Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

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  • Webinar – 8/27/24 – Fancy Footwork: Practical Handling and Training Solutions for the Entire Shelter – Dogs Playing for Life (fee applies)

    Webinar – 8/27/24 – Fancy Footwork: Practical Handling and Training Solutions for the Entire Shelter – Dogs Playing for Life (fee applies)

    While playgroups are the foundation of our shelter training program, teaching shelter teams how to implement a generalized, effective, and enjoyable way to handle and train their dogs is another essential aspect of our canine programming! In this webinar, we will teach the fundamentals of our “Fancy Footwork” techniques that focus on achieving good leash manners through the use of your FEET instead of your hands. Come learn this unique and highly effective approach that promotes dogs happily walking softly by your side, offering tons of eye contact, and wowing adopters! This new approach to leash work will enhance your handling skills and increase your ability to train ALL dogs, even those that are highly aroused, stressed, fearful, or not motivated by food, all in an effort to improve quality of life and lifesaving for dogs living in shelters.

    Additionally, we will teach you how to implement our critically important kennel routines. The kennel areas of our nation’s shelters can be one of the most challenging and distressing environments that dogs–and their handlers–ever face. DPFL kennel routines have been developed and taught to shelters across the country in an effort to combat these challenges and to provide safer and more successful ways for dogs and people to maneuver through the kennels.

    This is a 1.5-hour presentation followed by a Q&A session. This webinar will NOT be recorded and is scheduled on EASTERN TIME.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HPGGabv0QBas_RhoNIA5vg#/registration

  • Webinar – 8/21/24 – Deep Dive Into Trauma and How It Affects Dogs and Their Humans with Shannon Riley – PPG (fee applies)

    Webinar – 8/21/24 – Deep Dive Into Trauma and How It Affects Dogs and Their Humans with Shannon Riley – PPG (fee applies)

    The word “trauma” is being used a lot these days. It is great that there is more awareness that trauma exists and can affect a person or animals’ behavior. However, if a trainer does not truly understand how trauma affects the brain and behavior (of both the human and the animal) then may not be successful.

    Whether your client has experienced trauma or if the animal you are training has experienced trauma, it will affect the way that they learn. The trauma can lead to anxiety, fear and/or stress in places you may not expect. It is important to understand how trauma effects leaning and it is important to have empathy and understanding when working with these humans and animals.

    Learning Objectives

    • What is trauma really?
    •  Understanding how trauma effects the brain and behavior (of humans and dogs)
    • How trauma can affect your client’s ability to train their dog
    • Ways to help dogs and humans that have experienced trauma

    Your Presenter – Shannon Riley  BA, RVT, CPDT KA, KPA-CTP

    Shannon Riley is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Registered Veterinary Technician, Wellness Coach, and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. Shannon has been a pet lover all her life and a dog trainer for over 20 years. She has spent her life observing, caring for and training animals of all kinds. She has worked in the Bird Department at Marine World Africa USA, and worked as a handler and trainer for an African Serval Cat at Safari West, a private zoo in Santa Rosa, California. She has participated in behavior studies including observations of bald eagles and addax antelope through the San Francisco Zoo and Safari West.

    Her education includes a Biology Degree, specializing in Zoology from Sonoma State. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Shannon has also spoken at the Annual APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers) conferences and covered topics such as “Compassion Fatigue” and “What Is Your Dog’s Currency?” In 2021, she spoke at Pet Professional Guilds Geek Week.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/deep-dive-into-trauma-and-how-it-affects-dogs-and-their-humans-with-shannon-riley/

  • Webinar – 7/25/24 – Leash Off! Game On! with Julie Flanery – FDSA (fee applies)

    Webinar – 7/25/24 – Leash Off! Game On! with Julie Flanery – FDSA (fee applies)

    Do you worry each time you take the leash off that your dog will become distracted, or even take off on their own? Has taking off the leash become a cue to disconnect? Imagine if instead when you remove your dog’s leash they sprung to life! That they became immediately engaged, focused, and excited to play the game with you.

    In this webinar, we will explore games and activities that help build off-leash reliability and connection with your 4-legged friend and to build a strong skill set that you can carry into any situation. These games are suitable for any age dog or skill level, whether you’re looking to rehab a dog that currently disconnects or build a strong foundation with a future canine sports star.

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

  • Online Certificate Program – Starts 9/30/24 – Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Program – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    Online Certificate Program – Starts 9/30/24 – Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Program – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    The shelter environment is a very stressful place that affects the psychological well-being of the animals. Comprehensive behavior programs are essential to keep the animals behaviorally and emotionally healthy during their stay. This eight-week course will give you the knowledge and skills to develop an effective behavior program aimed at improving the welfare of the animals in your care.

    09/30/2024 – 11/24/2024  – Now available for registration. 

    Who will benefit from this program?

    • Anyone currently affiliated with an animal shelter or rescue organization who wants to learn more about animal behavior as it relates to the shelter/foster environment.
    • Anyone who wants to improve the emotional wellbeing of the animals in your care.
    • Anyone seeking a behavior specialist position with an animal shelter or rescue organization.

