The shelter can be a scary place for dogs and cats but it doesn’t have to be. The emotional-well being of these animals is important and there are ways we can improve the welfare of these animals by setting up low stress environments, monitoring emotional states, and practicing Low Stress Handling Techniques when handling and restraining.

About the presenter
A graduate of Mississippi State University but native of New Jersey, Dr. Christine Calder has lived and practiced veterinary medicine in both New Jersey and Maine for many years. In addition to general practice, Dr. Calder has worked at the San Francisco SPCA, Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Most recently, she was an assistant clinical professor in community veterinary services and veterinary behavior at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

As a general practitioner, Dr. Calder always had an interest in animal behavior especially clinical veterinary behavior and, in 2016, she finished a residency with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. In 2017, she became a diplomate with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB). Her special interest is in shelter behavior, feline behavior, and shy/fearful dogs. She shares her home with three Rhodesian ridgebacks, a black Lab, two French bulldogs, and a snake.

WEBSITE LINK:  https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-5063846

Interactive cats who approach unfamiliar people in a friendly manner or remain relaxed as they are approached, are much preferred by caregivers. In a shelter setting, the more quickly cats approach potential adopters, the sooner they get adopted. In contrast, shelter cats who are less comfortable in the proximity of strangers have a mean length of stay as much as three times longer than that of their interactive counterparts and are more likely to be euthanized. Despite the risks for relatively fearful cats, behavioral interventions for them rarely extend beyond environmental management and patience.

At Friends For Life Animal Shelter, Melissa and colleagues have developed a simple, novel, and effective ritualized introduction method that trains undersocialized cats to display genuinely friendly and affectionate behavior towards new people. This protocol has been successful as a component of a socialization program for fearful cats, and demonstrates a wider application for helping the typical “house feral” learn to look forward to meeting visitors in their home.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how adoption programs can benefit from a structured approach towards socializing fearful shelter cats.
• Outline a step-by-step process for conditioning undersocialized cats to approach and solicit affection from new people in shelter and at home.
• Identify components of a pre- and post- adoption support plan to ensure that fearful cat placements stick.

About Your Presenter

Melissa Taylor is the behavior and training manager at Friends For Life Animal Shelter in Houston, Texas. She has logged more than 20 years in shelter animal behavior, starting with an internship at the ASPCA’s Animal Behavior Center in New York City. She developed a lasting love for cooperative care from training livestock and wildlife as the coordinator of the Behavior and Training Department at the Houston SPCA, and applies the same principles to the dogs, cats, exotics, and humans she works with now at Friends For Life.

Over the course of her career, Melissa has focused on the development of shelter humane education programs, particularly those for volunteers, with the intention of mentoring new companion animal trainers and behavior consultants with practices steeped in evidence and based on building trust, security, and partnership. Melissa has started several shelter behavior volunteer programs and consults with other humane organizations on starting such initiatives of their own.

WEBSITE LINK:  https://petprofessionalguild.com/event-5061308

If you want to see the dust fly when you need your dog to come back RIGHT NOW, then you need this webinar. No matter what your dog currently sees, smells or is in the process of attempting to catch, you CAN get a fast and furious return to you – the handler – simply because you called!

This webinar will teach you how to condition your dog to recall under the most arousing and challenging circumstances – right from the start! By creating a powerful association between the sound of the whistle and your behavior, your dog will come back to you reflexively, without even thinking about it, simply because you called! And don’t worry, you don’t HAVE to use a whistle – your voice will work fine as well.

Whether your want this recall for dog sports or life, the process is simple, fast, extremely effective and….fun!

WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars

Whether you’re working with a service dog in training or are just wanting to make adventures with your social dog less of a circus routine- this webinar has something for you!

This tricks are easy to teach and make the post dog event social outings all the more enjoyable.

We will focus on some skills to smooth over the outing preparation, simple hacks for walking nicely, and savvy settling.

WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/webinars