VCPRs and Telemedicine have beome a divisive topic in Veterinary Medicine. The decision on what a practice can do, lies in the hands of legislators. Join us for the latest updates and what the changes mean moving forward.
Blog
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Online Course – Starts 7/17/23 – Fundamentals of Ethology – IAABC (fee applies)
Think outside the Skinner box! Ethology is the scientific and objective study of how animals behave in the real world. This course will teach you the core concepts of ethology — how animals see their world, and why they behave the way they do.
You’ll learn how the environment, individual personality, and genetics all interact. This course is great for anyone new to ethology, working or interested in sheltering, zoos, training, and behavior, and everyone interested in getting the most out of their relationship with a companion animal, personal or professional.
Ethology is the study of animal behavior and its evolution, and is a key factor in having true expertise in the understanding of animals.
- How do animals see and interact with their world?
- What does this mean in terms of how they behave?
- How will this change and enhance your understanding of behavior?
- How can this understanding dramatically improve your ability to work with, and help animals?
An understanding of ethology, and the exploration of these questions will forever change how you think about the animals we live and work with.
Course Begins: July 17, 2023
Duration: 4 weeks
Instructor: Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB
** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WEEKLY ONLINE MEETINGS **
- Auditors do not attend online meetings
- Meetings are not recorded
- Meetings take place on Mondays at 7:00 pm Eastern (first meeting July 24th)
- Meetings are 1 hour in duration
- There are 4 meetings for this course
WEBSITE LINK: https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/fundamentals-of-ethology/
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Hybrid Conference – 5/20/23 to 5/21/23 – Canine Science Symposium – Virginia Tech (fee applies)
Repeatedly ranked one of the Top 10 Animal Behavior and Dog Training Conferences of the Year, the 9th annual Canine Science Symposium is an information-packed two days of applied science that you do not want to miss! Created especially for animal sheltering and behavior and training professionals, the mission of the Symposium is to provide practitioners with information and interventions that will help them improve the welfare of dogs in their shelters and the behavior and training of dogs.
For shelter-specific topics this year, we have talks on excessive arousal, behavioral phenotypes, fostering during the pandemic (with present-day takeaways), various types of short-term fostering programs, and One Welfare. For behavior and training talks, we have a sure-to-be engaging presentation on the effects of aversive control (in light of the potential electronic collar ban in SF) as well as applied behavior analysis in training & enrichment, social interaction as a reinforcer, communication & consent in training, and the role of mood and motivation in canine learning.
Envisioned as a way to connect attendees with the science from the scientists as well as to bring together those working in sheltering & training, the Canine Science Symposium has in-person and, new this year, Zoom live streaming options. The in-person conference will take place at the San Francisco State University Towers Conference Center.
Because of our focus on animal sheltering, we strive to keep registration affordable. Our early bird registration ends April 30, 2023.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.caninesciencesymposium.com/
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Hybrid Conference – 6/14/23 – 2023 Veterinary Behavior Symposium – ACVB (fee applies)
The Veterinary Behavior Symposium provides a forum for sharing cutting-edge, original research in the field of animal behavior. This year, we are pleased to host a hybrid event. The program will be held in-person and be available virtually (live-streamed) as well. The presentations will be made available after the event for all registrants for those who wish to view again or return to it.
Participation in the Veterinary Behavior Symposium is eligible for continuing education credit.
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.dacvb.org/page/2023VBS
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Webinar – 6/5/23 – Playgroups Part 1: The Why – Dogs Playing for Life
Learn about all the ways in which DPFL Playgroups are transforming shelters all across the country! In this first of three webinars, we will present powerful examples of how playgroups can not only enhance the quality of life for your shelter dogs but how focusing on their quality of life through enrichment can lead to game-changing benefits to your shelter’s everyday operations. Attendees will get to view dynamic video examples and impactful data and experiences from some of the nearly 300 shelters who have embraced the power of letting shelter dogs play!
