Shelter Learniverse and Industry-Wide Calendar

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  • Online Course – Starts 6/3/24 – The Forensics of Aggression: Working With and Evaluating Canine Aggression – IAABC (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 6/3/24 – The Forensics of Aggression: Working With and Evaluating Canine Aggression – IAABC (fee applies)

    Jim Crosby is widely recognized as an expert in the field of dog bites, dog aggression, and fatal dog attacks. In this four-part course, Jim is sharing his hard-won knowledge and experience about dog aggression, bites, communication, and what we can do with all of this as we go through our personal and professional journeys through the canine world.

    Four Modules, four live meetings (Full Students only), and experience that literally only exists in a hand full of places in the world, Jim is here to share those experiences and the understanding he has gained in nearly twenty years of dealing with the worst of the worst – and a few dogs too.

    By the end of this course, you will be able to:

    • Recognize the purpose of aggression and when it is or is not appropriate
    • Analyze how bites happen and what evidence they leave
    • Evaluate WHICH dog did it, and the basis of inclusion and exclusion of potential suspects
    • Exchange signals with problem dogs and build the beginnings of trust
    • Explore dog case evaluations and their application to individual dogs

    Graphic Content Warning: Course contains images of fatal dog bites and injuries.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/forensics-of-aggression/

  • Online Course – Starts 7/21/24 – Fundamentals of Animal Behavior and Learning – IAABC (fee applies)

    Online Course – Starts 7/21/24 – Fundamentals of Animal Behavior and Learning – IAABC (fee applies)

    By the end of this course, you will be able to:

    • Think scientifically about animal training and behavior consulting for all species.
    • Break training into component principles.
    • Analyze environmental events that maintain behavior.
    • Recognize how labels such as “aggressive” or “submissive” cloud your thinking and work.
    • Establish accurate descriptions of animals who are said to be “confident,” “creative,” “a problem solver,” and how you should approach those learners.
    • Understand the common principles at play in different animals & species.
    • Directly assess behavior and train more humanely and effectively by cutting through the jargon.

    Course Begins: July 21, 2024

    Duration: 4 weeks

    Instructor: JoAnna Platzer, B.Sc. & Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

    Course type:  Instructed Course

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://iaabcfoundation.org/courses/fundamentals-of-animal-behavior-and-learning/

  • Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Maddie’s Fund

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly 50-minute Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Who Should Join?
    Executive directors, animal well-being leaders, shelter workers, pet support professionals, volunteers, rescue organizations and anyone who shares the common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Win Ca$h for Attending!
    Each month, Maddie’s Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.

    Register Today
    Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to May 2024 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
    https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvo2024Registration

    All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvo2024Registration

  • Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Meeting – Mondays – Weekly Community Conversations #ThanksToMaddie – Maddie’s Fund

    Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly 50-minute Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more, all while sharing a common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Who Should Join?
    Executive directors, animal well-being leaders, shelter workers, pet support professionals, volunteers, rescue organizations and anyone who shares the common goal of preserving the human-animal bond.

    Win Ca$h for Attending!
    Each month, Maddie’s Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants. You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch on-demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms shared in the chat during the calls.

    Register Today
    Join us each Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET to receive support and learn about innovative ideas other organizations across the country are seeing success with. If you registered prior to May 2024 or are new to these meetings, please use this link to register:
    https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvoRegistration2024 

    All calls are recorded and uploaded to the Community Conversations page on Maddie’s Pet Forum https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvo2024Registration

  • Webinar – 5/22/24 – Considering Communication: Strategies To Improve Behaviour Change in Clients  – PPG (fee applies)

    Webinar – 5/22/24 – Considering Communication: Strategies To Improve Behaviour Change in Clients – PPG (fee applies)

    As dog trainers, we often excel at changing dog behaviour, but may forget the importance of communication skills. Our role as animal advocates and client advisors requires us to excel at communication too. Our ability to share our knowledge and coach new skills ultimately facilitates changing our client’s behaviour in order to change their dog’s behaviour. Good communication builds relationships, gets buy-in, creates passion, develops patience and fosters motivation when our clients are feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, confused or frustrated. Yet, relatively little of our education encompasses communication skills. This webinar focuses on communication strategies for obtaining a case history, the practical use of empathy and compassion, and providing constructive, personalised coaching and reinforcing feedback. We will discuss the value of silence, the use of analogies and humour, our own body language, and how to measure your communicative success. After all, good communication is a skill we can develop if we are self-aware enough! Participants will learn tips for tailoring communication for each individual client to optimise outcomes for training success.

    Learning objectives:

    • Understand the role communication skills play in building relationships with clients
    • Identify opportunities to provide reinforcing feedback to clients
    • Identify opportunities to provide constructive coaching to clients

    Presenter: Petra Edwards PhD, BSc (Animal Behaviour) (Hons) Cert IV TAE. PCT-A, TAGTeach Level 2

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/considering-communication-strategies-to-improve-behaviour-change-in-clients/

  • Webinar – 6/9/24 – The Cats Out of the Bag! What You Need to Know About Feline Dentistry – VetGirl

    Webinar – 6/9/24 – The Cats Out of the Bag! What You Need to Know About Feline Dentistry – VetGirl

    In this complimentary, 1-hour VETgirlElanco webinar, Dr. Jessica Johnson, DAVDC will use case examples to discuss common oral pathologies in cats. Tune in as she reviews tooth resorption, periodontal disease, and buccal bone expansion, as well as the recommended treatments, which include multimodal pain control for your feline patients!