    What You Will Learn

    • Gain knowledge on how to read dog and cat animal body language and signaling
    • Learn techniques for safe, humane handling of the animals
    • Understand how the shelter environment effects the emotional wellbeing of the animals and how to use stress reduction techniques to improve welfare
    • Gain knowledge on how to keep the animals physically, mentally, and socially stimulated through shelter-wide enrichment programs
    • Understand the value of effective canine and feline behavior assessments
    • Obtain the knowledge and skills needed to implement training and behavior modification techniques to improve the behavior and emotional state of the shelter animals
    • Obtain skills needed to ensure quality customer service for adoption counseling and follow-up.

    Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 4.8 CEUs

    Course Code: UNSM 050

    Course Price: $399

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://uc.pacific.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=2133958

  • Online Certificate Program – Starts 9/23/24 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Leadership – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    Online Certificate Program – Starts 9/23/24 – Animal Shelter Management Certificate Program – Leadership – Humane Network/UoP (fee applies)

    Society’s relationship to pets continues to evolve. The majority of people consider their pets to be beloved family members and expect their local animal shelter to work diligently to save the lives of the dogs and cats that enter the facility. This program will provide the knowledge you need to assume a management or leadership role at an open-admission animal shelter. You’ll learn how to maximize a shelter’s lifesaving potential through program management, community engagement, and shelter operations while at the same time preparing yourself for an exciting career.

    The five courses are:

    • Leadership covering strategic planning, analyzing operations, decision-making, managing people and processes to achieve results, organizational responsibilities, and working with a board of directors.
    • Shelter Operations covering adoptions, animal care and sheltering fundamentals, animal behavior and enrichment, and customer service.
    • Community Program Development covering volunteers, foster care, spay/neuter, pet retention, events, and community relations.
    • Animal Health and Clinic Operations covering understanding shelter medicine, basic animal health considerations and care, euthanasia decisions, and clinic operations.
    • Marketing and Development covering development fundamentals, fundraising strategies, marketing fundamentals, adoption promotion, social media and websites, and media relations.

    Each of these courses include live video conference sessions with top experts in the field providing students valuable contacts within the field. Additionally, alumni have access to exclusive networking opportunities and receive notification of employment opportunities.

    You can sign up for individual courses or all five for a discount. All five must be completed to get a certificate.

    Who will benefit from the program?

    • Professionals seeking a career change to something more personally fulfilling.
    • New shelter directors.
    • Shelter directors or managers wishing to improve their organization’s live release rate and sustainability.
    • People working in the animal welfare field who wish to advance into management roles.
    • Board members of animal shelters.

    Credit for program/courses

    Upon completion of all five courses, you will receive a Certificate in Animal Shelter Management from the University of the Pacific.

    Each course earns:

    • Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the University of the Pacific
    • Association of Animal Welfare Advancement CAWA Continuing Education (CE) credits

    Schedule and Registration

    Each of the five online courses are six weeks long and are offered sequentially. The entire program is about seven months long, and a new round starts again after a short break. More information on start dates of each course and the registration form can be found on the University of the Pacific website. 

    ​WEBSITE LINK:  https://uc.pacific.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=21282#courseSectionDetails_2946837

  • Online Event – 9/17/24 – Let’s Prioritize Veterinary Technicians – The Bridge Club

    Online Event – 9/17/24 – Let’s Prioritize Veterinary Technicians – The Bridge Club

    In this day and age where most practices face staffing challenges, we are going to put the lens on one of our most valuable resources: Veterinary Technicians. Join us for an important conversation about the challenges faces and proposed solutions. We want to hear from you: What should be prioritized?

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.thebridgeclub.com/events/lets-prioritize-veterinary-technicians

  • Online Event – 8/1/24 – Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection: Foster To Adopt Programs – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Event – 8/1/24 – Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection: Foster To Adopt Programs – Maddie’s Fund

    Session Topic: Foster to Adopt Programs: Supportive Pathways from Shelter to Home

    At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Hawaii Island Humane Society launched their Foster-to-Adopt program as a means to get pets out of the shelter and into homes during a time when the public was not able to enter the shelters. The program was such a success for people and animals that it endured even after the shelter was able to open their doors again. Over time, the program has evolved to best meet the needs of the animals, adopters, and the organization. This presentation will walk you through the policies and procedures of Hawaii Island Humane Society’s Foster-to-Adopt program and make it easy for you to implement in your own organization.

    Details about Pima Animal Care Center’s second half of the session coming soon!

    Guest Speakers:

    Lauren Nickerson, Executive Director, Hawaii Island Humane Society

    Katie Hutchinson, Outcomes Manager, Pima Animal Care Center

     

    About Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection:

    Join us on the first Thursday of every month to discuss successful foster innovations and programs, collaborate with others in the field, answer questions and talk through complex foster-related issues.

    Who should join: Foster managers, coordinators, volunteers and any staff who are interested in learning about what’s working in foster programs.

    You only need to register once for all meetings: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyFosterRegistration

    Can’t attend live?  Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording within a day or two after each meeting.

    All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available in the Maddie’s Monthly Foster Connection group on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://maddies.fund/monthlyfosterconnectionMPF

    Maddie’s Fund does not share registration information.

