What’s Causing all the Aggro – A deep dive into canine aggression

“What’s Causing all the Aggro – A deep dive into canine aggression"

With reports of dog aggression at an all time high, this conference explores the reality behind the headlines. Supported by real-life case studies, our speakers will provide insights into working with canine aggression across a wide range of settings.

Drawing upon the collective wealth of knowledge and experience of the UK’s largest animal welfare charity, topics covered will include:

• The development of aggressive behaviour
• Veterinary aspects of canine aggression
• Rehabilitation of dogs that exhibit aggressive behaviour in a rescue kennel
• How we, as canine professionals, can help minimise the chances of dogs displaying aggression
• Empowering dog guardians to understand, manage, and rehabilitate dogs showing aggressions
• Predatory aggression

“What’s causing all the aggro?” is an affordable CPD opportunity for all canine behaviour professionals and not to be missed!

Can't attend on the day? Don't worry! Book your ticket now for first access to event recording!

PRESENTATION TOPICS:

Jenna Kiddie - Head of Canine Behaviour, Dogs Trust:

“Unravelling aggression: the development of aggressive behaviour from fear and frustration”

This talk will explore what aggression is, how fear and frustration influence its development and display, and why certain individuals might be more predisposed to displaying aggression as a result of these underlying emotional and motivational states.

Liesl Plekker - Veterinary Behaviourist, Dogs Trust :

"Biting the hand that heals: dealing with aggressive behaviour in the veterinary practice"

An in-depth look at the veterinary aspects of aggressive behaviour in dogs including: reasons for aggressive behaviour in the veterinary suite, medical causes of aggression, completing veterinary referrals for aggressive dogs, and the use of behaviour medications.

Charlotte Moyes - Assistant Manager Behaviour, Dogs Trust:

"Tales from behind the kennel bars."

This talk will take you through the road to rehoming for dogs that show aggression within the kennel environment, what factors affect this and what things we can implement to navigate towards rehoming. Including case studies.

Beth Hardy - Post Adoption Support Behaviour Manager, Dogs Trust:

"Getting it right from the get-go."
We all know that minimising the chances of dogs displaying aggression is invaluable to both dogs and humans living in harmony. We will explore how we can best support both dogs and their guardians/carers to achieve this. The talk will centre around a dog's life journey and smoothing out those potential bumps in the road.

Alexia Nicolas - Clinical Animal Behaviour Manager, Dogs Trust:

"Pawsitive Transformations."

Empowering owners to manage and rehabilitate dogs showing aggressive behaviours.

In this thought provoking talk we will delve into the realm of dog and human relationships, focusing on empowering owners to manage, rehabilitate and live with their companion dogs that have shown aggressive behaviours.

Susan McKeon - Community Clinical Animal Behaviour Manager, Dogs Trust:

"The thrill of the chase: Disentangling predatory aggression, emotion, and motivation."

This session will explore the subject of predatory aggression question and owner concerns about prey drive, chase, and aggression.

Supported by case studies and videos, we will discuss:

• Breed predispositions – fact or fiction?
• The predatory sequence
• The role of motivation and emotion
• Chase, predation, and aggression – what’s the difference?
• Behaviour modification and management strategies

ABOUT OUR GUEST SPEAKERS:

Jenna Kiddie:

Dr Jenna Kiddie has a BSc(Hons) in Zoology, an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare, a PhD in the assessment of kennelled dog welfare, and Post Graduate Certificates in Learning and Teaching (Higher Education) and in Global Development Management.

She has been working in the field of companion animal behaviour and welfare for the past 18 years. Before joining Dogs Trust, Jenna held a senior lectureship at Anglia Ruskin University, was a teaching fellow at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, and worked as an Education Officer for the Scottish SPCA and as a Scientific Officer for the RSPCA. Jenna’s interest and expertise in clinical animal behaviour and shelter animal welfare developed during her time at Bristol Veterinary School, where she was a Senior Clinical Training Scholar in Cat Behaviour and Welfare, funded by Cats Protection.

As Head of Canine Behaviour at Dogs Trust, Jenna leads a team designing and delivering welfare-driven, evidence-based support for dog owners, animal behaviour and welfare students and those working with dogs professionally, and provides cross-directorial support to internal teams. She is also passionate about engaging with overseas governmental and non-governmental bodies and international public speaking. She also sits on a number of working groups, formed to address targeted areas of animal welfare and management, such as dog control.

Liesl Plekker:

Liesl has always had a keen interest in animal behaviour and research. She holds a BSc degree in Zoology from the University of South Africa and a research-based Honours Degree in Physiology from the University of Witwatersrand. Liesl obtained a Veterinary degree from the University of Pretoria in 2011 and spent five years in welfare and small animal practice in South Africa before emigrating to England in 2017. Since then, she has primarily worked in the charity sector.

Last year, she graduated with a Masters degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Edinburgh. Liesl joined the Dogs Trust in July 2022 and works as a veterinary behaviourist within the Clinical Behaviour Services. She offers support in Behavioural Medicine to the Behaviour, Community and Veterinary teams across Dogs Trust.

Charlotte Moyes

Whilst studying Canine Behaviour and Welfare at university, Charlotte found a passion and key interest in dog behaviour. After leaving university, she joined Dogs Trust as a Canine Carer. Over the last seven years, she has worked in various roles, has helped to rehabilitate countless number of dogs, and now works as Assistant Manager Behaviour at the Manchester Rehoming Centre.

Elizabeth Hardy

Beth is an accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist and her background is predominantly working for rescue and rehoming organisations. Beth feels fortunate to have learnt from numerous amazing industry professionals, owners and dogs over her career.

Beth's passion is empowering people so they are best able to share long and happy lives with their wonderful dogs. Beth has a keen interest in recognising the individuality of both dogs and owners and incorporating this into the behaviour support they receive; and her current role as Post Adoption and Behaviour Support manager at Dogs Trust is the perfect match for her.

Alexia Nicolas

Alexia is the Clinical Animal Behaviour Manager in the Clinical Behaviour Services department at Dogs Trust. She manages a team of Clinicians that provide behaviour support to adopters and foster carers of Dogs Trust dogs and also provides mentorship to Dogs Trust Staff to achieve CCAB accreditation.

Alexia is accredited with CCAB as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist for dogs and is also recognised as a Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist by the Animal Behaviour and Training council.

Susan McKeon

Susan is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist and the Community Clinical Animal Behaviour Manager for Dogs Trust. She is a highly experienced behaviourist and dog trainer with a passion for working with sighthounds.

Prior to joining Dogs Trust, Susan worked for a UK sighthound charity, and has also worked with other rescue dog and greyhound charities. She also ran a successful dog behaviour and training business for eight years, providing behaviour consults, training classes, workshops, and sighthound-only classes.

She has a BSc (Hons) in Canine Behaviour and Training and her dissertation research focused on “Impulsivity in retired racing greyhounds (Canis familiaris): Is racing status an indicator of increased impulsivity?” Susan is a regular speaker at conferences and workshops and has presented at national and international conferences about greyhound behaviour and welfare, post-racing.