Webinars & Events

This presentation aims to help behaviourists to: • consider the interrelatedness between training and behaviour • explain technical terms for the lay owner • reflect upon helpful foundations for successful training • describe ways to provide effective client guidance and support Behaviour consultations can be so hard when you really want to give the owner the skills needed to not only manage their dog’s behaviour but to help their dog learn to overcome challenges. But as we all know that magic wand sadly doesn’t exist! Drawing on human behavioural science, this presentation will explore the foundation information to set owners on the path to effective dog training, supporting behaviour modification plan aims.

Synopsis: Domino is a much-loved young cat, living in an urban environment, with his sibling, & a busy family. He has been house soiling for many months, & his people have tried lots of things, but nothing has worked, & they are at their wits end. In this case, we will explore contributing factors to the problem, and work through suggestions to support Domino & his family. We aim for this to be an interactive & collaborative session, & we welcome all who are keen to spend a morning discussing Domino’s case

You are warmly invited to join an informal Zoom chat session with other members, discussing aspects of our working lives and allowing us to share, support and generally get to know each other. These sessions run once a month and are 1.5h in length, guided by Karen Wild. Each session has a short ‘micro talk’ at the start from a volunteer member, to lead us into a discussion, but the style will be relaxed so have a decaf coffee, tea or any other beverage at the ready!

Environmental enrichment is increasingly popular to establish positive welfare in the management of zoo animals and livestock, yet scientific evidence in domestic horses remains limited. This webinar presents findings from an international survey of 132 barn owners and managers across 16 countries, examining the prevalence and perceived effects of forage, structural, and sensory enrichment on horses in turnout areas. Results revealed a significant association between enrichment provision and positive behavioural change, including increased foraging, play, and exploration behaviours, alongside reduced antagonistic and stereotypic behaviours. The session will explore welfare implications, practical applications, and the need for further controlled research to strengthen evidence-based enrichment strategies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cats are the most popular companion animals worldwide, and many households are home to more than one cat. While the flexible social nature of cats means multicat living can be beneficial for some, intercat tension is common and often goes unnoticed. In her PhD project, Morgane Van Belle researches how we can better understand the social behaviour of cats in multicat housholds via video-observation. During this session we will delve into the latest insights on social behaviour in cats, and introduce the recently developed Ethogram of Feline Social Interactions (EFSI) for scoring cat behaviour in the home.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.