Full Conference Pack

Available Until 6 December 2026 : £85.00

The Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians are delighted to be able to invite you to our annual conference on the 6th December 2025. We have an outstanding line up of internationally recognised experts in the field of animal behaviour and veterinary medicine who will be speaking on our conference topic of "Can I cope? Do I feel Safe? A fresh look at an old problem"

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable your member discount

Talk 1: Information gathering - its role in coping with protective emotions

Dr Sarah Heath

Available Until 6 December 2026 : £20.00

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable your member discount

Talk 2: Meeting needs at every life stage to help animals feel safe and thrive

Dr Sarah Penturn

Available Until 6 December 2026 : £20.00

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable your member discount

Talk 3: Gutsy reactions: how the gut brain axis influences resilience

Dr Amber Batson

Available Until 6 December 2026 : £20.00

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable your member discount

Talk 4: From Nice-to-Have to Non-Negotiable: Positioning environmental optimisation as the welfare baseline

Dr Loni Loftus

Available Until 6 December 2026 : £20.00

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable your member discount

Talk 5: Lets sleep on it; how sleep relies on, and influences, the sensation of safety

Carrie Tooley

Available Until 6 December 2026 : £20.00

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable your member discount

Association between Mental and Physical Health of Feline Patients: Screening During Veterinary Consultations Using the Home Feline Stress Score

Dr Noema Gajdoš Kmecová DVM, PhD

Available Until 8 April 2026 : £20.00

Understanding the links between mental and physical health in feline patients is crucial for tailoring their veterinary care. However, the practical aspect of evaluating their wellbeing holistically is often challenging, especially within 10-minute consultation in first-opinion veterinary practice. A recently developed instrument “Home Feline Stress Score (HFSS) (Glebocka et al., 2021) in its extended, 10-item version for veterinarians and veterinary behaviourists, holds promise in overcoming this issue. Thus, in our study, we explored the links between the mental state of feline patients, represented by the overall stress score obtained by the HFSS, and their physical condition (healthy vs. unhealthy), together with effect of cat and owner demographics on the two.

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Companion animal empathy and the impact of this on our relationships with them

Dr Karen Hiestand BVSc, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD, DipECAWBM(AWSEL), PGDip (VetEd), FHEA, MRCVS

Available Until 5 May 2026 : £20.00

Relationships with companion animals are extremely important to people worldwide. Domestic cats and dogs represent the most common species that live with humans and provide companionship in their millions. While domestic dogs are often termed ‘man’s best friend’, domestic cats now rival dog numbers in western homes, with increasing popularity in many countries. A sharp spike in acquisition of both species was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps illustrating a human motivation to use these animals for social and emotional support.

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Fear, anxiety and Stress in dogs visiting the veterinary practice – Assessing Validity and Reliability of behavioural tools

Dr Emma Gatehouse

Available Until 9 September 2026 : £20.00

Veterinary visits are a highly stressful experience for many dogs, which is hardly surprising considering the exposure to aversive stimuli such as unfamiliar people and animals, noises, smells and diagnostic interventions. The examination of highly stressed animals poses significant challenges, raising concerns for both staff and animal welfare. To mitigate these detrimental effects veterinarians and owners alike must take responsibility for assessing and reducing canine stress within the veterinary practice. Given that behavioural responses are often stressor and context specific, it is important to develop, validate and utilise instruments specific to the environment in which they will be applied. This presentation will discuss research into currently available assessment tools and whether they are valid, reliable and fit for purpose.

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Development of owner-based screening tools for canine cognitive decline.

Honour Smith BSc (Hons) MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour ABTC-ATI

Available Until 12 November 2026 : £20.00

Many of us will have experienced the challenges of caring for a senior dog. One of the barriers to effective early management of canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is the difficulty with diagnosing the condition and thus late implementation of treatment for what is an irreversible condition. A CCD diagnosis depends on veterinary assessment, often including one of several scales available, but many owners do not present their dogs to their vet until late on. This session describes how we designed and assessed three scales used for the diagnosis of CCD (CCDR, CADES and ARCAD) to create owner-friendly early screening tools for the assessment of CCD.

