
2021
SUNDAY
PROGRAM
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th
CONFERENCE STARTS 8:00am
8:00-8:10am Welcome
BREAKOUT SESSION 8:10-9:10am
(choose one 60-min session)
Equine Trailering Problems and How to Solve Them
Dr. Jill E. Sackman, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVB, KPA-CTP
This talk will review causes of trailering problems in horses, review best practices for safe / low stress trailering, preventing problems and how to overcome common behavior problems associated with trailering.
Too Much Teen Spirit? Navigating Adolescence in Puppies & Kittens
Kristen Klebba, LVT, KPA, CPT
Adolescence can be a trying time for dog and cat owners with their pets becoming increasingly more independent and training problems or behavior disorders becoming more pronounced. This presentation will discuss common behaviors that arise during this period, how to address these issues and how to identify actions that could potentially lead to a more severe behavior problem if left untreated.
BREAKOUT SESSION 9:20-10:20am
(choose one 60-min session)
Risky Business - Assessing and Managing Risk in Aggression Cases
Jenn Gavin, BA, CPDT-KA
Working with animals with a history of aggression presents a significant challenge, especially in today's post Covid landscape. With bites on the rise, how can behavior professionals ensure that they accurately assess the risk of injury to humans and other animals presented by their canine subjects, as well as their clients' ability to manage them? We will discuss best practices for assessing, and communicating risk to clients and other professionals; constructing management plans that are safe and, well, manageable for clients; and documenting and communicating effectively to reduce misunderstanding and increase compliance when managing risky dogs.
Reducing the Stress of Vet Visits for Cats
Kristen Klebba, LVT, KPA, CPT
Clients who own fearful cats are less likely to bring them in for wellness or interventional care due to the stress it causes them. This presentation will discuss how to set cats up for success before the visit, during the visit, and on the trip home.
BREAKOUT SESSION 10:30-11:30am
(choose one 60-min session)
What is Canine Welfare, and How do We Measure it in the Shelter?
Dr. Lisa Gunter, PhD, MA, CBCC-KA
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 we attempt to save the lives of more dogs. Thus, we must also evolve the care that we provide to adequately meet and ideally exceed their welfare needs. In this talk, I’ll 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.
Data Can Be Easy!
Laura Perkins, MS, CPDT-KA
One of the defining features of applied behavior analysis is taking data and using it to make decisions when creating behavior plans. When we are working through an animal's guardian or caretaker, data is even more important because it gives us a glimpse into what is happening between sessions. Data doesn’t have to be complex, overwhelming, or burdensome to gather. We’ll take a look at how to choose what data to take, how to keep it simple, and some ways to work with your human clients to help you to collect that data.
LUNCH 11:30-12pm
BREAKOUT SESSION 12-1:00pm
(choose one 60-min session)
From Rescue to Home: Keys to a Successful Transition and Long-term Placement
Jean Carew, ACDBC
This lecture will give you the tools you need to help the animals in your rescue or shelter integrate happily and smoothly into their new homes, especially those at-risk friends who may struggle or be a higher risk for return due to existing behavior issues or concerns. Content will include: behavior foundations; keys to understanding and explaining what is happening from the dogs perspective during each phase; initial meetings and introductions; integration with other dogs, cats or children; helping adopters truly absorb and follow behavior or management advice; preventing and reducing behavior issues during and after the dog has settled in; and tips and tricks to ensure a successful long-term placement. We will finish up with key resources, recommendations, and tips that you can give to help ease seamlessly through the transition and reduce rates of returns.
Capable Canines: Caring for Dogs with Visual and Auditory Challenges
Kalie Wiser, BSW, CPDT-KA
Rose Adler, CPDT-KA, CTDI