Anxiety and Pets: The Essentials

Whether you have an anxious pooch or a fearful feline, our webinar series: Anxiety and Pets: The Essentials will give you all the answers you need to build a healthy, happy future with your pet.

Get practical, science-based information for pet owners and pet professionals to better understand stressed out, anxious pets and learn how to better understand and help our furry friends.

All three sessions: $90
Single webinar: $35

Register for All Three

For more information, email outreach@ottawahumane.ca or call 613-725-3166 ext. 235.

Paws and Reflect: Unraveling the Language of Stress in Pets

Date: Wednesday, March 13 at 6 p.m. EST
Speaker: Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB, Professor, Behavioural Medicine, AVC, UPEI, Charlottetown, PE, Canada

Find out how to recognize signs of anxiety, fear and stress in cats and dogs, and how to best help your pet. Learn more about:

  • Why you should pay close attention to pets and changes in their behaviour.
  • The first steps to help pets deal with fear, anxiety and stress.
  • Misinformation, myths and unrealistic expectations that can be damaging for you and your pet.
  • When to seek professional help to reduce or treat fear, anxiety and stress.
  • Making a plan that is kind, protective and healing for you and your pet.

This webinar is approved for 1 CBCC-KA CEU credit.

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Dr. Karen Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior, a behavioural researcher, and renowned expert in the field of animal welfare and behaviour. She led the Behaviour Clinic at Penn Vet for over 12 years, lectures at veterinary schools around the world, and has been published many times over in scholarly publications, texts and popular media. Dr. Overall is a Professor at Atlantic Veterinary college in PEI, where she runs a clinic and research program. She is the editor-in-chief for the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research.

Anxiety: The Whole Story

Date: Wednesday, March 20 at 6 p.m. EST
Speaker: Jessica, Hekman, MS, DVM, PhD, President, Functional Dog Collective, Raymond, NH, United States

Delve into the roots of canine anxiety. Learn about the biology behind anxiety and gain a deeper understanding of why your dog is anxious. Find out more about:

  • The role genetics, early environment and socialization play in canine anxiety.
  • Better understanding anxious dogs, and why they are feeling anxious.
  • How anxiety can affect your dog’s overall health and well-being.

This webinar is approved for 1 CBCC-KA CEU credit.

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Dr. Jessica Hekman, DVM, PhD is a genetics researcher, ethical breeding advocate, and educator who helps pet owners better understand the science behind canine behaviour. After graduating from veterinary school, she obtained a PhD in the genetics of behaviour. She went on to work at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, working on the Darwin’s Ark and Working Dogs Projects. Dr. Hekman is passionate about supporting responsible breeding, and in 2020, founded the Functional Dog Collaborative, a non-profit organization that is working to make positive change in the dog breeding industry.

Leaving with Love: Navigating Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Date: Wednesday, March 27 at 6 p.m. EST
Speaker: Chantal Mills, BEd., CSAT, FFCP, Owner & Head Trainer, Ottawa Canine School, Ottawa, ON

Does your dog miss you too much while you’re gone? Gain a deeper understanding of canine separation anxiety that is useful for pet owners and pet professionals alike. Find out more about:

  • What helps and what doesn’t when helping a dog with separation anxiety.
  • How does a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer assess a dog and how they can help.
  • Dispelling myths related to separation anxiety.
  • Understanding separation anxiety as an animal welfare issue.

This webinar is approved for 1 CPDT-KA CEU credit.

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Chantal Mills had a long career in education as a teacher, guidance counsellor, and vice-principal, before moving to the world of animal behaviour. In addition to being a certified Fear Free Certified Trainer, member of Canadian Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and a graduate of LLA (Living & Learning with Animals), Chantal is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, mentored by Malena Martini, an internationally renowned expert on separation anxiety in dogs. Chantal keeps up to date on the latest best practices of training and behaviour through regular attendance at conferences, workshops, and seminars.