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  • Online Meeting – CASCAR – 7/7/20 – California Animal Shelters – UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

    Online Meeting – CASCAR – 7/7/20 – California Animal Shelters – UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

    Given the craziness that can afflict animal shelters around the July 4th weekend we were thinking of cancelling next Tuesday’s CASCAR call. However, there were lots of questions after the webinar we did for Cal Animals during the usual CASCAR slot this week and we didn’t get to all of them, so we figured we could use the time to answer those if there are any lingering. And we are working on a follow up, more tactical session on racial and social justice in California animal sheltering/community animal management, hopefully to really dig into policies and practices that will result in meaningful shifts. If you have questions and ideas to inform planning that would be welcome. Or just in general if you want to drop in and say hi – the truth is we just like to see you all!

    So, low key and don’t worry if you can’t make it this week, but we’ll be hanging out at the usual spot at 10 a.m. on Tuesday July 7th: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJQtdO-srDItyMz7xy-ZsncbcFa6s8kKZg.

    And as always, if you have questions or suggestions for future CASCAR call topics, email us at CASCAR@sheltermedicine.com.

    Hope your fourth of July weekend is not too hectic and all the pets and people stay safe!

    Kate

    Kate F. Hurley, DVM, MPVM, Dip. ABVP (Shelter Medicine)

    Koret Shelter Medicine Program

    UC Davis  Center for Companion Animal Health

    www.sheltermedicine.com

    www.millioncatchallenge.org

  • Online Meeting – CASCAR – 7/14/20 and 7/21/20 – California Animal Shelters – DEI – UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

    Online Meeting – CASCAR – 7/14/20 and 7/21/20 – California Animal Shelters – DEI – UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

    This Tuesday: Diving back into social and racial justice for California animal shelters
    You are invited to join our two-part discussion session happening this Tuesday, July 14th.
    The sheltermedicine.com newsletter: your portal to better sheltering.

    Save the Date: DEI and your shelter.

    Two-part DEI discussion sessions this Tuesday (7/14) and next Tuesday (7/21).
    Hi All,
    We just got off the phone from the group planning session for our upcoming CASCAR calls and we’re really looking forward to our time together on Tuesday! Jose Ocano and Jyothi Robertson will be joining us again for a two-parter this Tuesday, July 14th, and the following Tuesday, July 21st, to dive deeper into applying a racial and social justice lens both within our organizations and to the work that we do.
    We will move through definitions and establishing cultural foundations into practical tactics with plenty of room for discussion. As always, our hope is to create a respectful and friendly context for exploration and sharing of questions, ideas and experiences.
    Just shedding lots and lots of light on this discussion and refusing to let it fade into the background as other pressing issues emerge (and surge☹️), is really helpful. At least, that’s our sincere hope.

    Check the CA shelters page for links to this and previous CASCAR calls.

    We would love for this to be inclusive of interested staff at every level so please feel free to share with your team. Coming up, we can discuss changing the time of these calls to better accommodate schedules now that more people are back to work onsite, We realize 10am isn’t the easiest for kennel staff.
    As always, if you have questions or suggestions for this discussion or future CASCAR topics, email us at CASCAR@sheltermedicine.com <mailto:CASCAR@sheltermedicine.com>.
    Remember, if you volunteer to lead a section of a call, you get a CASCAR mug of your own!

    Dr. Kate Hurley and the KSMP Team

  • Online Course – Starts 7/8/20 – Introduction to Learning – in Animals – Smart Dog Training and Behavior (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 7/8/20 – Introduction to Learning – in Animals – Smart Dog Training and Behavior (fee applies)

    Course description

    Everything animals do is affected by learning.  This includes unhealthy or maladaptive behavior such as aggression and anxiety as well as simple, everyday behavior such as interactions with family members, strangers, and other dogs.  In addition, learning is affected by everything we do and experience.  Things like trauma and success, as well as feeling excited or scared after a particular experience, all affect how animals learn.

    As dog trainers, we need to have a very strong foundation in learning theory if we want to effectively establish new behaviors and modify old ones. This class is an excellent way to establish that knowledge.

    Introduction to Learning covers the biology of learning, instrumental conditioning, classical conditioning, the role of emotion in learning as well as the application and integration of these topics.  Throughout the class, students will have multiple opportunities to use in-class activities to further their understanding of the material and to receive feedback regarding their progress in the course. I also offer an advanced learning class for students that are already comfortable with the basics, or who are interested in going further after completing the introductory course. That course will be scheduled later in 2020 and will be announced via my mailing list.

