The PPG 2020 Summit in Phoenix Arizona. Your Presenter Session Guide

The Guild 2020 Summit & Workshops Collaborative Care & Enrichment

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Session Guide Phoenix, AZ

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Presenter: Dr. Karolina Westlund

Session Title: How Emotions Impact the Outcome of Your Training Session Type: Keynote Session (1.5 Hours) Emotional experiences impact brain development, personality, social skills, and stress sensitivity, and this presentation will focus specifically on how emotional reactions impact learning and performance. It will examine several of the mechanisms involved and discuss the importance of not only the animal’s emotional experience, but also the human part of the equation.

The session will also focus on several theoretical models to conceptualize emotions and their effect on training outcome. Although Estonian neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp’s Core Emotions concept has been questioned lately, it is still a very useful model when discussing the choice of reinforcers and ways of promoting good human-animal relationships, as well as identifying potential distractors or aversives that may interfere with training outcomes, particularly with regards to the core emotions of PLAY, SEEKING, CARE, GRIEF, FEAR and RAGE. Learning Objectives: • Core Affect Space and the four quadrants of learning.

• Why Panksepp’s Core Emotions concept is useful to animal trainers.

• Why it may be worthwhile to consider your own emotional state when training animals.

• Why the drooling, or other reflexes, are completely uninteresting when it comes to classical conditioning.

Session Title: Do Scientists Really Know What They’re Talking About?

Session Type: General Session (1 Hour) In the last 100 years, what we know about animal behavior, learning and cognition has been completely rewritten. But how many of today’s assumptions will hold true another 100 years from now? Which areas need further study? What claims are yet to be refuted as myth? And can we trust “common sense?”

This session will discuss some of the notions that we’ve grown up with or have been told are solid truths about animals but that have been questioned (or corroborated) by scientific findings. Are clickers (secondary reinforcers) more efficient when teaching a novel behavior than just using primary reinforcers? Do we need to fast animals (and humans) before sedation? Is CBD oil really the universal remedy it’s claimed to be – regardless of species? Are animals better off without the owner present in the veterinary clinic? It will also touch on why we, as animal trainers, should read scientific articles with a critical eye.

Learning Objectives: • How to conduct your own small experiment to find out whether there might be some truth to that hunch of yours.

• Cases where science has discussed commonly held beliefs about animals, learning and training.

• Why animal trainers need to get involved in scientific studies.

Presenter: Emily Cassell Session Title: HusBUNdry Basics: Language, Observation and Behavior in Bunny Cooperative Care Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) HusBUNdry Basics workshops will build on themselves throughout the week at Best Friends.

All learners will be exposed to the basics in body language, observation skills, and common behavior objectives in rabbit cooperative care. As prey animals, rabbits often have different behavioral tendencies than dogs and cats, so learning to build trust and foundation behaviors will also be a key portion of this workshop. Each day at Best Friends will be different. Attendees may be working with inexperienced bunnies or bunnies who have been taught by the previous workshop’s attendees. Our goal will be to provide these rabbits a head start in both their daily and more advanced husbandry, circling back to the event theme of cooperative care.

Learning Objectives: - Increase understanding of basic bunny body language.

- Enhance observation skills.

- Understand daily challenges in rabbit husbandry.

- Learn what medical management behaviors are most important for rabbits to learn and why.

- Gain knowledge of basic bunny biology.

- Apply techniques to enhance daily and advanced husbandry of Bunny House residents.

Presenter: Suzanne Clothier

Session Title: Tell Me Who You Are: Understanding the Individual Dog Session Type: Lecture/LAB - 8 handler/dog teams (1.5 Hours) Each dog presents a unique blend of genetics, history, learning and experience, temperament, preferences, abilities and limits. Humane training is possible when we understand each dog in a nuanced way that reflects who they are as a social, cognitive, emotional and physical being. The more deeply we can understand the individual dog, the more effectively we shape our choices for that dog.

Observation based assessment is at the heart of this approach. Learning how to see each dog will be taught using the framework of The Elemental Questions™: - Hello?

- Who are you? (how do you process your world?).

- How is this for you? (the dog’s moment by moment experience).

- Can you...? (abilities and limitations).

- May I...? (permission to interact, direct or shape behavior).

- Can we...? (combined abilities and limitations of the dog/human team).

Some basic elements of the presenter’s temperament assessment tool, CARAT™, will be included as we consider a variety of individual traits, including sensory awareness, persistence, biddability and patience.

All good assessments are, in essence, asking questions. Getting useful answers from the dog requires that we know how to ask, and how to really see the dog. This session will focus on deepening observation skills of live dogs during a simple, practical assessment to gather detailed information about the individual.

Learning Objectives: - The Elemental Questions™ as a framework to guide assessments and interactions.

- Practical observation skills for assessment.

- Recognizing patterns of response (temperament) vs. trained behaviors.

- Understanding how observable behaviors guide appropriate and effective. selection of technique, methods, tasks and interaction style.

Session Title: The Elemental Questions™ Session Type: Lecture (1 Hour) There is a wonderful Cuban saying: "Inside every head, a world." This sums up beautifully how many ways there are to experience life, and how each of us has our own perceptions. Respecting the individual dog requires us to understand as best we can what makes this dog unique, what needs must be met, what limitations must be respected, what challenges may present, and where joy may be found. This is where truly humane training is grounded: in detailed knowledge about the individual dog.

Whatever your training goals or experience, the Elemental Questions™ will help you truly “see the dog” and provide the detailed information about each animal as he is.

The presenter’s simple but powerful Elemental Questions are: - Hello? Looks at the dog's social interactions.

- Who are you? Asks about how the dog perceives and responds to his world.

- How is this for you? Asks about the immediate situation and the dog's mental, physical and emotional balance.

- Can you...? Looks at the dog's physical abilities and limitations.

- May I...? Seeks ways to gain the dog's cooperation and permission.

- Can we...? Balancing the dog/handler team's abilities and limitations against goals.