This is a 1.5-hour presentation followed by a Q&A session. This webinar will not be recorded.
This course has been pre-approved for 1.5 continuing education unit (CEU) credits for: Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
IMPORTANT: This webinar is scheduled on Eastern Time. Webinar recordings will not be available so make sure you don’t miss it!
*Part 1 attendees will be sent the signup links to parts 2 & 3 upon completing the first webinar.
Playgroups Part 2: The What (June 12 at 11 a.m.)
In Part 2, we dive into what DPFL-style Playgroups look like! During this webinar, we will view and discuss dog-to-dog communication and body language, as well as some of the operational aspects of a successful playgroup program.
Attendees will learn the various ways in which handlers should observe and learn about the dogs in their playgroups in order to create the safest, most enriching and informational experiences for the dogs in their care.
Playgroups Part 3: The How (June 19 at 11 a.m.)
In this last section, we take a deep dive into the critical aspects of how to successfully facilitate playgroups in your shelter.
Attendees will be offered a robust collection of video examples and important discussions on safety, effective handling techniques, and how to take the first steps to implement or enhance their own shelter playgroup programs.
WEBSITE LINK: https://dogsplayingforlife.com/webinars/
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Webinar – 5/8/23 – The Handler End of the Leash: How Body Language Tells the Tale with Suzanne Clothier – PPG (fee applies)
Much of dog training is focused on the dog, or the mechanics of markers and rewards. Yet in many ways, handlers can and do affect their dog’s behavior and learning. Many training problems are rooted in communication issues, caused by a handler’s body language and unintended messages.
The dog’s understanding of the handler’s behavior is built in the details of how the handler typically moves, laughs, smiles, speaks, breathes, etc. in familiar and comfortable settings. But under stress, in unfamiliar or challenging situations, things can change. Shifts in the handler signals to the dog that the person he relies on is alarmed, angry, worried, or even afraid. Depending on the dog, this can have significant impact on behavior. We can be more effective in helping the dog when we understand the handler in new ways, and have practical approaches to help them say what they mean and mean what they say.
Learning Objectives
Meta-messages – seeing the whole picture
Breathing – how breathing impacts our ability to move, learn and think
Muscle tension & quality of movement
Flexion, balance & stance – warning, welcoming, worried or wild?
Blink rate and expression – what story does your face tell?
Core & gaze orientation – how we signal our awareness and focusAbout Your Presenter
Suzanne Clothier has been working with animals professionally since 1977. Her positive and humane approach, Relationship Centered Training™ (RCT) promotes promote healthy, respectful and joyful dog/human connections.
The author of Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs (2002), her innovative programs include Treat/Retreat, the Enriched Puppy Protocol, CARAT™, RAT™, FAT™, as well as many RCT techniques, online courses and webinars. A trainer of trainers, she has taught on a broad range of topics throughout the US and internationally, and served as a consultant to major service dog schools.
CEUs: PPAB 1 & IAABC 1
WEBSITE LINK: https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-5202798
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Webinar – 4/27/23 – FUNctional Obedience: Where the RUBBER Meets the Road – FDSA (fee applies)
Does living with your dog sometimes feel like you’re riding in a Ferrari with a newly licensed teenager, and you’re barely holding on? Or, maybe you feel like you’re tootling along with a senior driver in an older Buick, smoke pouring out of the exhaust, waving people off the sidewalk? Either way, the partnership is not going how you imagined. You’re not alone, and there are many ways to help you and your dog feel more like a team.
We all have different lifestyles our dogs need to learn how to dog in, and this is where the “RUBBER” (Relationship, Utilitarian Behaviors, Boundaries, Expectations and Reinforcement) meets the road in FUNctional Obedience.
In this session, we will draw real world analogies to help you think about the relationship you currently have with your dog, and to describe where you hope that relationship goes. Continuing the car analogy, I have a high mileage stop and go lifestyle with three low mileage, high octane malinois. Have you considered how you would describe your lifestyle-dog relationship using the car analogy? Each dog, even within their breed, is individual in their “gears” and “drivability” much like their automotive (and human!) counterparts. Each dog has unique maintenance needs, both physical and mental! The same is true with us humans – and this is where relationship building truly begins!