    Course Objectives

    Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

    • Define learning and explain how it influences behavior
    • Explain how learning is influenced by biological factors such as genetics and natural selection
    • Discuss the relationship between physiology and behavior
    • Define, recognize, and apply instrumental conditioning concepts including:
        • Instrumental conditioning
        • Antecedent, behavior, consequence
        • Negative and positive punishment and reinforcement
        • Factors that influence instrumental learning
    • Explain the different methods of producing behaviors in dogs (e.g. shaping, chaining, luring)
    • Define, recognize, and apply classical conditioning concepts including:
        • Classical conditioning
        • Conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and responses
    • Define emotion and discuss how it influences behavior
    • Assess different methods of addressing fear in dogs and the proper application of each
    • Make predictions about how an individual might learn under particular conditions and how that learning will affect behavior.
    • Apply knowledge of learning to working with dogs
    • Be able to analyze, integrate and apply new information to fit into current framework of knowledge. If it doesn’t fit into current framework, be able to pursue novel paths of thinking.

    Approach

    I believe that the most effective learning occurs when students are not only provided with the facts, but also provided ample opportunity to use that information in concrete ways, engage in challenging activities, interact with others and receive frequent feedback on their progress.

    Therefore, this course will be taught using an approach that encourages collaboration and active learning.  While there will be time spent lecturing, time in class will be also be spent working on interactive activities and completing brief assignments.

    I began my teaching career by teaching at a university and I hold students in my online courses to the same standards. I have high expectations for engagement and quality of work. However, I also strongly feel that if I am going to set a high bar, that I need to step up and make sure my students can reach it. This means that I hold myself to a very high standard as well and I love it when students reach out if they are struggling with the material in any way. I am happy to help. If you haven’t taken a college course before, but are willing to put in the work and reach out for help if needed, then you should do well in this course.

    Schedule

    The course starts on Wednesday, July 8th at 6 pm EST. It is a 6-week course. We will have class on the following days: July 8th, July 15th, July 22nd, July 29th, August 5th, and August 12th. Class runs for about an hour. Each lecture will be conducted live and will include interactive discussion. There will be at least one in-class assignment each week as well. In addition to the in-class assignments, there will be two quizzes that will need to be completed outside of class – one on Week 2 and one on week 4.

    If you are interested in this course, but cannot attend live at the currently scheduled time, please e-mail info@smartdogtrainingandbehavior.com with your preferred times. If I get enough requests for other time slots, I will open additional sections. 

    Class preview

    Not sure? Check out our class preview! The preview contains a sample lecture, a video message from Dr. Spaulding, the syllabus and a quiz to test your knowledge!

    Note: the system requires you to create an account to view the preview, but you will not need to enter your credit card information.

    CEUs

    CCPDT: 9 CEUs for behavior consultants

    IAABC: 8.25 CEUs

    CEUs will require completion of work in class as well as the completion of two quizzes. Quizzes must be passed with an 80% or higher and 80% or more of all in-class work must be submitted in order to earn CEUs. If you receive less than 80% on the quiz you may retake the quiz once, after contacting the instructor for clarification on the missed questions. Refunds will not be granted if you are unable to attend class and therefore unable to complete the required work. Excused absences will be granted in case of emergencies and illness (with proper documentation).

    Register

    The cost for the course is $240.

    Click here to register. Registration will close on Tuesday, July 7th at 12 pm EST.

    WEBSITE LINK:  http://smartdogtrainingandbehavior.com/introduction-to-learning/

  • Webinar – 7/8/20 – Common Dental and Oral Pathology – VDOS – fee applies

    Webinar – 7/8/20 – Common Dental and Oral Pathology – VDOS – fee applies

    You are not sure about how to call lesions in the mouth of dogs and cats? Looks like this, but could be that? Learn their names, causes, what else they could look like, and how to address them!

    This webinar will review the most common dental and oral pathologies in dogs and cats, including periodontal disease, gingival enlargement, oral ulcers, stomatitis, eosinophilic granuloma, pyogenic granuloma, tooth wear, tooth fracture, endodontic and periapical disease, tooth resorption, jaw fracture, temporomandibular joint disorders, palate defects, oral soft tissue trauma, and oral tumors. The focus is on recognizing potential causes and diagnostic features of these conditions. The didactic lecture will last 1.5 hours, but the webinar is designed so that there is extra time for interactive participation and answering your questions.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.vdos.org/event-details/common-dental-and-oral-pathology-2

  • Webinar – 8/26/20 – Common Dental and Oral Pathology – VDOS – fee applies

    Webinar – 8/26/20 – Common Dental and Oral Pathology – VDOS – fee applies

    You are not sure about how to call lesions in the mouth of dogs and cats? Looks like this, but could be that? Learn their names, causes, what else they could look like, and how to address them!

