Clinical Animal Behavior Conference

23/07/2025

A special thanks to our amazing Speaker Chair, Debbie Sykes, for creating our beautiful 2025 Agenda!
Please find all other conference information (ie. location, sponsors, hotel block, etc.) at https://avsab.org/annual-cabc-conference
Early Bird Pricing only available until the end of July!

26/06/2025

Hello CABC Supporters!

We are so excited about our 2025 lineup and we cannot wait to see you all in-person and via live-streaming for another fun and educational, BEHAVIOR FILLED, weekend!

Now SHARE SHARE SHARE!!!

01/06/2025

Hello CABC Supporters!

Its official, Registration for our 2025 conference is now OPEN!!! Register now to take advantage of the early bird special! Please follow the link below to be redirected to our registration page.

15/05/2025

Hello CABC Supporters,

Happy Friday! Here is your May Sophia Yin fun fact:

She wrote the Small Animal Veterinary Nerdbook—a revolutionary handbook for veterinarians. It was the first of its kind.

The Small Animal Veterinary Nerdbook is a helpful resource to support veterinary students, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians throughout their careers. The Small Animal Veterinary Nerdbook is a resource full of essential information for those new to the practice of veterinary medicine, and a valuable reference guide for those who may need an occasional refresher.

13/05/2025

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

Registration will be opening this week! Stay tuned in for this announcement along with details on our early bird discounts!

2025 CABC Meeting

Theme: Expanding Your Behavior Toolkit

Save the Dates: October 17-19 at Anti-Cruelty Society, 157 W Grand Ave. in Chicago, IL.

Our Amazing 2025 Speakers:

Mindy Waite, Ph.D., M.S., CAAB

Kiki Yablon MA, KPA CTP, CPDT-KAKPA Faculty Owner and Trainer

M. Leanne Lilly DVM, DACVB

Monique Feyrecilde, BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior)

Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), CPDT, KPA-CTP

Our 2025 Topics:

Animal Behavioral Interventions: Validated Versus “Science-based” Procedures – Mindy Waite, Ph.D., M.S., CAAB

Applied Animal Behavior Analysis: Terminology, Contributions, and the Future – Mindy Waite, Ph.D., M.S., CAAB

More Than “Management” –Kiki Yablon MA, KPA CTP, CPDT-KAKPA Faculty Owner and Trainer

Upping Your Shaping Game (interactive) – Kiki Yablon MA, KPA CTP, CPDT-KAKPA Faculty
Owner and Trainer

Ins and outs of Feline Elimination Problems – M. Leanne Lilly DVM, DACVB

Beyond the Box- Non Elimination Behavior Problems – M. Leanne Lilly DVM, DACVB

Starting Off on the Right Paw: Behavioral Prevention for Canine Patients (lecture) - Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), CPDT, KPA-CTP

Evidence Based Handling of Felines – M. Leanne Lilly DVM, DACVB

Two part series on just psychopharmacology for cats (Feline Psychopharmacology Meds for Now and Later) – M. Leanne Lilly DVM, DACVB

The Spectrum of Cooperative Veterinary Care – Monique Feyrecilde, BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior) & Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), CPDT, KPA-CTP

The Spectrum of Cooperative Veterinary Care (interactive) – Monique Feyrecilde, BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior) & Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), CPDT, KPA-CTP

Timing Matters: Practical Use of Food (and more) for Cooperative Care- Cooperative – Monique Feyrecilde, BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior)

Bright Ideas: How to Lead Change in Veterinary Practices – Monique Feyrecilde, BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior)

Getting Consent at the Vet: How to Transfer Cooperative Care Training – Jessica Benoit RVT, VTS (Behavior), CPDT, KPA-CTP

Not About The Bling… Cha-Ching! Or is it? – Monique Feyrecilde, BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior)

17/04/2025

Hello CABC Supporters!

I hope you are getting excited, we are SOOO close to announcing our 2025 Speakers & Agenda and opening registration! We cannot wait to share with all of you what we have been working so hard on behind the scenes. The 2025 Conference is definitely going to be one to remember!

With all that said, it is time for your April Sophia Yin fun fact! As many of you know, Dr. Yin was very passionate about what she did so she wore many "hats" during her career. Her Appointments and Positions included but were not limited to:

American Humane Association: Member of the American Humane Advisory Committee on Animal Behavior and Training (2010).

American Association of Feline Practitioners: Committee Member for the Feline Friendly Handling Guidelines Committee (2010).

Santa Barbara Zoo: Behavior consultant (2008).

