Perspective: 2018 IAABC Boston Conference Business and Cat Tracks
Here are a few of my thoughts on what I learned and what I intend to implement from the business track on Friday and the cat track on Saturday at the 2018 IAABC Conference in Boston. Since learning theory applies to all species, I greatly enjoyed information from the dog track too!
Friday
Building Your Business Your Way – You Can Build a Consulting Business! by Jill Hourihan
I had intended to sit in on only Part 1 of “Building Your Business Your Way,” but Jill Hourihan had me hooked. Part 1 flowed seamlessly into Part 2, with Jill’s bubbly personality, upbeat music, and clear direction to have us walk away with a marketing strategy in hand.
To start, we filled out exercise sheets identifying SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with our business and our competitors’ businesses. These lists included both internal, external, favorable, and unfavorable factors affecting our day-to-day business activities. I am very uncomfortable doing these types of exercises, but with Jill playing upbeat motivational music, I could not help but enjoy the experience. As one person after another in the room shared their ideas, a nice buzz of creativity flowed. Why examine perceived weaknesses and threats? As Jill expressed, “Do we ignore a leaky roof, or fix it?” Identifying our less favorable qualities allows us to change them for our benefit. The group brainstormed over where potential clients could be found. Lastly, we created customer avatars so we can be clear on who we are trying to reach in our marketing strategy.
In “Building Your Business Your Way, Part 2,” we took a quick quiz to see what our personality type is, either introvert or extrovert. Why does it matter? Personality type plays a role in knowing what fills our emotional bucket and in capitalizing on our natural strengths when marketing our business. Next, we worked through questions until we had one marketing method along with the steps needed to make it a reality. Lastly, introverts and extroverts in the room paired up so that the strength of one could boost the perceived weakness of the other, bringing each one’s marketing plan alive. I was pleasantly surprised how beneficial it was seeing my marketing challenges from another’s perspective, and perhaps becoming business buddies. I walked away with a specific plan for building my business!
Saturday
Nutrients and the Gut Microbe Biome Influences on Behavior by Lore Haug, DVM
Having a bachelor of science degree in medical technology, I get very excited about being a poop detective. Lore Haug, DVM, not only explained the beneficial function of the gut microbiome, she also artfully detailed the intestinal anatomy at the cellular level. It soon became clear that the gut-brain axis, which is the biochemical communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain, has an influential role on health. Interesting points were made about chronic stress changing the gastrointestinal microflora, increasing intestinal permeability and allowing pathogens to colonize. Prebiotics—non-digestible fiber—are nutrients consumed by probiotics in the gut, producing the short chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate and butyrate. These SCFAs in turn positively effect memory and mood. A relationship exists between having a variety of species-specific gastrointestinal microbiota, having a healthy diet, and reducing disease such as irritable bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, obesity, cancer, inflammation, depression, and anxiety.
Now I understand why animals affected by stressful situations, such as the absence of their owner on vacation, can have better health from consuming prebiotics and probiotics. I came away from this seminar wanting to encourage all to examine the benefits of using prebiotics and probiotics daily.
Feline Human-Directed Aggression by Lore Haug, DVM
As Lore Haug, DVM, pointed out, there are numerous reasons for increased aggression in felines. It could be due to genetics, perinatal environmental challenges, lack of socialization during a critical age, or perhaps environmental influences, including loss of innate behavioral choices or the changing role of cats as the target of owner affection. In multi-cat homes, competition for resources could occur. Some owners lack knowledge of feline body language, missing cues of increased irritation. Aggression can result in serious injury. Resolving these issues helps improve the owner-cat bond, with the hope of avoiding euthanasia.
Dr. Haug skillfully walked us through the feline case study, Ruby, using the ABCs of applied behavior analysis (ABA). She covered the A, antecedent, B, behavior, and C, consequence. Important components of recommendations include medical evaluation, addressing behavioral and physical needs of the cat, and educating the client about feline body language and normal behavior. Following the hierarchy of interventions, Dr. Haug suggests the following:
- Control the environment
- Improve the bond between owner and cat
- Make the desirable behavior easy (and the undesirable behavior hard to perform)
- Find non-confrontational solutions to the problem
- Eliminate punishment
- Choose a substitute behavior that serves the same function for the cat if possible
I enjoyed the details Dr. Haug shared relating to enrichment, safety, training, and use of medication. The overall presentation was excellent. I hope it will be available to view on the IAABC.org website. When helping clients address feline human directed aggression, I will continue to use ABA, as well as remember to relate the importance of providing multiple hiding places to reduce anxiety in cats.
