Day 3
Sunday, May 9th
Click on a description for more information about the speaker.
Please note: All times are in PT (San Francisco, CA time!)

In this delivery we will talk through a step-by-step system of how to introduce the foundations of interactive toy play to dog and guardian teams, catering for different preferences and abilities. We will then cover how and when to begin using this reinforcement strategy as a practical reinforcer during training. This delivery will give you […]
In this webinar you will learn about my experience training zoo animals and how it can help you become a more flexible and adaptable dog trainer. It doesn’t matter if it’s monkeys, pigs, wolves, panthers or tapirs, you will find out about the common elements and the huge differences in training that made me realize […]
The potential role of pain in problem behavior is widely acknowledged, but there seems to be a lack of structure to recognizing the many ways which it can impact both normal acceptable activity but also problem behavior. From a scientific research perspective, it is often difficult to present definitive evidence concerning the breadth of the […]
The use of toys as reinforcement is common practice in dog sports, but the use of play itself is often not fully harnessed. Join world renowned seminar presenter Kamal Fernandez, as he discusses the many ways in which play can be used to teach, create confidence, overcome anxiety, build resilience, and much more. This webinar […]
Inter-cat aggression is one of the most common behavior problems the presenter sees in her behavior consulting business. This distressing problem can occur with cats that are new to one another, as well as with siblings that have always been “best friends.” This session will discuss the various causes of inter-cat aggression between cats who […]
Depending on your area, many of your clients will not be able to afford all of the training they need and want, especially not for advanced behavioral problems. One of the skills trainers must develop is to learn how to adapt our programs and packages to what our clients can afford. This includes doing our […]
Ruff’N Tumble – Martial Arts for Dogs is an exciting dog sport that all dogs can do. It is an action sport that takes agility and teamwork to new levels for a dog and their handler. Obstacles are found in the environment and are limitless. Dogs can be on or off leash, so you don’t […]
Using evolution as a tool to better understand the dogs we share our homes with can be useful, but treating our dogs like wolves is not. It is the very fact that dogs have evolved to be different than wolves that allows them to live in our homes. It is much more valuable to look […]
According to an old tale, a person once asked the artist Michelangelo how he was able to carve his famous statue of David from a single piece of stone. Michelangelo apparently replied that he simply chipped away every piece of stone that wasn’t David. Emily believes that training cues is also a sculpting process. When […]
Lunch Time Panel Discussion (Via Facebook Live)
Normal or Not? Drive versus Overarousal
Hosted by Amy Cook, with panelists Denise Fenzi, Kamal Fernandez and Sharon Carroll.
This lunchtime discussion will be streamed via Facebook Live on the event’s Facebook page, free and publicly available, even to those not paying to attend the conference. Our panelists will discuss the differences between drive and arousal, and what is normal, vs what is… NOT.
Reactive. Wired and tired. Running on adrenaline. Our fast-paced work, combined with the stressors of life in the age of COVID, can leave us feeling like we’re in constant overdrive. Long-term escalated stress pushes us into survival mode, impacting our quality of life and contributing to both burnout and compassion fatigue. In this workshop we’ll […]
Let’s talk about what failure could really look like in dog training. How important it is to embrace failure as an event rather than adopting it as a character flaw in yourself or your dog. I will share what strategic failure looks like in my program and how important resiliency is in both the human […]
Negative reinforcement is a bit like a train wreck: You know you should maintain speed and drive past it but you just can’t help slowing down to satisfy your curiosity. Recent interest in basic research on negative reinforcement sets the occasion to check our understanding of why animals need trainers who support the least intrusive […]
The music for dogs industry is huge and makes claims that include “curing” dogs of anxiety, sound phobias, and separation anxiety. Much of the marketing explicitly offers the products as alternatives to the use of medication, training, management, and veterinary consults. Many products are advertised as “clinically proven.” There are research studies on dogs and […]
An agility handling system is a language- a language that you and your dog use to communicate on course as you guide your dog from one obstacle to the next. Now, imagine learning a new language from someone who isn’t already fluent in that language. Sounds messy, doesn’t it? It is commonplace to teach agility […]
Are your clients rainbows—each unique and special? Or roadblocks—always in their own way, and yours? Would your work be more fulfilling if clients just did what you told them to do the first time? Do you feel frustrated that clients don’t comply with instructions you’ve repeated over and over? Does it ever seem like it’s […]
In this presentation Ryan Cartlidge will share his journey creating and running the Animal Training Academy, and will discuss the three elements that have been fundamental in its growth: mindset, marketing, and mental health!
Sarah Rodriguez was born with a severe neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and her childhood dog positively impacted her life in so many ways as she grew up with a disability. As she got older, she wanted to give back to animals by helping people better understand their pets. She will share her journey […]
Senior dogs are special. They capture our hearts and because of age-related changes to their bodies and brains, they often challenge our skills as caretakers and trainers. Kathy Sdao will draw material from her recent workshop The Gift of a Gray Muzzle: Active Care for Senior Dogs (co-taught with senior Tellington TTouch® practitioner Lori Stevens). […]