This session focuses on how to ask these questions, and – most importantly – how to listen to the answers. For each dog, the answers to these questions provide a wealth of information.

- What makes this dog’s eyes light up? Or dims the lights?

- What does this dog find exciting, challenging or concerning, and why?

- Does this dog's world need to shrink or be enlarged?

- Is this dog in balance and comfortable?

- How can we help this dog?

Learning Objectives: - Have a new framework for understanding dogs (or any animal).

- Recognize how temperament traits effect behavior or training.

- Selecting appropriate techniques and methods for that individual dog.

- Fine-tune any training approach to suit the individual dog.

Presenter: Sherry Woodard

Session Title: Building Stronger Teams for the Shelter, Community, Rescue, Adoptions, Daily Care and Enrichment Session Type: Lecture (1.5 Hours) Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) In the shelter environment, strong teams are important to expand every aspect of your work with animals and the community. A limited number of staff can only do so much. You can increase your effectiveness by creating teams composed of staff members, community partners and volunteers, so much more can be accomplished.

This session will explore how to build strong, effective teams. As a result, sharing our skills, knowledge and enthusiasm will increase what we can offer both to the animals and the community.

Learning Objectives: • Utilizing staff and community members working together to focus on interventions so that animals may not have to enter the shelter.

• Using strong teams to address behavior concerns, and enhance daily care and enrichment.

• How to develop stronger teams of staff, volunteers and community partners in order to increase adoptions.

Presenter: Dr. Zazie Todd

Session Title: From Fearful to Happy - The Role of Emotions in Dog Welfare Session Type: General Session (1 Hour) Traditional models of animal welfare have focused largely on the prevention of harm. Now that animals are recognized as sentient, models of good animal welfare also include positive experiences in order that animals “thrive, not survive” (to use the words of David Mellor).

This session will look at what this means for the dogs in our care, particularly in terms of helping them to feel safe and to enjoy positive experiences. It will look at research on how to prevent fear and what can be done about existing fear in dogs, as well as practical ways to apply this knowledge in a shelter or home setting. It will also consider the kinds of experiences dogs enjoy, what the scientific literature tells us about them, and how we can use these ideas to help make them happy. Then, it will consider the most important messages that need to be communicated and the best ways to teach people about some of the simple steps they can take to increase their dogs’ happiness.

Learning Objectives: • Understand the role of emotion in models of animal welfare.

• Identify important issues for the welfare of dogs and how to help dogs feel safe.

• Design and utilize measures to increase positive emotions.

• Communicate with people about how to improve dog welfare.

Session Title: Making the World Better for Dogs Session Type: Closing Session ( 1 Hour) One of the difficult things about being a dog owner or a dog trainer is dealing with all the misinformation we see about dogs, and knowing the potentially devastating effects it can have. We know that reward-based training methods are better for animal welfare – and that they work – but this isn’t always the message we see online or on TV. And research shows that although some popular dog training books contain excellent, scientifically-accurate information about dog training, other best-selling books include errors and inaccuracies that mean people aren’t getting the best advice.

This talk will draw on the scientific research on communication strategies to look at positive ways of framing messages about dog training and getting important messages across. Research on debunking erroneous messages shows the pitfalls of this approach, and we will consider what you need to know if you want to do this, or what to try instead. I will draw on my experience writing Companion Animal Psychology and for Psychology Today to show what has worked for me. Whether you’re writing for a large audience, or having one-to-one discussions with dog owners, we’ll look at practical steps we can all take to continue to make the world better for dogs.

Learning Objectives ∙ Evaluate which messages are the most important to get across to dog owners/clients ∙ Understand the best ways to communicate about misinformation (and when to take a different approach) ∙ Appreciate the positive steps that have already been taken, and what we can learn from them ∙ Learn practical tips you can use to inspire, engage, and inform dog owners

Presenter: Paula Garber

Session Title: Please Don’t Stress Me-owt! Feline Stress and Stressors in the Shelter, the Veterinary Clinic, and the Home Session Type: Lecture (1 Hour) The emotional needs of cats are often not addressed as readily as their physical and health needs, typically because feline emotions are not easily recognized or understood. The impact of the physical and social environment on cats’ physical and behavioral health is significant and should not be underestimated. For cats living in confined environments, such as a shelter or a home, and visiting a veterinary clinic, it is especially important to understand what causes negative emotions so they can be prevented or minimized.

In this presentation, we will explore the differences between stress and distress and the feline emotions involved in each. We will also discuss the causes of stress and distress based on cats’ natural behavior and the behavioral and health risks involved, and we will learn to recognize the behavioral signs of negative emotions in cats. Finally, we will identify known feline stressors in shelter, veterinary clinic, and home environments. Many resources will be provided to help guide your efforts to reduce and prevent stress and distress for cats in your care.

Learning Objectives: • Understand the differences between stress and distress.

• Understand feline emotions and causes of stress and distress in cats.

• Understand the behavioral and health risks of stress and distress in cats.

• Recognize feline behavioral signs of stress and distress.

• Identify feline stressors in shelter, veterinary clinic, and home environments.

Skills Workshop Title: “FBI” Academy: “Feline Behavior Identification” Agents Wanted for Special Mission to Train Cats and Improve Their Welfare Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) This isn’t a government job—it’s much more fun, furry, and exciting!

Cats exhibit multiple individual behaviors at the same time to increase the chances of their messages being received and understood. As both a predator and prey species, this helps them reduce risk by avoiding dangerous encounters. Accurately identifying the behavior signals and understanding their purposes gives us information about the emotional state of the cat. But, when cats feel uncertain, anxious, or stressed, their signals can be ambivalent making our job as “FBI” agents more challenging and potentially putting our training programs and cat welfare at risk.

In this workshop, we will hone our observational skills to accurately identify and describe feline behaviors and emotions. We will practice applying our skills by observing cats at the AZ Humane Society and collecting real-time behavior data. We will also discuss how the data could be used to guide training programs and improve cat welfare. After you graduate the workshop, I will compile all the data collected and share the results with you.

