Understand Animals

16/09/2025

Low cost, high quality content webinar this Sunday all about using behaviour knowledge to help when grooming dogs

So important

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B7AU7k6Ea/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🐶✨ We’re turning big conference talks into real-life grooming tips!

Back in July, I attended the incredible Animal Behaviour Kent Conference — packed with amazing talks from behaviourists, vets and trainers. There were representatives from all across the pet industry, but can you believe there were only four groomers in the room?!
So much of what we learned applies directly to grooming… both at home and in the salon.

We’re on a mission to get more pet owners and groomers understanding why behaviour and grooming go hand in hand. So this Sunday (21st Sept), we’re running an online webinar where we’ll break down some of the key presentations and show how they can be put into practice for the grooming environment.

✨ I’ll be sharing how I use Sarah Fisher’s Free Work in my salon — a brilliant way of helping dogs settle, build confidence and create a positive experience from the very first visit.
✨ You’ll also hear from Sue Williamson, Victoria Shepherd, Cheryl McCauley and our guest Andy Hale, covering everything from recognising pain and discomfort to handling resource guarding and reducing stress.

📅 Sunday 21st Sept | 11am–5pm
🎟️ £25 (recorded if you can’t join live)
👉 Book here: https://www.takingthegrrr.co.uk/courses/wewereinthegroom

Whether you’re a dog owner wanting to make home grooming calmer, or a professional groomer wanting to expand your toolkit, this is going to be packed with insights you can actually use. 🐕💛

12/09/2025

Early bird offer for next year’s CONFERENCE BY THE SEA March 30/31st
Hosted by Pet Remedy

I am thrilled to be speaking at this conference in Devon UK on the 30th and 31st March. There will be a brand-new format, giving you a more immersive and connected learning experience as well as offering more time for social networking. I can also offer you an extra £10 off the early price- just use code ewac70 at the checkout.
There is also a deposit now, pay later option. I really hope you will come and join me in the wonderful location of the Devon seaside for an exploration of emotional wellbeing.

The conference will be held at the 4-star Imperial Hotel in Torquay Devon. The hotel has stunning views across the bay of Torbay and is a short walk to the famous Torquay Harbour area. With excellent transport links via road and rail, Torquay is an easy destination to get to. If you are an overseas delegate, you can get flights into Exeter which is about 40minutes away from the venue. We are happy to help with any transport questions.
Our Speaker Line-Up Includes:
Dr. Robert Falconer-Taylor
Dr. Amber Batson
Chloe Scoones
Daniel Shaw
Sarah Fisher
Victoria Stilwell
And me, Andrew Hale
We’re excited to bring you a brand-new conference format that offers a more immersive, connected learning experience—with more time for social networking.

Option One – Residential Ticket
Includes:
Accommodation at the Imperial Hotel for the nights of 29th & 30th March
Breakfast and lunch on the 30th and 31st
A special 3-course Gala Dinner on the evening of 30th March just for residential ticket holders
Full access to the conference on 30th and 31st March
Access to the online event and recordings

All this for just £490! using code ‘earlybird26’
Normal price £550
Enter the code at basket/checkout to get discount
Your only other cost is travel to the venue—everything else is included 😊
Purchase Residential Tickets

Option Two – Conference-Only Ticket
(Perfect for those local to the area or arranging their own accommodation)
Includes:
Access to both days of the conference (30th and 31st March)
2-course lunch on both days
Teas, coffees, and snacks throughout
Access to the online event and all recordings

Just £230 using code ‘earlybird26’
Normal price £290
Enter the code at basket/checkout to get discount
Purchase Conference-Only Tickets
Deposit & pay later available
Accessibility
The conference venue is fully accessible. The hotel has limited accessible rooms available so please let us know straight away if you will be in need of one so we can ensure the hotel are able to meet your needs.

For those wanting to find their own accommodation there are several Premier Inns and Travel Lodges in Torquay and you can find more information about accommodation and the local area here :https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/accommodation

Do not miss out on this incredible deal!

We truly hope you’ll join us!

