Join Me at the Dog X Conference to Learn About the Science of Happier Dogs
Zazie Todd will be the keynote speaker at this years Dog X, the premier conference for dog professionals in the UK, talking all about the science of happier dogs.
I'm thrilled to be speaking at the Dog X conference in Winchester, UK, on Sunday October 18th 2026.
I'm also really excited for the other talks. The other speakers are Anne McBride, Emanuel Oloyede, Jamie Pound, a charity spotlight on Bravehound, and live music from Grant Sharkey.
This is a conference like no other that includes the opportunity to network with other dog professionals from the host PACT and from leading organizations across the UK, including major animal welfare charities.
I'll be talking about the science of making dogs happy.
Dogs are sentient beings with rich cognitive and emotional lives, and modern models of animal welfare emphasize the need for positive experiences, not just preventing harm. The idea of making dogs happy is something that dog guardians can understand, and it moves the discussion on from obedience to thinking about exercise, enrichment, and training sessions from the point of view of the dog.
Six years on from Wag, I’ll be talking about what science tells us about the importance of choices and agency for dogs, the best types of enrichment, and how we can make training sessions fun for the dog (even if they are fearful).
We’ll look at how to encourage people to use reward-based methods, and who is most at risk of not using them. Along the way we’ll talk about how we get from canine science to practical tips that dog trainers and guardians can use.
Tell me more about Dog X 2026
Dog X will take place in Winchester, a historic cathedral town in the south of England within easy distance of London.
While there you can explore Winchester and visit the Great Hall, the aisled 13th century hall that contains what is believed to be King Arthur's round table.
Or you can explore the South Downs with its rolling hillsides and beautiful views.
The conference itself takes place at a state-of-art facility at the University of Winchester. Full details are on the conference website.
Discounts are available for PACT students and members and charity staff, as well as for those who are students or members of other ABTC practitioner organizations. Details of how to get your discount code are on the conference website.
