An animal behavior seminar for Pet Professionals. This 2-day seminar focuses on teaching pet care workers how to recognize fear, stress and frustration in dogs and cats. We will hone skills recognizing body language signals that indicate an animal is overly stressed or fearful. There will be discussion of the fundamentals of learning theory, including the pros and cons of positive reinforcement versus positive punishment when working with animals. Students will learn how to use systematic desensitization and classical counter conditioning to help reduce an animal’s experience of stress and fear while in the professional’s care. This course is not about behavior modification. It focuses more on the management of fear and anxiety, and how to increase your odds of a successful outcome for the pet and the pet professional. Interactive class activities will encourage students to practice their skill at reading body language and developing real-time management plans they can use in their work to help dogs and cats feel safer and less stressed during handling activities such as grooming, training, veterinary care or lodging. Hands-on and/or observational opportunities will be available for students to watch or participate in practicing skills on live animals during the class session.

Sponsor:The Academy of Pet Careers
Speaker(s):Jody Epstein

Contact: Jennifer Schifano
 Email: admissions@theacademyofpetcareers.com
 Phone: 636-489-5356
 Web: http://www.theacademyofpetcareers.com/