Learning Objectives: • Develop basic observational skills for identifying individual feline behaviors • Accurately identify and describe observed feline behaviors and emotions • Practice collecting behavioral data • Understand ways to apply behavior data to training programs and toward improving cat welfare

Presenter: Dr. Lisa Gunter

Session Title: Canine Welfare - What Is It and How Do We Measure It in the Animal Shelter?

Session Type: General Session Lecture (1.5 Hours) Considerable progress has been made to improve the outcomes for dogs arriving to animal shelters, resulting in substantial increases in the number of dogs adopted and returned to their owners as well as reductions in euthanasia. Over this time, the role of the animal shelter has changed as well, from one of temporary holding to longer lengths of stay as they attempt to save the lives of more dogs. As such, we must also evolve the care we provide to adequately meet and, ideally, exceed welfare needs.

This session will discuss how we can best assess welfare and promising measures found across the scientific literature that can help us better understand dogs’ experiences in the shelter. By identifying meaningful welfare measures, interventions intended to improve the lives of shelter-living dogs can be tested and disseminated to animal shelters.

Learning Objectives: • Explain the difficulties inherent in measuring welfare.

Identify stressors in the shelter environment that may compromise canine welfare.

• Reference the different physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and health measures that can be used to measure nine welfare.

• Describe which in-kennel behaviors relate most closely to the welfare of dogs in shelters.

Session Title: Enrichment in the Shelter - Using Science to Guide Us to the Most Efficacious Practices Session Type: General Session Lecture (1.5 Hours) The use of behavioral interventions designed to improve the welfare of shelter dogs has become much more commonplace today, yet many such interventions have not been empirically tested. Within the literature, animal scientists have explored the use of a wide range of enrichment strategies with sheltered dogs and tested their impacts on physiology and behavior with the goal of improving welfare.

This session will examine the aforementioned interventions, which can be broadly categorized as either social interaction with a human or conspecific; object enrichment; or sensory stimulation. It will also discuss the implications of available studies, including which additive interventions show the greatest potential for positively impacting dogs’ lives in the shelter.

Learning Objectives: • Identify what types of enrichment have been empirically tested with dogs in animal shelters.

• Compare the outcome measures used and impacts of these interventions within and across enrichment categories.

• Differentiate their effects, considering cost of intervention and time to administer.

• Develop an implementation strategy for dogs in your shelter, focusing on interventions with the greatest likelihood of impact on behavior and welfare.

Presenter: Dr. Deborah Jones

Session Title: Zen Games - Should I Stay or Should I Go? Session Type: Lecture/Lab (1.5 Hours) As trainers, we use Zen games as a way to teach dogs the concept of impulse or self-control. A dog who understands this concept is a much easier dog to live with and to train.

Dogs who are in control of their behavior are more thoughtful and less reactive; they think before they act.

The presenter’s goal is to teach impulse control in a way that avoids frustration and pressure. Rather than denying dogs what they want until they give up (a common approach) the focus is on teaching dogs to listen for verbal cues that tell them when they can have what they want. This approach focuses on teaching the “go” rather than the “stop.” In the process of learning this, the concept of “wait for permission” comes along as a natural side effect.

A dog who has learned the general concept of “waiting for permission” is a much easier dog to manage. These dogs learn to work with their trainers and cooperate, rather than take what they want whenever possible, because it leads to the best possible outcome. Imagine how much more adoptable this type of behavior could make a dog.

This session we will introduce two types of verbal markers (calm and active release). It will also include a variety of games, starting with the two bowls game that teaches the fundamental concept of listening for the cue before taking what you want. It will also work through a variety of Zen exercises that increase in challenge (closed hand, open hand, bowl, floor).

Learning Objectives: • Understanding the concept of impulse or self-control.

• How to teach impulse control without frustration or pressure.

• Introducing marker cues that tell the dog when he can take what he wants.

• The two bowls game and why it is so important to this concept.

• A series of increasingly challenging Zen games.

Session Title: The Magic of Muzzles Session Type: General Session Lecture/Lab (1 Hour) For many people, a dog wearing a muzzle can be a scary and upsetting sight. The stereotype is that a muzzled dog must be dangerous. Our goal is to shift that perspective and see muzzle wearing become the accepted norm in many different settings.

It is true that, for some dogs in some situations, muzzles are necessary for the safety of those around them. Using muzzles when you must perform required and possibly painful veterinary or husbandry procedures makes everyone feel safer and less nervous. Muzzles may also be necessary in situations where it is recognized that a dog may unintentionally become over aroused or reactive, and we need to keep everyone comfortable and safe. In addition, muzzles are a great tool to use while we, as trainers, work on teaching appropriate social behavior. Finally, when introducing new dogs to new humans or other dogs, or when working with dogs in new or unusual settings, they can be a good option for providing comfort and safety.

The early steps of muzzle training are easy to include in daily care for most rescue and shelter situations. It takes very little time and there are huge advantages to adding it to the dog’s daily routine. One benefit that many folks don’t realize is that for the dogs themselves. If taught in a way that focuses on consent, choice, and positive rein-

forcement, muzzle training is actually a powerful form of empowerment and enrichment. It is all in the way that we structure our training approach. By allowing our dogs to be partners in the training process, we are increasing their feelings of confidence and security, a win-win situation.

Learning Objectives: • Understanding the importance of muzzles in a variety of settings (veterinary, social, shelter).

• The value of cooperation in training muzzle wearing.

• Easy foundation skills for muzzle training (classical conditioning and chin rest).

• A fun muzzle training starter game (muzzle cups).

• A breakdown of the steps involved in muzzle training.