    The opinions expressed by webinar presenters are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Maddie’s Fund.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/MonthlyFosterRegistration

  • Online Course – Starts 9/1/24 – Beginning Behavior Consulting Mentorship with Sarah Filipiak – IAABC (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 9/1/24 – Beginning Behavior Consulting Mentorship with Sarah Filipiak – IAABC (fee applies)

    Are you new to behavior consulting or thinking about starting work in behavior? Are you already consulting and looking for advice regarding more advanced cases? Are you looking for help with specific cases or kinds of cases? If you’ve thought about taking on, or are new to, cases such as aggression towards strangers, dog-dog reactivity, resource guarding and separation anxiety, or you just want to brush up on your behavior chops, this mentorship is for you.

    This mentorship will help you:

    • Understand how to determine and acknowledge your skill level
    • Examine the difference between training and behavior modification
    • Understand the basic principles of behavior modification and how they apply to all situations
    • Understand how to communicate your expectations and clients’ options prior to accepting more challenging cases
    • Understand how to write behavior plans clients can follow
    • Explore how to motivate clients to implement plans requiring a heavy level of commitment and follow-through

    Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Sarah Filipiak will share tips on coaching behavior clients, including case organization and communication, for maximum client compliance. She’ll also cover the risks inherent in tackling tricky behaviors and how to keep from getting in over your head while still expanding your training horizons. We’ll also take a look at training hierarchies and other tools that can help you solve your current challenging cases.

    This program will explore evaluating, resolving, and managing problem canine behaviors through guided online discussions, sample case studies, video analysis, useful handouts, and more. In addition to the ongoing course interaction and support, you’ll meet weekly for face-to-face live online group support.

    Come prepared with a client behavior case you would like to troubleshoot, or just join us to listen and learn.

    Course Begins: September 1, 2024
    Duration: 8 weeks
    Instructor: Sarah Filipiak CDBC, BSJ

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/beginning-behavior-consulting-mentorship-with-sarah-filipiak/

  • Online Course – 9/2/24 – Cat Behavior Consulting Mentorship – IAABC (fee applies)

    Online Course – 9/2/24 – Cat Behavior Consulting Mentorship – IAABC (fee applies)

    Wherever you are in your cat behavior consulting career, we are pleased to offer a first-ever opportunity in the industry: a cat behavior consulting mentorship. This program will traverse the process of seeing private clients and evaluating and managing problem feline behaviors. You will also explore the logistical side: taking a client history, tracking success, client compliance and retention, and more. Through guided online discussions, sample case studies, useful handouts, and homework assignments, you will leave this mentorship with the knowledge necessary to become a consultant.

    This course is designed for those who:

    • have a general knowledge of feline behavior
    • are familiar with basic behavior modification (any species)
    • are thinking of becoming a cat behavior consultant but aren’t sure how, where or when to begin
    • are currently seeing a limited number of clients but are looking for advice on taking more advanced cases
    • are looking for a place to share, bounce, and develop ideas for building a private cat consultation business

    Some of the topics to be addressed include:

    • taking effective case histories, writing reports, and tracking progress
    • client communication, compliance and retention
    • building your consulting toolbox and organizing your processes
    • conducting in-person and remote consults
    • tips for protecting yourself physically, legally, and financially
    • case study review
    • discussion of a wide variety of unwanted feline behaviors
    • an opportunity to share your own cases and questions

    … and more!

    Working with mentor Katenna Jones, you will develop your own process that works for you when seeing clients.

    Course Begins: September 2, 2024
    Duration: 8 weeks
    Instructor: Katenna Jones ScM, ACAAB, CCBC, CDBC, CPDT-KA

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/cat-behavior-consulting-mentorship/

  • Online Course – Starts 9/24/24 – Canine Social Behavior – IAABC (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 9/24/24 – Canine Social Behavior – IAABC (fee applies)

    This course will teach you about canine communication, play, greetings, conflict resolution behaviors, and puppy social development. Dig into the science of canine social behavior, with an emphasis on dog-to-dog social interactions. Veterinarians, behavior consultants, trainers, groomers, kennel staff, shelter workers, day care staff, pet sitters, dog walkers, and keen guardians will all benefit from this course.

    This course will help you:

    • Explain the importance of social relationships between dogs from a scientific perspective
    • Accurately interpret body language in dogs and understand how body language is linked to emotional states and communication
    • Describe and understand the stages of puppy development and how development can affect adult behaviors, including the development of problem behaviors
    • Recognize and interpret play and greeting behaviors in dogs
    • Describe the functions of conflict and reconciliation behaviors in dogs

    Course Begins: September 24, 2024
    Duration: 5 weeks
    Instructor: Camille Ward, PhD, CAAB
    Course type: Instructed Course

    ** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WEEKLY ONLINE MEETINGS **

    • Auditors do not attend online meetings
    • Meetings are not recorded
    • Meetings take place on Tuesdays at 1:00 pm Eastern (first meeting October 1st)
    • Meetings are 1 hour in duration
    • There are 5 meetings for this course

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/canine-social-behavior/