Amber Batson, Andrew Hale and Pet Remedy

https://petremedy.co.uk/ewac26/

The very first Live Pet Remedy Emotional Wellbeing in Animals Conference 2026, taking place on March 30th and 31st in Torquay, Devon.

11/09/2025

It’s been a brilliant 5 days down in Devon presenting an in person Aggression in Dogs for professionals course.

A wonderful group of attendees.

Lovely venue. Fabulous host Sunshine Canine (Anna Richardson)

Very grateful for everyone’s participation

Let’s collaborate to help people help their dogs 😊

04/09/2025

ONE WEEK LEFT FOR EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!

Really excited to be creating this 6 part online course to discuss the links between dog behaviour and disease starting in November. Early bird discount finishes 10th September.

Aimed at canine professionals (vets, vet nurses, behaviourists, trainers), this series will consider the science of psychoneuroimmunology and why appreciating the intricate links between health and behaviour matters when supporting clients. We start off with webinar 1 looking at these connections, and then the next 4 webinars take a body system / set of diseases (gut, skin, neurological and endocrine) to look at the up to date science on what we know about links to behaviours of the dog. Each webinar will look at the variety of symptoms that can be linked to certain diseases, how to help dog caregivers make targeted observations of their dog to collect useful information and present it in a way that assists their vet in considering certain diagnoses as well as monitoring responses to any treatment. These webinars may also be useful to dog caregivers or owners who are living with dogs with chronic disease and or behaviour issues.

The final webinar follows case studies where disease has been part of the behaviour issue.

We have seen a substantial increase in new scientific research on certain diseases and links to behaviour issues in dogs and other companion animals in the last few years, and Understand Animals have always been dedicated to help bring awareness of new research and for it to be used in a practical way to optimally support animals and their people.

Really looking forward to it.

fans

https://noseybarker.co.uk/in-sickness-and-in-health?fbclid=IwY2xjawMmVA1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHjtj4Pxr_2ffKmS9G7z2D0AjChd6ZyOTD1ZDIUC73U7YXW0SZFUqn3h0GoNS_aem_l28nVj_8MU6auANiwa0ecA -IqRhiQgQ7OL

02/09/2025

Do you wish you or your friends / family / colleagues could understand horses better?
Did you know you can watch a FREE short webinar on this offered by the excellent Nicky Ross?

Here is the link
https://www.horseplayhighlands.com/masterclass

and you may also be interested in her business Horse Play's Pocket Equine Ethologist's new field guide with its introductory offer at only £15 !!!

https://www.horseplayhighlands.com/the-pocket-equine-ethologist

Stop guessing what your horse is thinking. This condensed field guide gives you the essential tools to decode your horse's behaviour using proven scientific methods.

19/08/2025

This last year has seen a substantial rise in research and review articles looking at the role of the gut bug population in dogs in relation to their behaviour

This new review article by Crisante 2025 provides some good consideration
Alongside some new research looking at dogs and aggression tendencies in relation to gut bugs.

I m really looking forward to delving into this fresh science as part of my 5 day Aggression in dogs for Professionals course in Devon in just a few weeks time - there are still a couple of places available if there is interest - more info in this link

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Av191yZ1B/?mibextid=wwXIfr

References for 3 new science papers on this topic:

Crisante, A., Newberry, F., Clegg, S.R., Mitchell, G.L., Pike, T.W., Ratcliffe, V., Spain, A., Wilkinson, A., Zulch, H. and Mills, D.S., 2025. A critical review of research concerning the gut microbiome in dogs and its relationship with behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, p.106755

Pellowe, S.D., Zhang, A., Bignell, D.R., Peña-Castillo, L. and Walsh, C.J., 2025. Gut microbiota composition is related to anxiety and aggression scores in companion dogs. Scientific Reports, 15(1), p.24336.

Sun, N., Xie, L., Chao, J., Xiu, F., Zhai, H., Zhou, Y., Yu, X. and Shui, Y., 2025. Study on the Correlation Between Aggressive Behavior and Gut Microbiota and Serum Serotonin (5-HT) in Working Dogs. Veterinary Sciences, 12(6), p.526.

