Friday 20th November
Session 1: Person-centred, dog-centred: Evolving our services at Dogs for Good
How do we make sure people get the support that is right for them – while also prioritising dog wellbeing? This session explores how Dogs for Good is changing the way we deliver our services, which include assistance dogs, AAS and other forms of support. Using research and case studies, we’ll look at what this means in practice, and why finding the right fit for both people and dogs is at the heart of what we do.
Session 2: When training doesn’t transfer: Rethinking impulse control training In dogs
Improving canine welfare requires an empirical understanding of how dogs experience their interactions with us and how our practices affect them. As comparative psychologists, we believe our research should contribute directly to that goal, including by putting commonly accepted assumptions about dogs to the test. One such common assumption is that impulse control can be strengthened like a muscle: practicing behaviors such as “wait” or “leave it” should improve a dog’s ability to exercise impulse control in other contexts. Across a series of studies, we have tested this claim using interventions ranging from a novice training game (“It’s Yer Choice”) to an advanced training protocol (Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol) and even pharmacological intervention (dogs on versus off SSRIs). Despite these very different approaches, we consistently find no evidence that any of these interventions lead to widespread impulse control improvements. We consider what these findings reveal about canine impulse control and, more broadly, how testing assumptions about dogs can inform evidence-based approaches to their welfare.
Session 3: An evolving relationship: Best practice application and practical considerations
In this facilitated unscripted conversation, a group of international professionals familiar with dogs, their behavior and training will address contemporary questions around the human-dog relationship. Animal-assisted work with dogs is becoming increasingly popular – and comes with a high ethical and professional responsibility. How do we create encounters on equal footing and what does that mean? Can we ensure effective training outcomes that are only based on voluntary participation and trust? Are evaluation methods and expectations of working dogs changing? Can we guarantee that animal welfare isn’t just a concept, but a practice lived every day? These core questions will be discussed by the panel that will base their input on current findings from behavioral biology, ethology, ethics, and most of all practice. This engaging hour offers space for exchange, for reflection and an open discussion that will include input from attendees via the chat function.
Session 4: Four questions that give social working dogs a voice
Before a social working dog enters a classroom, meets a participant, or joins a therapy session, we usually have a plan. We know what we hope to achieve, which activities we have prepared, and how much time we have. But what does the dog want? This presentation explores how we can give social working dogs a meaningful say in their working lives through four simple questions: Are you ready? Do you want to? May I? Are you done? Through practical examples and relevant research on choice, control, and therapy dog welfare, we examine how these questions can guide preparation, participation, touch, and the opportunity to finish. We consider how handlers can recognise each dog’s communication, respect their boundaries, and create opportunities for positive experiences in therapeutic, educational, and supportive settings. Participants will gain a practical framework for bringing the dog’s preferences into everyday decisions while maintaining the handler’s responsibility for welfare and safety. The central message is simple: giving dogs a voice means allowing their answers to influence what happens next.
Saturday 21st November
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