Presenter: Dr. Maria Karunungan & K. Holden Svirsky

Session Title: Blind Date: Making the “Perfect” Match Session Type: Lecture/Lab (1.5 Hours) Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours)

Introducing unfamiliar dogs to each other can sometimes be stressful or downright intimidating. Shelter and rescue workers and volunteers face the risk of injurious aggression by introducing the “wrong” dogs to each other, yet often unnecessarily sequester dogs by themselves for life due to displays of barrier frustration. It can be hard to know when it is okay to introduce dogs to each other, and how to help these introductions go well. An even bigger risk is sometimes taken on by adopters of these dogs who already have resident dogs at home. How will they know if their new dog will settle in, and if there can be long-lasting peace and harmony in the household, on the basis of that first “blind date?”

This session will be valuable for anyone looking to add a dog to their household, or for rescue employees and volunteers hoping to find dogs homes with other dogs. Doing so can decrease shelter length of stay, improve adoptability, and help provide more information to adopters about how their prospective new dog is likely to interact with other dogs.

Learning Objectives: • Learn how to set up unfamiliar dogs for a successful introduction.

• Understand what factors contribute to making a good match.

• Explore the role of personal bias in matchmaking.

• Learn how to referee social interactions.

• Learn how to assess quality of life for “imperfect” matches and how to improve relationships.

Presenter: Tabitha Kucera

Session Title: Cooperative Cat Care - Getting Consent at the Vet Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) Cooperative care involves training an animal to not only tolerate handling and husbandry procedures, but to be an active, willing participant in these experiences. Teaching cooperative care (husbandry) behaviors will help you and the cats you work with have a wonderful, lower stress working partnership.

This workshop will discuss how giving cats choice and control decreases fear, reduces stress, and increases comfort for the cat. It will also introduce how to teach a variety of behaviors that will help reduce stress and make handling and medical procedures easier for everyone, including targeting, stationing, and carrier training.

Learning Objectives: • Identify and assess body language in cats.

• Benefits of cooperative care for cats.

• The tools and skills involved in training.

• How to get started teaching cooperative care.

Session Title: No More Cat Wrangling - Techniques for Force-Free Feline Handling Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) This practical, hands-on workshop will teach you how to approach, handle, and restrain cats using force-free techniques. It will discuss the effects and how to identify the signs of fear, anxiety, and stress in cats and guide you through a force-free veterinary exam from start to finish through animal demonstrations and interactive discussions and exercises.

The session will also discuss tools and handling techniques that can help reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in cats thus making the shelter, veterinarian and home an overall less stressful and happier place for cats, visitors, employees, and volunteers. When a cat’s fear and anxiety is reduced, he will be more adoptable and more likely to stay in a long-term, loving home.

Learning Objectives: • The effects of fear, anxiety, and stress in cats.

• Identify signs of fear, anxiety, and stress in cats.

• Understand the potential consequences of force-based handling techniques on cats and humans.

• Learn basic handling techniques to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress for cats in veterinary clinics, shelters, and at home.

Presenters: Kim Monteith & Dr. Zazie Todd Session Title: From Fraidy Cat to Adoption Helping Fearful Cats in Shelters Session Type: Lecture (1.5 Hours)

Arriving at an animal shelter is a stressful experience for any cat, but fearful cats find it especially hard. Fearful cats may have compromised welfare due to stress, can be difficult for staff to provide daily care for without causing more fear, could potentially scratch or bite if cornered, and may not come out where members of the public can see them so may take longer to be adopted. This talk will look at what we can do to help fearful cats in a shelter environment and how we can best transition them into adoption.

The session will begin with an overview of what we mean by fearful cats, and how to recognize the body language of a fearful cat. Helping cats feel safe is a key aspect of setting up the cage or room for a fearful cat.

The presenters will look at the research on hiding places for cats, including what we still need to know, as well as ways to implement this in a shelter setting. Desensitization and counterconditioning is a powerful technique, and the presenters will present a training plan that they have successfully used in a shelter setting. Finally, they will consider the best ways to communicate with others – whether staff, volunteer, or potential adopters – in ways that will help them to help a fearful cat feel safe.

Learning Objectives: • Recognize signs of fear, anxiety, and stress in cats.

• Understand how to set up the cage for a fearful cat.

• Know how to use training plans for desensitization and counterconditioning with fearful cats.

• Communicate with staff, volunteers, fosters, and the public about fearful cats in ways that encourage empathy and appropriate behavior around the cat.

Presenter: Emily Larlham

Session Title: Foundation Training Skills to Prepare Dogs for Future Learning After Adoption Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) When working with a shelter dog, we always hope that the people adopting the dog will not only provide a safe loving home but also teach their dog skills to help him thrive and fit in with the family’s lifestyle. A skilled trainer can easily teach a dog new skills and complex behaviors even if the dog has the personality to become easily frustrated, over-aroused or perhaps is harder to motivate than most. However, a lot of the time, adopters who have the best intentions don’t have the best training skills.

As such, we may see them struggling to keep their dog from barking, whining, or throwing 101 behaviors at them, but when the trainer takes over, the dog is suddenly the star pupil. Instead of trying to create amazing trainers out of each person who adopts a dog, the presenter believes it is a good idea to teach dogs certain skills and concepts to set them up for a lifetime of learning in a not-so-perfect world, where sometimes reinforcement will be slow in coming, too much will be asked of the dog, or the dog will have no clue what their handler wants.

In this workshop, the presenter will show how to lower or build arousal for reinforcement so that when the dog goes into his new home, he will not be revved up by training or, conversely, disinterested by it. She will discuss what behaviors are the best behaviors to train first depending on the dog’s personality. Dogs can become easily frustrated by the lack of information they are receiving from a new adopter and start to offer “dog behavior” when they do not know what to do. By teaching the dogs that when the handler is fumbling and distracted it is simply the cue to wait, it can save a lot of problem solving for the new adopter. Attendees will have the opportunity to work with the shelter dogs on teaching default behaviors.