16/08/2025

Next Sunday. Tom brings phenomenal practical experience to any discussion around tricky environments …

https://www.facebook.com/share/16mxJycw5b/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In this powerful session, behaviorist Tom Candy shares how to adapt your behavior modification strategies to fit real-world limitations—without sacrificing progress or welfare.

14/08/2025

As canine professionals or caregivers, how might we appreciate the links between disease and behaviour so that we can recognise when a behaviour concern may need medical consideration instead of, or alongside environmental modification and training?

How might we collect information effectively to take to the vet and help them appreciate our concerns and be better placed to start any diagnostic process if appropriate?

We really hope this new, science based online series will help
Lots more detail in the link

6-part online course exploring how medical conditions influence dog behaviour. Covers the gut-brain axis, pain, hormonal imbalances, skin issues, and more...

12/08/2025

Equine enrichment

As we hit another super hot day in the UK today, our pony paddocks and tracks continue to be dust bowls.
To encourage low calorie forage and plenty of movement, whilst providing choices on substrates, shelter and temperature options, we do twice daily scatter activities
Grate adventure - grated veg mixed in handfuls of straw out in paddock
Leaf it alone? Scattered willow or hazel leaves across the paddock
Small handfuls of straw chaff placed in various locations
Flavoured flour based paste on logs and old wellies dotted around
Bit bobbing: matchstick pieces of apple or pieces of cauliflower floret with a few hazel leaves in water buckets dotted about

This morning they had
Grate adventure with cabbage gratings
Hazel leaves scattered
Bit bobbing of apple matchsticks and hazel leaves
Lickimats of soaked fibre nuts with small amount apple pulp (from home made apple juice leftovers)
Peppermint water in hanging bottles
And a new sound experience: Sci Fi sound effects on the speaker (placed in a corner on the yard area they can easily move away from)

Fabulous to see this chapter all about enrichment in the new Equine Welfare in Clinical Practice book

Ellis, A.D. and Hall, C., 2025. Environmental enrichment. In Equine Welfare in Clinical Practice (pp. 169-194). Academic Press.

11/08/2025

If you are interested in deep diving and increasing your up to date knowledge of pain in cats and dogs ... then you may be interested in reading this recent review piece by Pederson and colleagues.

The paper concludes by mentioning the bidirectional relationship between stress, anxiety, and pain, where the authors explain how stress can amplify pain perception, and that this can lead to ongoing pain, increasing stress and anxiety.
They also briefly discuss how chronic pain can increase other emotional change such as frustration.

Understand Animals continues to believe that it is not possible to separate the emotional and sensory experience of an individual from their underlying health and therefore fully support the final recommendation in this paper that as pain is also an emotional experience as well as a sensory one, limiting negative emotion and promoting positive emotions should be considered as multimodal component when treating veterinary patients.

Pedersen, T.R., Berendt, M. and Rusbridge, C., 2025. Neuroanatomy of spinal nociception and pain in dogs and cats: a practical review for the veterinary clinician. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12, p.1534685.

20/07/2025

This will be brilliant
Tom Candy is an excellent speaker with so much practical shelter experience and a dog centred approach

Note time is 4pm EST which is 9pm GMT+1

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19F9KG3dE4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Are you looking to better understand what dogs in your care are feeling and how those emotions affect their welfare?

Join me for a fascinating new webinar, "Welfare Starts Within: Emotions, Stress & Shelter Life," featuring Tom Candy of Simplifying Shelter Behaviour.

📆 Monday, July 28th at 4:00 PM EST

In this session, we will explore how understanding the emotional states of shelter dogs can improve both welfare outcomes and behavior support strategies. Drawing on a multi-dimensional model of emotion assessment, Tom will help attendees go beyond surface behavior to better recognize what dogs are experiencing on the inside.

As both a certified behaviorist and passionate educator, Tom brings a global perspective and a heart for shelter work. Register now and join us to deepen your understanding of canine emotion and take your behavior lens to the next level.

Register at: https://laurielawless.com/lawless-off-leash

And yes, the replay will be available to all registrants… even if you can’t make it live 🐾