Janet is speaking on the topic of "Working the Dog in Front of You," a concept often mentioned but rarely broken down into actionable steps. She will share the techniques she has used to help the dogs she works with achieve their full potential.

Training dogs is your passion so creating a training business is a logical next step. How do you create a successful business that is the right fit for you? We'll start at the end with your exit goals and work backwards to ensure you are intentional in creating a training business that aligns with your personal goals. Training can be your hobby, your source of annual income or an investment you can sell. Pricing services is a key decision regardless and you'll learn the steps to ensuring profitability during this session. You'll also gain an understanding of key documents every business needs and why adding other services and building a team is critical to creating an investment that has value.

It's been quite a journey for all of us in the industry. We've faced numerous challenges like the pandemic, burnout, financial strains, and even internal conflicts within our field. These pressures have not only increased our stress but also made some of us question our career paths. But imagine this: What if a few shifts in our mindset could transform these professional hurdles into powerful opportunities? What if these changes could restore the passion and success we envisioned when we first started? That's the heart of my upcoming talk, 'Mindset Mastery: Turning Professional Challenges into Opportunities in Your Business.' I'll be diving deep into how we can shift our perspectives to foster better relationships with our clients, enhance our job satisfaction, and ultimately boost our earnings. I'm looking forward to exploring these transformative strategies with you.

Join Jacqueline Staab, founder of Darwin's Bee Dogs, as she unveils the remarkable world of conservation detection dogs dedicated to safeguarding bumblebees. Through her personal journey and expertise, Jacqueline will illustrate the pivotal role these canine specialists play in ecological research and conservation efforts. From their unique training methodologies to successful field applications, discover how Darwin's Bee Dogs are uncovering critical data to protect endangered bumblebee species and preserve biodiversity. The presentation will include a captivating Bee Dog demonstration and an interactive Q&A session, offering insights into the future of conservation detection and the ongoing efforts to ensure the sustainability of our natural ecosystems.

The focus of this presentation will be on how Laura entered the dog training industry and built a successful career doing what she loves. She will share insights on how she has helped others, including dogs, clients, and her staff, along the way.

This presentation will be part lecture and part interactive, with handler/dog learning. You will learn how to communicate with your dog without using the leash to direct and control, without speech, and without conflict. Several exercises interspersed with explanatory discussions will build each step of your understanding. Each element will be practiced individually, culminating in putting all the elements together. Several Certified RBT trainers will assist Nelson by engaging with each human/dog pair.

Pet owners frequently report their pet's behavior changes to veterinary staff during appointments, and those changes may be evident during training sessions. This presentation will cover common conditions that may appear to be behavioral in origin when, in fact, they may be occurring due to an underlying medical concern.

Many people feel that they have shared a strong bond with a dog. Science has shown that dogs can also form strong attachment bonds with their human caretakers and handlers. However, there is increasing evidence that not all bonds are created equal. The kind and quality of relationship developed between humans and dogs can have a significant impact on a dog's behavior, wellbeing, and success in homes and in working roles. This talk will provide an overview of attachment theory as it applies to dog-human relationships, as well as some practical ways we can use this knowledge to improve human-dog interactions and raise more confident, resilient dogs.

Play is more than just fun. This presentation dives into just how important play truly is to our dogs, including some of the science behind it and why play is so very beneficial to our dogs. We will also talk about different play types and which KONG toys fit into each.

Dog professionals don't need someone to tell them how to train dogs. Get valuable information and learn how to maintain your passion for training.

2024 IACP Annual Educational Conference Recording for Adam Gibson's Presentation titled "Hands-On Group Training"

Decisions, Decisions... Making the "right" decision, especially when it carries significant weight, can feel overwhelming or even paralyzing. Some people may find the process easier but struggle with the consequences of poorly chosen decisions. Strategic problem-solving is essential, whether in business or in the art of dog training, grooming, and care. In this lecture, students will learn how to make faster, better decisions based on facts and reason. The time spent and stress experienced when considering alternative solutions with uncertain outcomes, while trying to avoid high-risk consequences, can be exhausting. Don't let decision-making paralyze you. Instead, train yourself to make better and faster choices. Join us to explore strategies that will help you reduce stress, improve your service, and make the best decisions for your clients and their dogs.

Marc Goldberg is a dog trainer and author living and working in the Chicago area. Along with the Monks of New Skete, he has coauthored Let Dogs Be Dogs, The Art of Training Your Dog, and The Joy of Playing with Your Dog. Let's talk about how to animate our clients to live, train, play and love with their dogs in ways that lead to a profound relationship. Marc will speak about nuggets he has learned in over 50 years of training dogs. As an exclusive bonus, he also will read a chapter from his upcoming book before its publication.