This webinar will help you identify your dog’s needs, and more importantly your needs, within your life at this moment. The Relationship, Utilitarian Behaviors, Boundaries, Expectations and Reinforcement that I establish with my dogs, especially in my multi-dog household, keeps our day-to-day running smoothly. Here’s how:
–> Relationships allow us to understand one another.
–> Utilitarian Behaviors are the key to day-to-day life and reduce conflict. (There are behaviors that can help us enjoy life together better that we may not realize without reflection.)
–> Boundaries are key to building strong relationships. Setting boundaries creates a safe environment where everyone’s needs can be met.
–> Expectations give us habits and routines through consistency.
–> Reinforcement is incredibly FUN and builds and solidifies all of the components…when the RUBBER meets the road.
Let me help you see both yourself and your dog differently, while reflecting on ways to improve your life with your dog through FUNctional obedience, no matter what your competition or non-competition goals are. This webinar is about reflecting, planning and observing your day-to-day life and how to make it better for both you and your dog(s). (Plus, spending time with an ADHD high school art teacher of 20+ years by day, and protection sport decoy/helper with three malinois by night, is guaranteed entertainment and education! Hope to see you soon!)
Presenter: Crystal Wing
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars
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Webinar – 4/27/23 – Surviving an Urban Environment with a Control Freak – FDSA (fee applies)
A deep dive into the herding breeds, their selection and the reason why they do things that challenge owners and trainers on a daily basis.
A lot of the herding breeds that are now popular in sport and pet homes are considered the most intelligent and easy to train breed and yet, most are faced with such a high prey drive and need to control movement that sometimes a normal walk with them feels impossible.
Where is this desire to control everything that moves comes from? How can we avoid it from the beginning or if the behavior is already happening, how do we help our dogs to focus on us instead of moving cars and bikes?
Martina will explain the main management and training tools that she uses in her Herder Bootcamp programs for herding breeds dogs in urban and pet environment.
Presenter: Martina Miradoli
WEBSITE LINK: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars
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Webinar – 5/1/23 – YouTube LIVE: Expanding our Minds with Lyme – VETGirl
Do you know all you NEED to know about Lyme?
In this complimentary, 30-minute VETgirl – Merck Animal Health YouTube LIVE event, Dr. Kathryn Duncan, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology) reviews canine Lyme disease as it relates to the tick vector, clinical signs, and available diagnostics. Tune in for case discussions to learn about the latest recommendations on treatment and prevention!
NOTE: To attend this YouTube LIVE session, there is no “registration.” To attend, simply go to our YouTube Page at the time of the event where the webinar will be hosted, LIVE!
Thanks to sponsorship from Merck Animal Health, this webinar is FREE to all! (Remember: you must be logged in as a free Trial or Elite member to register for the live event)
WEBSITE LINK: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/may-1-2023-youtube-live-expanding-our-minds-with-lyme/
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Webinar – 4/23/23 – Milkshakes, Mindsets & Medicine: The Power and Potential of Mindsets in Veterinary Medicine – VETGirl
Mind over matter!
In this complimentary, 1-hour, VETgirl–Elanco webinar, Dr. Jacqueline Neilson, DVM, DACVB tackles some common mindsets that may sabotage our health, happiness, and work in the veterinary setting. Tune in and learn how we can shift those mindsets to improve our personal well-being, the well-being of the profession, and the care we deliver to our patients.
Thanks to sponsorship from Elanco, this webinar is FREE to all! (Remember: you must be logged in as a free Trial or Elite member to register for the live event)
WEBSITE LINK: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/april-23-2023-milkshakes-mindsets-medicine-the-power-and-potential-of-mindsets-in-veterinary-medicine/