The presenter believes one of the best ways to train new behaviors is by training in small achievable steps with a one-to-one rate of reinforcement. An adopter, however, might raise criteria too quickly while teaching a new behavior and have 5 incorrect responses before giving up and problem solving. The dog has offered 5 behaviors with no reinforcement…. For this reason, the presenter considers it important to teach shelter puppies and dogs the concept of working on a variable ratio of reinforcement right from the start, so that when there is a hiccup in a future training plan, the dog can take it in stride.

Learning Objectives: • Learn about building or lowering arousal for reinforcement used in training.

• Learn first behaviors to teach a shy vs. an overly enthusiastic dog.

• Teach default behaviors for waiting for a cue, waiting for reinforcement or for when confused about what is being asked.

• Teach working for duration and performing multiple behaviors without frustration before going to live with a newbie trainer.

Session Title: Using Touch and Movement to Build Calmness and Confidence Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) Dogs are social animals and, in the presenter’s opinion, benefit from physical interaction in order to thrive. Yet many dogs can find being touched an uncomfortable, stressful, frightening or over-stimulating experience. Often, when gathering information about a dog who is worried about approaching dogs or strangers, the presenter finds he is also uncomfortable and untrusting of being touched and handled by the people he lives with. She believes by teaching dogs to relax and enjoy being touched it can be extremely beneficial for their physical and mental well-being, as well as speed up the training process and work on behavioral issues.

In this session the presenter will demonstrate how she uses handling in her training and the benefits of it. She first began to learn how to use handling to help lower arousal and build confidence and trust from her mentor, Kyle Rayon, while training shelter dogs 15 years ago. Rayon showed her how you can expand your communication system with dogs not just by using primary reinforcement like food, but also your voice, movement and touch. She will demonstrate techniques learned from Rayon as well as other techniques she uses on a day to day basis with her own dogs and students’ dogs to build calm.

She will also discuss the benefits of creating multiple markers, i.e. markers that have been associated with calm behaviors and calm reinforcement deliveries, as well as markers that have been associated with high-energy behaviors and predict arousing reinforcement deliveries.

Learning Objectives: • Learn the benefits and uses of touch and handling in training.

• Learn how to teach dogs to find handling and restraint calming.

• Understand how to use reinforcement deliveries and markers to calm.

• Understand how to use the movement of your own body as well as the dog’s body to calm.

• Understand the importance of asking the dog if he wishes to continue training.

Presenter: Dr. Kelly Lee

Session Title: Training and Handling Jumpy Mouthy Shelter Dogs Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) Jumpy/mouthy dogs are social dogs who jump up and/or grab at people’s bodies or clothing when frustrated or excited. The shelter environment, with relatively high base levels of frustration and anxiety, and low levels of enrichment, may result in increased frequency and intensity of jumpy mouthy behaviors. These behaviors can be scary or even dangerous for many inexperienced handlers, who may instinctively respond with force (e.g. shouting, struggling, pushing). Jumpy/mouthy behaviors in the shelter environment can result in a poor outcome.

Managing the dog’s environment to prevent “rehearsal” of the behavior is important for safety reasons. It also helps avoid reinforcement of the unwanted behavior. Without management, jumpy/mouthy behavior can become much worse.

In many cases, management of jumpy/mouthy behavior is enough to allow safe movement and handling of shelter dogs. For example, many dogs who exhibit jumpy/mouthy behavior in a shelter setting do not do so in a foster home. However, training decreases the need for constant management and can make the dog more attractive to adopters.

In this session, you will practice hands-on management techniques and behavior modification training plans with jumpy/mouthy shelter throughout.

Learning Objectives: • Become more comfortable using food lures to harness, leash, and move jumpy/mouthy dogs safely.

• Learn how to alter your own behavior around jumpy/mouthy dogs to reduce the likelihood of the problem.

• Learn how to follow a written training plan for jumpy/mouthy dogs and use consistent criteria change rules.

• Gain hands-on practice with methods of responding to severe jumpy mouthy behavior that could result in injury to the handler.

Session Title: Working with Leash Reactive Shelter Dogs Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) Leash reactivity (barking and lunging at other dogs, people, cars, etc.) is a common problem in shelter dogs. The shelter environment, which can induce anxiety and frustration and provide little enrichment, may result in increased frequency and intensity of leash reactivity. These behaviors can be scary or even dangerous for many inexperienced handlers, who often do not know how to manage or modify them.

Management to avoid leash reactive behavior is critical to stay safe and protect training progress. However, leash reactivity can be difficult to properly manage because it may not always be possible to control exposure of the dog to “triggers.” Managing and modifying reactive behavior takes patience and improves with experience.

In this session, you will practice hands-on management techniques and behavior modification plans with leash reactive dogs in a shelter environment. Presenters will provide written training plans and coach participants during hands-on practice.

Learning Objectives: • Understand leash reactivity and its causes.

• Learn specific techniques and tools for managing leash reactive dogs.

• Learn how to follow a written training plan and use consistent criteria change rules.

• Gain hands-on practice managing and training leash reactive shelter dogs.

Presenter: Glenn Pierce

Session Title: Training and Handling Jumpy Mouthy Shelter Dogs Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) Jumpy/mouthy dogs are social dogs who jump up and/or grab at people’s bodies or clothing when frustrated or excited. The shelter environment, with relatively high base levels of frustration and anxiety, and low levels of enrichment, may result in increased frequency and intensity of jumpy mouthy behaviors.

These behaviors can be scary or even dangerous for many inexperienced handlers, who may instinctively respond with force (e.g. shouting, struggling, pushing). Jumpy/mouthy behaviors in the shelter environment can result in a poor outcome.

Managing the dog’s environment to prevent “rehearsal” of the behavior is important for safety reasons. It also helps avoid reinforcement of the unwanted behavior. Without management, jumpy/mouthy behavior can become much worse.

In many cases, management of jumpy/mouthy behavior is enough to allow safe movement and handling of shelter dogs. For example, many dogs who exhibit jumpy/mouthy behavior in a shelter setting do not do so in a foster home. However, training decreases the need for constant management and can make the dog more attractive to adopters.

