The Canine and Feline Science Winter Webinar Series
A unique opportunity to learn more about dog and cat behaviour.
The canine and feline science winter webinars are a set of 3 mini-series of 3 webinars each that explore current topics in dog and cat behaviour.
Would you like to:
- Take a deep dive into some of the latest canine and feline science
- Develop a deeper understanding of aspects of dog or cat behaviour
- Learn how to apply the findings to dog training or cat behaviour issues
The winter webinar series offers a unique opportunity to enjoy learning more about dog or cat behaviour. Choose from 2 dog and 1 cat webinar series, or attend them all. Each is a series of 3 webinars that you can attend live with the chance to ask questions, or watch the recording later if you prefer.
BLACK FRIDAY SALE: Save 20 dollars per webinar series if you sign up with the links below before midnight PT on Dec 2nd.
Parenting styles and the human-dog relationship: What dog trainers need to know
Most of us think of dogs as family members, but is there any crossover from the way people parent human children and how they treat their canine family? This series of 3 webinars will review the different types of parenting styles and the extent to which they apply to how we care for dogs. Dog-directed parenting styles reflect how the guardian teaches their dog appropriate behaviours and how responsive (or not) they are to their dog’s needs. We’ll look at how dog-directed parenting styles relate to people’s interactions with the dog as well as how they might influence the dog’s attachment to their guardian. And we’ll discuss how we can use this information to help improve the welfare of pet dogs.
Students will be able to:
- Articulate what the main dog parenting styles are
- Explain what an authoritative parenting style is and how it applies to dogs
- Understand the benefits of an authoritative dog-directed parenting style
- Evaluate the scientific research on dog parenting styles and its relation to attachment in dogs
- Consider how pet parenting styles relate to modern dog training
3 x 1 hour webinars. Recordings available for 60 days.
Tues Jan 13, 20, 27 2026 at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern/6pm UK).
CEUs: PPAB 3 CEUs; other CEUs applied for.
Sign up here. Get 20 dollars off if you sign up before midnight on Dec 2nd (the promo code is embedded in the link).
Unwanted scratching in cats: Understanding this behaviour and what to (humanely) do about it
Scratching is a normal behaviour for cats, but it’s also one that their guardians often complain about. In this webinar series, we’ll look at what we know about why cats scratch and how people can humanely influence their cat’s choice of surfaces. Cats have individual preferences for the surfaces that they scratch. We’ll consider the effects of training from a cat welfare perspective and also look at the wider role of the environment in scratching behaviour. We’ll look at the risk factors for unwanted scratching and how the way that people care for cats plays a role.
Students will be able to:
- Understand why cats engage in scratching behaviour
- Appreciate the role of individual differences in choice of scratching surfaces
- Explain the welfare issues with a punishment-based approach to unwanted scratching
- Develop plans for positive reinforcement and an enriched environment for scratching behaviours
- Appraise the placement of scratching posts in the home
3 x 1 hour webinars. Recordings available for 60 days.
Weds Feb 4, 11, 18 2026 at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern/6pm UK time).
CEUs: PPAB 3 CEUs; other CEUs applied for.
Sign up here. Get 20 dollars off if you sign up before midnight on Dec 2nd (the promo code is embedded in the link).
Dog behaviour issues: Supporting the dog’s humans through hard times
Dogs can have all kinds of behaviours, and whether or not their human considers the behaviour to be an issue is very much a personal consideration. But having a dog with a behaviour issue is hard. Often, the dog is struggling and the person is struggling too. People can experience a wide range of negative emotions, and in turn this can influence their likelihood of following a reward-based training plan. This webinar series will look at the research on the human side of having a dog with issues and explore how this can help us to do a better job of supporting dog guardians.
Students will be able to:
- Describe the emotional impacts of having a dog with a behaviour issue
- Understand the interactions between emotions and dog training approaches
- Integrate incremental plans for teaching people about dog behaviour issues
- Consider supporting the person as part of the plan for classes or private consults
- Appreciate the importance of positive messaging
3 x 1 hour webinars. Recordings available for 60 days.
Tues Feb 24, March 3, 10 2026 at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern/6pm UK time)
CEUs: PPAB 3 CEUs; other CEUs applied for.
Sign up here. Get 20 dollars off if you sign up before midnight on Dec 2nd (the promo code is embedded in the link).
The small print
Recordings are available for 60 days. You will be sent a link to the recording approximately 24 hours after each live event. You can also access the recordings via your registration link, which you will be sent before the start of the webinars.
Refunds are only available up until 24 hours before the start of the first session in a series. After that, no refunds will be issued.
I reserve the right to reschedule webinars if there are circumstances outside of my control (e.g. internet or power outages) that prevent it from going ahead at the scheduled time. If this happens, you will be sent a link to the new time for the webinar.
