6:00-10:00 PM
Night on the Town VIP Event: Special Speaker, Jess Adam, MA, LPC, at Strangeways Brewing. Additional $ 100 cost at registration.
APDT International is bringing the evening social back to conference in a big way. Attendees will board buses from their hotels which will whisk them away to an exclusive evening as conference attendees take over an entire tap room and brewery. You’ ll sample branded brews and a variety of food options as we spend the first part of the evening connecting with everyone you’ ve met at the big event. Next, continue with an intimate session from one of our most engaging speakers, Jess Adam, who will be delivering unique content only available to Thursday night’ s event, adding another valuable CEU to your collection. As we wrap up the learning content, music will take over the speakers and you will have the opportunity to dance and mingle well into the night.
FRIDAY, NOV. 7
7:30-9:15 AM
Rise and Thrive Breakfast. Sponsored by Cloud Star.
Friday morning will include breakfast during an expanded exhibit hall opening time. This will present attendees with additional exposure to exhibits, connecting with resources to help them take their practice to the next level. Elevate your breakfast experience with giveaways, and special engagement opportunities.
* 8:00-9:30 AM
The " Good Life " of a Good Dog: A total welfare model for the future of the pet dog industry by Kim Brophey, LFDM, CDBC, CPDT-KA
How do you REALLY get a " Good Dog "? By giving them a " Good Life "- a term that has been defined by leading animal welfare scientists concerned with the characteristics of optimal welfare as the gold standard for any animal living under human control and captive conditions. Animals who have this " Good Life " standard of welfare do not have behavior problems. That ' s right- our dogs ' behavior challenges are very often symptoms of their chronic confusion, frustration, and distress in their modern pet lives. The " easy " life of today ' s pet is not as easy as we think it is- and our dogs desperately need our help as their stewards and professionals. This talk will be a powerful, game-changing, conflictmediating introduction to Kim Brophey ' s new Total Welfare Assessment Tool- the integration of the internationally celebrated L. E. G. S. Model of Canine Science with the updated framework of the Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare.
8:00-9:30 AM
LEARNING LAB: Shock & Awe: Designing Rigorous Research Studies about Dog Training Methods with Lisa Gunter, Ph. D., CAAB, MA, CBCC-KA and Erica Feuerbacher, Ph. D., CAAB, CPDT-KA, BCBA-D
Conducting research is a challenging endeavor. When carrying out research studies, scientists must have clear understanding of their research questions, appropriate dependent measures to answer that question, a design that is free from bias( or are biased against their hypothesis), and experimental conditions that are equivalent in as many ways as possible, expect for critical variable on interest. Samples should be representative of the population, and their methodology consistent with the analytical research. In this workshop, we will discuss these essential features in greater detail. We will then facilitate attendees working together in small groups as they design a study investigating their own question about training methods. Following this workshop, attendees will have a better understanding about the challenges of conducting applied research and the more informed consumers of science, including being able to discuss a given study strengths and limitations more knowledgeably.
8:00-9:30 AM
Behavioral Euthanasia: Fact and Fiction by Miranda Hitchcock, MS, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free
Behavioral euthanasia is an important topic for behavior consultants, shelter workers, and the behavior community as a whole— but there’ s been very little research about it over the years. More practitioners are talking about behavioral euthanasia, despite the stigma that has prevented these discussions from becoming mainstream. This talk will cover the research on behavioral euthanasia, to provide behavior professionals with a better understanding of what we actually know about the topic. We’ ll specifically focus on separating fact from fiction: is behavioral euthanasia mostly for young dogs? Is it mostly about access to resources / funding? How often is it happening? Is it about convenience, or safety, or quality of life? Attendees will leave this presentation with a better understanding of what we know about behavioral euthanasia- and what we don’ t. They’ ll also leave with some tips and tricks for handling conversations around behavioral euthanasia, and how to help clients who are making these difficult decisions.
8:00-9:30 AM
Enrichment in Richmond: Keeping Shelter Dogs and Cats Safe, Sane, and Thriving by Sarah Babcock, CTC, CPDT-KSA, CBCC- KA, CDBC
Caring for an average of 100 dogs and 150 cats at the Richmond SPCA means ensuring not just their physical well-being but also their mental and emotional health. While medical care and behavior modification play key roles, daily enrichment is essential to reducing stress and setting animals up for success in the shelter and beyond. In this interactive session, we’ ll explore proven, practical enrichment strategies for both dogs and cats, including playgroups, scent work, quiet time, and volunteer-led efforts like the Richmond SPCA’ s Running Buddies, Green Team, and Blue Team programs. Attendees will leave with readyto-use enrichment ideas, DIY craft projects, and actionable plans they can implement in shelters, rescues, and homes.
54 Better Training Through Education