In this session, you will practice hands-on management techniques and behavior modification training plans with jumpy/mouthy shelter throughout.

Learning Objectives: • Become more comfortable using food lures to harness, leash, and move jumpy/mouthy dogs safely.

• Learn how to alter your own behavior around jumpy/mouthy dogs to reduce the likelihood of the problem.

• Learn how to follow a written training plan for jumpy/mouthy dogs and use consistent criteria change rules.

• Gain hands-on practice with methods of responding to severe jumpy mouthy behavior that could result in injury to the handler.

Session Title: Working with Leash Reactive Shelter Dogs Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) Leash reactivity (barking and lunging at other dogs, people, cars, etc.) is a common problem in shelter dogs. The shelter environment, which can induce anxiety and frustration and provide little enrichment, may result in increased frequency and intensity of leash reactivity. These behaviors can be scary or even dangerous for many inexperienced handlers, who often do not know how to manage or modify them.

Management to avoid leash reactive behavior is critical to stay safe and protect training progress. However, leash reactivity can be difficult to properly manage because it may not always be possible to control exposure of the dog to “triggers.” Managing and modifying reactive behavior takes patience and improves with experience.

In this session, you will practice hands-on management techniques and behavior modification plans with leash reactive dogs in a shelter environment. Presenters will provide written training plans and coach participants during hands-on practice.

Learning Objectives: • Understand leash reactivity and its causes.

• Learn specific techniques and tools for managing leash reactive dogs.

• Learn how to follow a written training plan and use consistent criteria change rules.

• Gain hands-on practice managing and training leash reactive shelter dogs.

Presenter: Leslie McDevitt

Session Title: Cooperation, Control, and Counterconditioning Session Type: Lecture/Lab (1.5 Hours) The presenter will discuss two cooperative counterconditioning games from her new book Control Unleashed: Reactive to Relaxed. These groundbreaking games were created to empower dogs to direct their own counterconditioning procedures. Voluntary Sharing (VS) is for dogs who have difficulty sharing resources or taking turns. Requested Approach Training (RAT) is for dogs who are reactive to being approached, or approaching others (people, dogs, etc.). Both VS and RAT use start button behaviors to allow the dogs to start and stop the game.

Learning Objectives: • Understand how to use start button behavior to allow the dog to take control of his training.

• Understand how to implement the steps of the VS protocol for resource guarders successfully.

• Understand how to implement the steps of the RAT protocol for dogs with approach anxiety successfully.

Session Title: Pattern Power: Counter Conditioning Made Easy Session Type: Lecture/Lab (1.5 Hours) In this session, the presenter will delve into the pattern games from her latest book, Control Unleashed: Reactive to Relaxed. Patterns are simple repeating chains of behavior that enable dogs to feel confident in difficult environments by giving them a framework that is repetitive, reliable, and safe, and is one that they can trust. Patterns also allow dogs to take control of their own counterconditioning, as they can use their own behavior to start or stop the next chain. Dogs easily recognize patterns and can even create their own.

Patterns are easily customized for every personality and situation. Get ready to be creative and have fun!

Learning Objectives: • Recognize what a pattern game is and how to teach one.

• Recognize what a start-button behavior is and how to teach one and use it in a pattern game.

• Recognize how to work under a dog’s threshold so that you can adjust a pattern to meet their needs.

Presenters: Casey McGee & Malena DeMartini

Session Title: Dogs with Separation Anxiety in Shelter and Rescue - Best Practices Session Type: General Session Lecture (1.5 Hours) Dogs with separation anxiety are often a source of heartbreak and frustration for shelter and rescue staff who are challenged to maintain their quality of life while waiting for adoption, and then find them adoptive homes where they can thrive. Although in many areas dogs with separation anxiety are deemed unadoptable, more and more shelter and rescue organizations are finding creative ways to help these special-needs dogs find permanent homes.

Join separation anxiety trainers Casey McGee and Malena DeMartini to explore strategic and practical ways of adjusting your work – both large and small – to better serve this vulnerable group of dogs.

Learning Objectives: • Identify and assess separation anxiety in shelter and rescue dogs.

• Help the separation anxiety dog maintain the best quality of life in a shelter or rescue environment.

• Market dogs with separation anxiety and screen potential adopters.

Presenter: Sara McLoudrey

Session Title: Muzzle Magic - Beyond the Basics of Muzzle Training Session Type: Lecture/Lab (1.5 Hours) As muzzles become a more common option in behavior modification programs, we need to move beyond teaching dogs to simply put their snouts in a muzzle. There are many aspects to teaching choice, comfort and fun while a dog is wearing a muzzle.

Today, most trainers know the basics of how to shape or lure a dog to tolerate a muzzle, but we need to look beyond this. Our goal in muzzle training should be for the muzzle to have no effect on the dog’s normal everyday activities and behaviors. This includes walking on- and off-leash, playing, swimming, running, eating, drinking, resting, and sleeping. As a result, we should be able to see a positive shift in client compliance when an owner sees that wearing a muzzle has little to no impact on their dog’s life.

The presenter has muzzle trained hundreds of dogs, ranging from the naive dog who has never actively been trained or seen a muzzle, to dogs for whom the sight of a muzzle is a trigger for aggressive behavior. With skill, a wide variety of training options and patience, all dogs can be muzzle trained successfully.

This session will investigate simple changes that can be made with style and fit for a more engaged dog in the muzzling process. It will also feature games that will help move the dog from frozen and tolerating the muzzle, to living his normal life muzzled. For many dogs, realizing they can still eat, drink and play helps them overcome initial stresses of wearing a muzzle. These are skills that need to be taught as they do not come naturally for dogs or owners. The session will discuss a variety of options that make the learning process fun for both the dog and the owner and, once muzzle comfort is achieved, present a muzzle maintenance plan. This will help the dog continue to have muzzle fun time for the rest of his life.

Note: To be successful in the learning lab, it is recommended that your dog has been introduced to a basket muzzle and can have it on for a few seconds.