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Making Tax Digital

Rebeca Ospina and Jo Roberts, Third Sector Accountancy Ltd

Available Until 30 November 2027 : Members Only

Join us as our accountants talk through what Making Tax Digital actually means. They will provide an overview of the changes taking place, the steps you may need to make or think about, and the timings involved. There will be a chance for you to ask questions after the presentation.

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TAKING CLINICAL ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR TO THE NEXT LEVEL - Sponsored by CEVA - Thinking about report writing: Increasing owner understanding and compliance

Helen Zulch

Available Until 11 August 2029 : Members Only

Writing reports for clients post consultation is a significant part of the work of a behaviour counsellor, but it’s generally a part of our job for which we receive little formal training. It’s very easy to fall into the habit of writing a report which we as an individual would like to read, or which we feel meets some professional expectation. However, to write a report that is of greatest value to our client, in order to aid understanding and adherence, means that we should be approaching report writing from the client’s perspective. This webinar will cover a range of aspects which should assist you in creating more client centric reports.

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Developing and demonstrating your practical skills in dogs

Natalie Light, BSc (Hons) PGDip PGCert FHEA CCAB

Available Until 4 December 2029 : Members Only

This talk is designed for advanced candidate members on the verge of applying for their CCAB in dogs. Throughout the session, we'll delve into canine case examples to illuminate how one can develop and aptly demonstrate their practical skills. Drawing from real-world scenarios involving both dogs and their caregivers, the focus will be on:

• Evaluation: Assessing and fulfilling the needs of the dog in all interactions.
• Welfare Consideration: Taking into account the welfare of the dog, caregivers, and all involved parties—both in the immediate context and long-term.
• Initial Dialogue: Initiating communication with caregivers to derive an initial behavioural assessment, laying the groundwork for further steps.
• Goal Setting: Collaborating with the caregiver to set a mutually agreed goal for their dog.
• Setting Realistic Expectations: Offering behaviour advice that's both practical and tailored to individual circumstances.
• Training Techniques: Demonstrating training or coaching caregivers in the practical aspects of behaviour modification.

Concluding the session, attendees will be better equipped in showcasing their clinical experience, thus significantly enhancing their preparedness for the CCAB exams.

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable booking

Developing and demonstrating your practical skills in cats

Natalie Light, BSc (Hons) PGDip PGCert FHEA CCAB

Available Until 7 December 2029 : Members Only

This talk is designed for advanced candidate members on the verge of applying for their CCAB in cats. Throughout the session, we'll delve into feline case examples to illuminate how one can develop and aptly demonstrate their practical skills. Drawing from real-world scenarios involving both cats and their caregivers, the focus will be on:

• Evaluation: Assessing and fulfilling the needs of the cat in all interactions.
• Welfare Consideration: Taking into account the welfare of the cat, caregivers, and all involved parties—both in the immediate context and long-term.
• Initial Dialogue: Initiating communication with caregivers to derive an initial behavioural assessment, laying the groundwork for further steps.
• Goal Setting: Collaborating with the caregiver to set a mutually agreed goal for their cat.
• Setting Realistic Expectations: Offering behaviour advice that's both practical and tailored to individual circumstances.
• Training Techniques: Demonstrating training or coaching caregivers in the practical aspects of behaviour modification.

Concluding the session, attendees will be better equipped in showcasing their clinical experience, thus significantly enhancing their preparedness for the CCAB exams.

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable booking

Becoming an Expert Witness – what you need to know

David Ryan, PG Dip (CABC) CCAB

https://www.dog-secrets.co.uk/

Available Until 31 December 2029 : Members Only

An Expert Witness requires an in-depth knowledge of their subject, but that’s not all. This short presentation provides an insight into the role of the Expert Witness and how it relates to the field of animal behaviour and welfare, including the legal system and what to expect if you are instructed.

If you are a FABC member, please log-in to enable booking