited bandwidth together with a tenuous understanding of animal welfare and public safety. During this webinar, the Academy for Dog Trainers staffers Jean Donaldson and Kristi Benson will operationalize triage with plenty of useful examples, and then, using a case-study format, have an interactive segment with audience participation to practice making triage decisions in sample cases.

Learning Objectives

• When triage is unimportant/when the client can choose
• Important considerations for triage: Public safety, animal welfare, and others
• Scripts for clients to assist with getting buy-in to treatment plans
• How triage can guide you to refer cases as needed

About Your Presenters

Jean Donaldson is one of the top dog trainers in the world and has lectured extensively in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. She is a four-time winner of The Dog Writers’ Association of America’s Maxwell Award, and her seminal book The Culture Clash was named number one training and behavior book by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers, where she earned her Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC). She has an online school helping dog guardians with a variety of behaviour issues, such as barking and house soiling. Kristi is also on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. She handles special projects such as the Academy's Husbandry Project, books webinars, and is a student mentor and coach.

Preseners Business 

The Academy for Dog Trainers is a two-year comprehensive professional program in evidence-based pet dog training, behavior, class teaching and behavior counseling.  The Academy will celebrate its 25-year anniversary in 2024, and has certified over one thousand behavior counselors and trainers.  After running it for 10 years out of The San Francisco SPCA as an in-person full-time program, Jean re-invented the program as a self-paced part-time online course in 2011.

A FREE PPG Member Webinar 

A deep dive into the Clicks! with Digiwoof Platform

Presented by Josh Boutelle

CEUs: PPAB 1, KPA , & IAABC Pending

Registered for the live event, get busy and cannot make it!

No worries you will automatically receive a recording!

In tis FREE PPG Member webinar Josh will discuss that by automating inquiry responses, scheduling, payment, and client intake & onboarding, dog professionals can spend more time marketing their businesses or taking some much-needed time off.

Whether you work with clients 1 on 1, have a staff of trainers, or you teach classes, we'll discuss ways to streamline operations while keeping communication personal.

In this webinar, we'll take an in-depth look into automating client onboarding, scheduling, payment, and more using Clicks! with Digiwoof - an all-in-one CRM & marketing software for R+ dog pros.

We'll discuss strategies for reducing administrative time while making more profit & impact for your clients and business.

Come and join us!

About Your Presenter

Founder of Digiwoof.com, Josh and his team specialize in helping R+ dog pros with branding, websites, automation, and creating an enjoyable client experience. With 10+ years of experience in the pet care industry and a background in graphic design, Josh is skilled at helping dog trainers and R+ pet care businesses effectively showcase their services online.

Your Recorded Sessions  

Creating Behaviour Modification Plans in

Challenging Environments (shelter) 

CEUs: 1 PPAB , 1 CCPDT , 1 KPA , 1 PMCT, & 1 IAABC 

A Webinar Sponsoring The Pet Training Science Alliance 

This webinar looks at how we can create successful behaviour modification plans in challenging environments. from shelters to busy households learn how to work around challenges

• Understand the importance of BMPs in shelters 
• Learn how to introduce HAPPIER Bmps for challenging enviroments 
• Learn about setting appropriate goals for BMPS

About Your Presenter

Tom Candy

A passion for animal welfare and training led Tom (he/him) to undertake a BSc (Hons) in Bio-veterinary science and a MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Lincoln (UK). Having started volunteering in rescue at the age of 15, Tom has been involved in a variety of aspects of rescue including fundraising, home checking, transporting and general day to day operations.

Currently Tom works as a Senior Training and Behaviour advisor with the UK’s largest canine welfare organisation, where he supports the training and behaviour teams across the southwest. Tom is responsible for supporting and advising managers and Training and Behaviour Advisors on matters relating to behavioural concerns and helping to promote higher levels of welfare for dogs.

Tom is a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (UK) and a Certified Canine Behaviour Consultant and Certified Shelter Behaviour Specialist with the International association of Animal Behaviour Consultants. He has been luckily enough to speak on several Shelter behaviour related topics across webinars, pods casts, workshops and Conferences both in the UK and internationally including America, Canada, Spain and most recently at the International Companion Animal Welfare Conference in Bulgaria where he presented on meeting dogs needs in a kennel environment and ran workshops on topics such as enrichment and training as part of everyday life in kennels.