Learning Objectives: • Tips for dealing with getting the muzzle on including straps, buckles, and alterations.

• How to adjust “off the shelf” muzzles for a better fit.

• Reward delivery options, including play.

• How to move beyond “tolerating” the muzzle.

• Hands-free training options.

• Training tips for the dog that already has a negative CER to muzzles.

Session Title: Versatility of Chin Targets Session Type: Lecture/Lab (1.5 Hours) In today’s ever-expanding world of cooperative care and fear free veterinary handling, the chin target continues to stand out as the most useful and versatile skill. Once the behavior is established, it can easily and quickly be transferred to different situations. A clear foundation is key and this lecture/lab will explore the importance of having a solid foundation of clear cues. Once the cues are established, the next layer is formed by duration and reliability under stress. The session will investigate how to transfer the skill to chairs, laps and other objects that are specific to the learner or situation. It will also look at how to transfer the behavior quickly to a new environment, such as a veterinary office or emergency clinic.

The lab will demonstrate how the use of a chin target will provide you with the skills to provide cooperative care that can be applied in a variety of grooming and veterinary situations with only one person present. It will also practice the training of additional body positions to use in conjunction with the chin target. Sometimes restraint is needed, for a variety of reasons. The session will discuss how to train restraint in conjunction with a chin rest. These positions range from minimal to moderate restraint but are all trained behaviors where the learner knows what is expected, providing the lowest level of stress in veterinary handling as possible.

From nose to tail, exams to administering medications, blood draws to grooming, home care to veterinary office care, the chin target is always the star. It is a versatile skill that empowers both you and your learner.

Note: For the learning lab it is recommended that your dog is comfortable with shaping and has been introduced to a chin target concept.

Learning Objectives: • Developing clear cues for your chin target.

• Teaching a variety of chin targets – hand, lap, other objects.

• Using the chin target as a means for communication.

• Building and testing of duration.

• Teaching additional body positions that can be used in conjunction with a chin target.

• Using the chin target to provide cooperative care – by a single person and completely hands-free.

Presenter: Dr. Alexandra Protopopova

Session Title: How Can We Ask Questions from Non-Verbal Animals? The Basic Science of Choice (Part 1) Session Type: General Session (1.5 Hours) Modern dog training recognizes that efficacy is simply not enough; ethics in dog training is equally, if not more important. A big part of being an ethical trainer is learning how to understand the animal’s point of view. Whereas using body language to gauge comfort level is one method, directly asking the animal about his/her preference and choice, using established behavioral methods is more robust. This session will define “preference” and “choice” and go through basic methods that behavioral scientists use to empirically ask questions from non-verbal animals. It will also focus on the basic science of choice and freewill.

Learning Objectives: • Understand how scientists and behavioral philosophers conceptualize choice and consent.

• Recognize the strong philosophical connection between choice and freewill (or the lack of!).

• Understand how choice is environmentally maintained.

• Recognize how the current trend in dog training of asking for “consent” and “choice” does not guarantee an ethical approach.

Session Title: How Can We Ask Questions from Non-Verbal Animals? Methods to Behaviorally Assess Preference in Applied Settings (Part 2) Session Type: General Session (1.5 Hours) Modern dog training recognizes that efficacy is simply not enough; ethics in dog training is equally, if not more important. A big part of being an ethical trainer is learning how to understand the animal’s point of view. Whereas using body language to gauge comfort level is one method, directly asking the animal about his/her preference and choice, using established behavioral methods is more robust. This session will go through the applied science of empirically determining preference in non-human animals and apply this science to the dog practitioner.

Learning Objectives: • Understand why utilizing established preference assessments is more effective than relying on personal intuition.

• Be able to list empirically validated methods to establish preference in non-verbal animals.

• Be able to know which method to apply in various contexts.

• Distinguish and find similarities between preference and choice in applied settings.

Presenter: Carrie Seay

Session Title: Enriching Lives of Cats from Shelter to Home Life Session Type: Lecture (1.5 Hours) Cats, both in shelters and homes, often experience boredom and may exhibit behavioral issues as a result of lack of enrichment in their environment, but by adjusting the environment and adding different types of enrichment we actually have the ability to change a cat’s behavior. This session will discuss ideas you can use to enrich the lives of the cats in your home or shelter.

Enrichment does not need to be expensive or time consuming for owners and shelter staff to maintain but it can play a very important role in a cat’s life, which is why this session will discuss simple and inexpensive ways anyone can enrich their cat’s environment. It will use real life examples of shelter cats that have gone from shy to highly adoptable and confident as a result of environmental enrichment and without the shelter needing to make drastic changes.

Little changes can make a big difference in a cat’s life. The session will also discuss examples of cats in home environments that have exhibited behavior challenges and how environmental enrichment has helped to improve their lives and reduce and eliminate unwanted behaviors. Many of the ideas discussed will incorporate items you may currently have at your home or shelter and you may be surprised with all the ways you can enrich a cat’s environment without investing a lot of time or resources.

Learning Objectives: • Understand what enrichment is and the different ways it can be incorporated.

• Understand how to use the resources you have in order create a more enriching environment.

• Understand how you can use enrichment and training to modify behavior.

Presenters: Louise Stapleton-Frappell and Niki Tudge

Session Title: The Pathway to Helping with Enrichment and Collaboration for Rescue Pets and People – The 5 Simple and Structured “DEEDS” Session Type: Lecture/Lab (1.5 Hours) Session Type: Arizona Humane Society Workshop (1.5 Hours) It is not unknown that working in a rescue environment can be stressful, busy and yet hugely impactful and rewarding for those who dedicate their time to the management, care and rehabilitation of our neglected and forgotten pets. There are adoption goals to meet, training plans to implement, exercise schedules to supervise and nutritional plans to manage, along with so many more tasks that are often completed with fewer than necessary resources.

It can be hard to execute the numerous and complex daily tasks of caring for pets in a shelter environment.

