2025 APDT International Conference Tentative Schedule
The 2025 APDT International Educational Conference and Trade Show has something for every dog training background and interest. Gain an educational edge through three days of the best available CEU opportunities, learn about new trends through lectures, workshops and panel discussions taught by professional dog training experts. Network with your peers and discover products and services that will enhance your dog training business and career. Observe the demo area while experts exhibit dog training techniques and tricks! The annual APDT conference is the premier dog training conference for dog training professionals and behaviorists. It will be held Nov. 5-7( pre-conference workshops on Nov. 4) at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, Virginia. Below is a tentative conference schedule. Sessions marked with an asterisk(*) are sessions for those viewing the conference through livestreaming. For more information, check out the Conference tab on our apdt. com website or tap the 2025 Conference button on the APDT Member App available for both Android and Apple through their respective stores.
TUESDAY, NOV. 4 WORKSHOPS
Workshops will be held 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. prior to the start of the 2025 Conference on Tuesday, Nov. 4. A separate fee of $ 125 is required and limited space is available for each workshop. Transportation and box lunch provided. The 2025 pre-conference workshops are sponsored by Cloud Star.
The Magical World of Tricks with Instructors Sarah Babcock, CTC, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, and Chrissy Joy
The magic of tricks is that they can be used for virtually everything. They are wonderful enrichment for any dog, whether that dog is in a home or in a shelter. They are great for confidence building in shy dogs and adding structure for high energy " busy " dogs. They provide the perfect foundation for dog sports, including agility, flyball, obedience, rally obedience, parkour, and more. They are great for therapy dogs and service dogs, and if taught well, can allow your dogs to get commercial work including in television and on film. And, they will allow you, the human to practice and perfect your training skills, no matter where else you want to use them. Come join this fun-filled workshop at the Richmond SPCA to take your trick-training skills to the next level. If you are interested in bringing your own dog to participate in this workshop, please contact Sarah Babcock at sbabcock @ richmondspca. org for approval.
Your PORTL to Improving Your Shaping Skills with Instructors Jesús Rosales- Ruiz, Ph. D., and Mary Hunter, M. S.
Join Dr. Rosales-Ruiz and Mary Hunter for a one-day workshop all about shaping behaviors. You’ ll learn about behavior principles and techniques that will help you create optimal learning situations when working with both animals and people. Throughout the workshop, held at the Richmond Convention Center, we’ ll talk about reinforcement systems, picking effective starting points, how to shape actions, raising criteria, errorless learning, and more. In addition to lectures and discussion, this workshop will allow you to practice your shaping skills with another human as the learner using the shaping game PORTL. The PORTL exercises will help you learn to problem solve and think more creatively when designing training solutions. You will also get to play the role of the learner, which will give you more insight into how people and animals learn.
5:00-7:00 PM
REGIception at the Greater Richmond Convention Center
As you pick up your conference badge, join us for fun and prizes during REGIception. Enjoy light appetizers and beverages as you meet and mingle with attendees.
Wagging Without Worry: Helping Dogs with Fear and Aggression with Instructor Michael Shikashio, CDBC( SOLD OUT)
Join world-renowned aggression expert Michael Shikashio for an informative one-day workshop at the Richmond SPCA designed to be an immersive experience into practical and efficient strategies for working with dogs with a history of fear or aggression.
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Summer 2025 49