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: Executive Board Member (2008-2014).

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: Recording Secretary (2006-2008).

Visiting Lecturer, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis: Taught three upper-division undergraduate courses in domestic animal behavior annually: Principles of Domestic Animal Behavior (30 hours), Applied Domestic Animal Behavior (20 hours), and Domestic Animal Behavior Laboratory (30 hours) from 2001 to 2007.

Premier Pet Behavior Consultant (2007-present).

San Francisco Veterinary Specialists: Behavior consultant (2005-2014).

Sophia Yin, DVM Behavior Housecalls Business, Davis, CA (2001-2014).

CattleDog Publishing, President and Owner, Davis, CA (1993-2014).
CVMA Behavior Task Force (2007).

Dr. Yin’s legacy lives on through CattleDog Publishing - The Legacy of Dr. Sophia Yin Publishing®, Low Stress Handling® and the Dr. Sophia Yin Memorial Fund.

27/03/2025

Hello CABC Supporters!

Due to a scheduled posting glitch (and probably a little bit of user error) you were deprived of your March Sophia Yin fun fact! A wrong that we will be righting RIGHT NOW! We will be sure to stay on the previously discussed schedule going forward 😅

Did you know that outside the animal behavior world, Dr. Yin's hobbies included photography, marathon running, and swing dancing! Truly a multi-talented individual!

Are you going to be in the Chicago area October 18th? Well be sure to follow CattleDog Publishing - The Legacy of Dr. Sophia Yin for updates on their annual Sophia Yin Legacy Dinner! They have been working really hard to put this together so it would be great for you to offer them all the love and support they deserve. Also keep in mind that this dinner will be taking place on the weekend of our annual conference, so why not make a full weekend of it!

13/02/2025

Here is another fact about Dr. Sophia Yin!

In addition to her work with dogs and cats, she consulted at several zoos, where she worked with a variety of animals, including giraffes, ostriches, foxes, lemurs, and camels doing training and behavior modification. She also applied her expertise to farm animals, such as horses and chickens.

Stay tuned for details about the dinner that will be hosted in her honor at this year's conference!

13/02/2025

Hello CABC Supporters!

We are back with another Dr. Sophia Yin fun fact!

Dr. Yin was the co-inventor (with Sharper Image) of the Treat & Train Professional Dog Training System. Released in April 2005, it was designed to use positive
reinforcement for training dogs to run to a rug and lie down when visitors arrived at
the door, instead of jumping, barking, or dashing to the door. Development involved
conducting two research experiments, guiding engineers on required features,
product testing, writing an instruction manual, and creating an instructional DVD.

SAVE THE DATE!
Will you be in the Chicago area Saturday, October 18th? Possibly attending the Conference 😉 The Sophia Yin Memorial Fund will be hosting the 2025 Sophia Yin Memorial Dinner to honor Dr. Yin's legacy and contributions to the field of Animal Behavior. Please visit https://vinfoundation.org/dr-sophia-yin-memorial-fund-dinner/ to sign up for updates on the dinner including location, ticket prices, etc.

02/02/2025

Did you know marker based training can be used on anything with a nervous system. With it being Groundhog Day, can you train a groundhog?

Is Punxsutawney Phil always a Phil, never a Phillis? Well, it turns out that the weather forecasting groundhogs are usually males, because they come out of hibernation before the females.

Whether Phil sees his shadow or not on February 2, spring really is on its way!

What are some unique species you have trained?

30/01/2025

Today is National Puzzle Day! Puzzles help keep the brain fluid, enriched and engaged, no matter the age!

You know who else likes to do puzzles?

Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, and so many more species!

A past conference speaker, Allie Bender, wrote a book about Canine Enrichment for the Real World- there are so many ideas to help keep our non-human friends up to their ears in puzzle fun!

Check out the book here:

In the world of dogs, there is now more awareness than ever of the need to provide enrichment, especially in shelters. But what exactly is enrichment? The concept is pretty straightforward: learn what your dog’s needs are, and then structure an environment and routine that allows them to engage i....

12/01/2025

It's Sophia Yin Sunday! We're back with an fact about Dr. Yin- She became interested in behavior as a result of the early positive reinforcement training she did with her dog Max. She wanted to show others that force was not needed and share the joy of having a well-behaved dog.

The Clinical Animal Behavior Conference committee members have been hard at work prepping for the 2025 conference. This year we there will be a Sophia Yin Memorial Dinner on Saturday, after the conference end for the day and the AVSAB meeting has taken place. More details and information will be coming, but make sure to save the date!