Training budgets are minimal, time is at a premium, and staff are often too busy rushing from A-Z. Yet the level of commitment, caring and passion ensures the core tasks still get done. This risks leaving staff exhausted and dogs at a disadvantage for adoption and mental enrichment.

Shelter and rescue teams dream of being able to implement small valuable “DEEDS” each day, DEEDS that will in some way improve the quality of life for the dogs they care for, DEEDS that will help homeless dogs present their better selves for potential adopters who come to visit, and DEEDS that make the most of precious rescue resources, enhancing the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment for the rescue team.

This session will discuss and demonstrate the five operational DEEDS rescue teams can implement within their operating environment, DEEDS that can be realistically implemented across all departments and all levels of staff, from directors to volunteers. Learn how these DEEDS can be integrated into an organization’s operational culture without the need to develop expensive and strategic staff training programs putting the hotly contested operating budget at risk. Let’s make people and pets in these rescue environments less stressed, more enriched and better equipped!

Learning Objectives: A. DEED 1 Implementing a Shared Language: • Learn the Language of Possibilities - quickly and easily have all personnel using a bridge when interacting, managing and supporting the care of rescue pets.

B. DEEDS 2 – 5 Building Behaviors – the importance of personal daily interaction with our rescue pets goes without saying, yet this precious time is often underutilized and rehabilitation opportunities lost: • Learn the four key skill DEEDS that we can, using shared language, implement to build behaviors that support enrichment and adoption possibilities. i. Moving Positively. ii. Giving Consent. iii. Let’s Engage. iv. Calmly Does It. C. Through this presentation you will get a first-hand overview of the DEEDS toolkit. Learn how you can easily transfer this key information and collection of DEEDS amongst your staff using a virtual platform.

Presenters: Judy Luther and Niki Tudge

Session Title: Building Positive Boundaries for the Refined Suburban Canine – Teaching Dogs to Enjoy Their Yards without the Need for Electronic Devices Session Type: Lecture (1.5 Hours) Electric fences as containment tools are very common in our residential communities. Many locations restrict or ban the use of physical fences leaving pet owners with little choice but to install underground electronic containment tools. However, discerning pet owners are misguided in the level of protection these tools offer and the potential for them to cause untold physical and mental discomfort and damage to their pets.

This session will provide a step-by-step standard operating procedure (SOP) you can offer through your business as a much-needed service. The presenters will break the SOP down into individual skills and required knowledge, giving you the perfect program to help you support your clients with their containment needs in a positive and empowering manner. The session will cover the prerequisite skills for both dog and owner, the supplies you will need, and how the training program can be delivered over several lessons.

The session will also include a troubleshooting guide and suggest systems you can implement to help you convert electronically contained yards into a positive environment for pets who were previously conditioned to an electric fence.

Learning Objectives: • Understand the SOP in its format and style so you can implement the service in your business.

• Grasp the step-by-step process to teach dogs to stay in their yards without the use of electric fences or, in fact, any designated location.

• Learn how to overcome any hesitations about using this method from a safety aspect.

• Understand how the procedure can be implemented over several lessons with the support of the presenters’ training curriculum and lesson plan.

• Be comfortable with the supporting tools, videos and client handouts to assist you in your delivery.

Presenter: Tia Guest

Session Title: Growing Collaborative Care and Your Business Session Type: Lecture (1 Hour) It is an exciting time to be a dog trainer as the concept of collaborative care grows to reach pet owners, veterinarians, vet staff, and others involved in caring for our pets. It is also a perfect time to position ourselves as a resource. By offering training services to teach cooperative care, we can benefit everyone involved. Veterinarians and staff benefit from safer and more efficient exams and procedures, clients learn new approaches to at-home care, and dogs experience the power of choice and less emotional and physical stress. And, as trainers, we benefit from opportunities to grow our businesses while broadening the reach and impact of collaborative care.

This session will look at strategies to incorporate collaborative care services into your training business, and how to get clients’ buy-in and engagement. It will also address the elephant in the room – how to get over the discomfort and connect with vets and others to build a powerful referral network based on collaboration. In short, it will explore how to create a winning strategy that benefits everyone involved.

Learning Objectives: • Explore ideas for incorporating collaborative care into your training services.

• Identify strategies to market your services to pet owners to develop their understanding and buy-in.

• Utilize your focus on collaborative care to establish referral relationships with veterinarians and others.

Presenters: Debra Millikan and Niki Tudge

Session Title: Canine Reactivity to Reasonableness - Your Professional Curriculum Session Type: Lecture (1.5 Hours) Reactive, sensitive, overly responsive, volatile, mercurial, irritable, combative, or touchy? Whatever phrase or term you coin a “reactive dog,” it can be negatively life changing for both ends of the leash. This often results in fewer walks, a smaller world and reduced enrichment for the dog which then wears on and significantly impacts the canine-human relationship. Whether reactivity is manifested through a dog’s genetic makeup, poor socialization, frustration and impulse control issues, or a one-off scary situation it can be both manageable and modified.

This session will feature 15 “go-to” skills to help you move from reactive, to dress rehearsal, to real-life progress, to success. The presenters will take you through the “Reactivity to Reasonableness” professional trainer curriculum developed by a team of PPG members across the globe and provide an overview of three levels to achieve long-lasting results: • Level One: Management Skills and Knowledge.

• Level Two: Dress Rehearsal Skills and Knowledge (for both canine-canine reactivity and canine-human reactivity).

• Level Three: Final Act Skills and Knowledge.

Learning Objectives: • What reactivity is and the differences between canine-canine and canine-human reactivity.

• How management and antecedent control set up safe parameters.

• The five canine skills and five human knowledge essentials from each of the three levels that make up this tiered program.

• An understanding of the curriculum at each of the three levels and the criteria for each of the skills and knowledge.

• How you, as a professional trainer, can implement this program into your business and begin supporting the management and modification of your local canine community.