    Thanks to sponsorship from Elanco, the recording of this webinar will be available to view free and On-Demand until September 9, 2024.

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/june-9-2024-the-cats-out-of-the-bag-what-you-need-to-know-about-feline-dentistry/

  • Webinar – 6/2/24 – What’s New with Feline Constipation: Acute & Chronic Treatment Modalities – VetGirl

    Webinar – 6/2/24 – What’s New with Feline Constipation: Acute & Chronic Treatment Modalities – VetGirl

    Say goodbye to enemas!

    In this complimentary, 1-hour VETgirl – Royal Canin webinar, Dr. Ashlie Saffire, DVM, DABVP (Feline Practice) will discuss management strategies for acute and chronic constipation in cats. Tune in as Dr. Saffire reviews techniques you can use for acute obstipation and therapeutic options for managing and preventing chronic constipation cases!

    Thanks to sponsorship from Royal Canin, the recording of this webinar will be available to view free and On-Demand until July 2, 2024. (Remember: you must be logged in as a free Basic, ELITE Trial or ELITE member to register for the live event)

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/june-2-2024-whats-new-with-feline-constipation-acute-chronic-treatment-modalities/

  • Online Training – 6/19/24 – Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop Presented by Dr. Rachel Geller – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Online Training – 6/19/24 – Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop Presented by Dr. Rachel Geller – Community Cats Podcast (small fee applies)

    Community Cats Podcast is teaming up with renowned cat behaviorist Dr. Rachel Gellar to present a certification workshop designed to keep more cats and families together. 

    The Surrender Prevention Certification Workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 19 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET.

    Registration is $10. Folks interested in attending the session can learn more here and register here

    The workshop aims to help anyone on the front lines of animal shelters or rescues, who routinely work with families thinking about giving their cat or kitten over to the shelter for reasons related to feline behavior. This session will offer more information about surrender prevention, what it is and why it works, and some common interventions.

    Instructed by Dr. Rachel Geller, she will share real examples, with proven results, setting the potential surrenderer and cat on the road to a happy relationship together and keeping the cat in her home. Attendees will receive a certificate after completing a short quiz.

    But that’s not all! Everyone who registers will also receive access to four (4) mini-courses, perfect for anyone looking to keep more cats in homes, regardless of experience level! Mini-courses will cover common behavior topics, such as:

    • Litter box issues
    • Scratching concerns
    • Introducing your new cat to your home
    • Introducing your new cat to your resident cat

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/surrender-prevention-certification-workshop-june-2024/

  • Online Event – 5/23/24 – Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection: Removing Behavior-Related Barriers to Adoption – Maddie’s Fund

    Online Event – 5/23/24 – Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection: Removing Behavior-Related Barriers to Adoption – Maddie’s Fund

    Join us on the fourth Thursday of every month as we talk about dog and cat behavior – supporting pets in our community and animal shelters. Each month, we hear from speakers about topics of interest to our group, such as behavior medications, modifying animal behavior, assessing and improving animal welfare, and how organizations successfully provide behavior support to dogs and cats.

    Session Topic:  Removing Behavior-Related Barriers to Adoption

    Guest Speaker:  Devan Amundsen, Animal Welfare United

    Dog training is always a highly valued resource at a shelter or rescue. However, when we look at the realities of dog training and the behavioral effects of the shelter environment, we find that training in a shelter can be difficult to justify. So what do we do about the behavior-related barriers to placing dogs out into homes? This presentation will explore that topic, and offer concrete solutions for some of our toughest behavior challenges.

    Who should join: Animal welfare staff and volunteers who are interested in dog and cat behavior, and everyone who works to keep pets out of shelters and in homes.

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

    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 Behavior Connection group on Maddie’s Pet Forum – https://maddies.fund/monthlybehaviorconnectionMPF

    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/MonthlyBehaviorRegistration

  • Webinar – 5/22/24 – Whiskers on the Way: A Fear Free Guide to Kitten Season Preparation – Fear Free

    Webinar – 5/22/24 – Whiskers on the Way: A Fear Free Guide to Kitten Season Preparation – Fear Free

    Kitten season brings many challenges and opportunities for shelter staff and the rescue community. Kittens are subject to illness and significant fear, anxiety, and stress during their most vulnerable period, and preparing now can help you make a positive impact on their physical and emotional wellbeing. Join us on May 22 at 8 p.m. ET, with Elite Fear Free Certified® Veterinary Technician, Tabitha Kucera, RVT, KPA-CTP, CCBC, VTS (Behavior), as we discuss how you can prepare for a successful kitten season.

    In this webinar, you will learn:

    • How to reduce FAS in kittens
    • Techniques for handling and socializing kittens
    • How to create a safe and supportive environment for kittens in need
    • Practical strategies and tips, such as disinfecting with an effective product such as Rescue, for ensuring the physical and emotional wellbeing of kittens in your care

    WEBSITE LINK:  https://fearfreellc.webinargeek.com/whiskers-on-the-way-a-fear-free-guide-to-kitten-season-preparation