    This webinar will review the most common dental and oral pathologies in dogs and cats, including periodontal disease, gingival enlargement, oral ulcers, stomatitis, eosinophilic granuloma, pyogenic granuloma, tooth wear, tooth fracture, endodontic and periapical disease, tooth resorption, jaw fracture, temporomandibular joint disorders, palate defects, oral soft tissue trauma, and oral tumors. The focus is on recognizing potential causes and diagnostic features of these conditions. The didactic lecture will last 1.5 hours, but the webinar is designed so that there is extra time for interactive participation and answering your questions.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.vdos.org/event-details/common-dental-and-oral-pathology-2

  • Webinar – 7/6/20 – Starting Small Animal Dentistry – VDOS – (fee applies)

    Webinar – 7/6/20 – Starting Small Animal Dentistry – VDOS – (fee applies)

    This webinar will introduce you to the world of small animal dentistry and oral surgery. It will explain what equipment, instruments, materials, knowledge and skills are needed to become proficient in this most important discipline of veterinary medicine. The didactic lecture will last 1 hour, but the webinar is designed so that there is extra time for interactive participation and answering your questions.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.vdos.org/vets-and-techs

  • Webinar – 8/24/20 – Starting Small Animal Dentistry – VDOS – (fee applies)

    Webinar – 8/24/20 – Starting Small Animal Dentistry – VDOS – (fee applies)

    This webinar will introduce you to the world of small animal dentistry and oral surgery. It will explain what equipment, instruments, materials, knowledge and skills are needed to become proficient in this most important discipline of veterinary medicine. The didactic lecture will last 1 hour, but the webinar is designed so that there is extra time for interactive participation and answering your questions.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.vdos.org/vets-and-techs

  • Take Your Learning to the Next Level!

    Take Your Learning to the Next Level!

    Considering expanding your knowledge of shelter medicine, infectious disease, forensics, shelter animal behavior and welfare?

    Seeking a more structured online learning experience and possibly even pursuing a certificate or degree?

    The University of Florida offers an online shelter medicine distance learning program. Sponsored by PetSmart you can learn how to recognize and manage infectious diseases in a shelter, collect forensic evidence in a current investigation, and prevent behavioral and welfare problems in large populations of animals.

    This program fills an existing curriculum gap in shelter medicine by providing quality online courses for veterinary professionals, animal welfare professionals, and students. Even career changers interested in getting a start in shelter medicine or assisting local shelters with non-profit leadership issues can transition into the program as a non-degree seeking student. Demand continues to grow for qualified professionals in this ever-expanding field.

    UF’s shelter medicine graduate program offers competitive in-state tuition for all students, regardless of location.

    Anyone who has an undergraduate degree (not just veterinarians), can take one course as a non-degree seeking student:  https://onlinesheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/programs/continuing-education/ to check things out.

  • Webinar – 7/16/20 – Mike Shikashio – Dogs That Guard Their Owners – FDSA – fee applies

    Webinar – 7/16/20 – Mike Shikashio – Dogs That Guard Their Owners – FDSA – fee applies

    Dog aggression expert, Michael Shikashio CDBC, will explore why dogs may display aggressive behavior when they are near their owner and another dog or human approaches. Mike will discuss how to determine if a dog is truly guarding their person or if there is actually another reason for their behavior. He will also dive into the behavior change techniques that can be used to modify this type of aggression!

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/fdsa-calendar

  • Webinar – 7/9/20 – Deb Jones, PhD – The 10 Minute Training Session: 5 Skill Sets You Can Teach From Your Couch – FDSA – fee applies

    Webinar – 7/9/20 – Deb Jones, PhD – The 10 Minute Training Session: 5 Skill Sets You Can Teach From Your Couch – FDSA – fee applies

    Deb Jones, PhD – The 10 Minute Training Session: 5 Skill Sets You Can Teach From Your Couch

    Date: Thursday, July 9, 2020
    Time: 6pm Pacific Time (Click here for time at FDSA (Pacific Time).
    Fee: $19.95 – Registration required PRIOR to scheduled presentation time.

    Don’t have enough time to train your dog?

    Don’t have enough space to get in a good training session?

    Does your dog need more physical & mental activity than he’s currently getting?

    Do you have issues with physical movement and flexibility?

    Is the weather too lousy to get your dog out for some much needed activity?

    This webinar can help! Join Deb as she discusses how “couch training” can be a huge boost to your work with your dog and to your dog’s well-being. As a self-proclaimed lazy trainer Deb has designed a number of training exercises that can work both the bodies and brains of her activity loving dogs while she sits on the sofa. Even the highest energy dog can be satisfied (at least temporarily!) with 10 minutes of focused mental & physical activity. Expect to get lots of ideas that can apply to you, and your dog’s, specific needs.

    The skill sets that Deb will discuss and demonstrate include:

    • Focus
    • Impulse control
    • Distance work
    • Chin rest
    • Retrieves

    * Click here to register **