Register Now! Canine Science Symposium, San Francisco State University, May 18-19
This year’s symposium topics are diverse, ranging from advanced technical presentations to practical tips for shelter volunteers and pet parents. photo: CSS
Mark your calendars and register now! The Canine Science Symposium returns to San Francisco on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, at San Francisco State University.
Repeatedly ranked one of the Top 10 animal behavior and dog training conferences of the year, this two-day gathering is a must-attend event for behavior consultants, dog trainers, veterinary professionals, and animal shelter staff and volunteers. The symposium also attracts animal behaviorists, scientists, students, and anyone else eager to learn more about canine science and how they can apply this knowledge to their interactions with dogs.
Founded in San Francisco in 2013, the Canine Science Symposium regularly draws attendees from around the world. Now organized by Dr. Lisa Gunter and Dr. Erica Feuerbacher with the Virginia Tech University School of Animal Sciences, the 2024 conference will feature 14 presentations by nationally and internationally recognized scientists. Plenary speakers will be Dr. Zsófia Virányi, Senior Researcher at the Messerli Research Institute at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, and Dr. Rachel Casey, Director of Strategy and Transformation with Dogs Trust in London, England.
As a founder of the Clever Dog Lab and the Wolf Science Center, Dr. Virányi conducts most of her research with dogs and wolves, aiming to better understand the effects of domestication on dogs’ reasoning and social learning abilities, as well as their relationships, communication, and cooperation with humans and members of their own species. Deeply interested in how human and non-human animals differ and compare to each other, Dr. Virányi is passionate about formulating interdisciplinary research questions regarding human-animal cohabitation. She also serves as a module coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Master on Human-Animal Interactions at the Vetmeduni, Vienna.
Before joining Dogs Trust, the U.K.’s largest dog charity, in 2016, Dr. Casey worked in academia for 18 years, primarily at Bristol Veterinary School in England, where she ran a referral clinic and research group. As Director of Canine Behaviour and Research, she headed a team of trainers and behaviorists working with dogs in rehoming centers. She also led the development of several innovative programs, such as Dog School, aimed at preventing problem behaviors for dogs living in homes. In addition, Dr. Casey currently leads a multi-disciplinary research team with projects involving human behavior change, epidemiology, and dog behavior. One of her projects is Generation Pup, a cohort study investigating early life influences on a range of health and behavior outcomes that impact the welfare of dogs.
In addition to Drs. Virányi and Casey, the 2024 symposium lineup includes Dr. Monique Udell with Oregon State University, Dr. Lisa Gunter and Dr. Erica Feuerbacher with Virginia Tech University, Dr. Alexandra Protopopova with the University of British Columbia, Dr. Nathan Hall with Texas Tech University, and Dr. Lindsay Mehrkam with Monmouth University.
This year’s symposium topics are diverse, ranging from advanced technical presentations to practical tips for shelter volunteers and pet parents. Presentations include dogs’ complex relationships with other dogs and people; canine olfaction, including physiology and odor intensity training; behavioral issues owners may experience and barriers to receiving support; how to use preference and assent tests to achieve cooperative care for dogs; shelter interventions to improve canine behavior and welfare while in care; increasing dogs’ resiliency during stressful situations; pet parenting styles; and what it means to be a good pet parent.
Along with these presentations, the Canine Science Symposium will host its second Emerging Scientists Session. A must for up-and-coming canine scientists, this session will share new research with symposium attendees while connecting scientists with shelter and behavior practitioners who can apply their findings and possibly become future collaborators. All undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, veterinary students, and veterinarians conducting empirical research related to companion animal behavior and welfare are encouraged to submit an abstract for this session.
As in years past, the symposium will conclude with an all-speaker roundtable discussion. This provides an opportunity for attendees to pose questions to multiple speakers about similar and conflicting ideas they have discussed across two days of 14 presentations.
The symposium’s organizers strongly believe in the benefits of improved science communication and in bringing individuals together to learn about the latest studies in canine behavior, training, sheltering, and welfare, with the goal of improving the lives of dogs everywhere. For more information about the 2024 Canine Science Symposium, including registration for in-person and Zoom attendance, please visit www.caninesciencesymposium. Discounted registration ends on April 18, 2024, so don’t delay.