Final thoughts
This was the first IAABC conference I have been able to attend. I was not disappointed. The professional credentials of the speakers with many years of experience built my confidence that we received high quality, science-based information. I was pleasantly surprised at the positive energy flowing in each room as speakers walked us through case studies, encouraging the audience to share their impressions. Fun opportunities to socialize and network were also a delight. I would recommend the IAABC conference to anyone wanting to learn more about animal behavior, whether they are a novice or have many years of experience working with animals. I look forward to attending the conference next year.
Victoria Blais, a feline behavior and training specialist, is owner of Clever Cats Livonia LLC. Having a bachelor of science in medical technology, Victoria continues to build on her knowledge to help cats be happy and healthy through client education and improvement of the human-animal bond. Victoria is a certified Fear Free Professional, level 3, a supporting member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Cat Division, and a feline training professional member of The Pet Professional Guild. When volunteering at The Michigan Humane Society, Berman Center, she incorporates clicker training and enrichment to build confidence in cats, so they can woo their future adopter.
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Mike is an emerging animal behaviorist sitting in Minnesota in the US. He carries an MSc in social science research methods (U. of Kentucky) and brings a passion for understanding how the methods we favor shape the knowledge we privilege. Coming from careers in teaching and non-profit program evaluation, he found companion animal behavior by accident helping anxious feline friends in a unique shelter in Ohio. It is a privilege and a joy to combine these and advance the journal in this exciting time of growth.
Alexandra is a certified dog behavior consultant and holds a PhD in neuroscience. She has spent over a decade in academic research and is author of numerous scientific articles on different aspects of brain development, including olfaction, neurogenesis, and memory formation. Her work as a behavior consultant focuses on creating trusting relationships between humans and their dogs through communication, respect, and science-based knowledge. Alexandra is very dedicated to promoting more science within the dog training world. She supports dog guardians and professionals to build a solid understanding of scientific principles and provides guidance on how to apply these to life with dogs. She runs Canine Mindscape in Alicante, Spain.
I’m an Argentinean-Italian dog trainer and CSAT who spent eight amazing years in Brazil learning and working with dogs. Now based in Europe, I volunteer with the IAABC as a translator and, in my free time, help rehomed dogs settle into their new families. I love bridging languages—and hearts—between people and their dogs.
I’m a translator, editor and journalist, as well as canine educator for children and families, specialized in canine body language. I am part of the IAABC Family since 2019, as Language Director at the IAABC and Translators Team Lead at the IAABC Foundation, at the moment. I volunteer at local shelters and promote bite prevention and animal welfare at schools and events all over my country, Uruguay.
I’m a Chilean veterinarian and certified dog trainer, based in Madrid and working at a veterinary clinic. I’ve been volunteering with the IAABC and the IAABC Foundation for over seven years. In my free time, I help dogs and their guardians strengthen their bond, and I love spending quality time with my own dogs.
Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences, with a strong interest in environmental sustainability and the protection of natural ecosystems. Passionate about writing and science communication, she collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on research projects, such as Equine International, and with non-profit initiatives in the environmental and cultural fields. She is writing for different magazines, including IAABC Foundation. Her major goal is to improve horse’s welfare through behaviour research and empirical practice.
Adrienne Hovey is the copy editor for the IAABC Foundation journal and the owner of 
I believe that knowledge from a wide range of disciplines fosters a more empathetic, curious, and engaging world. I am passionate about social, environmental, and minority rights issues (both human and non-human), and this has invariably led me down the road of multi-species anthropology. Perpetually curious about the world we live in, I hope to contribute towards making the world a kinder place for all of us earthlings to live on!
Beckie Wheldon is based in England, UK, and has been supporting the IAABC Foundation Journal team as a volunteer journal content editor since early 2025. She has a BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare, and has recently completed a MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour. With a passion for both practical and theory, Beckie is proud to be a part of the journal submission journey and support the process of applied animal behaviour information and research getting from our writers to the readers. As her full-time career, Beckie is currently part of the UK veterinary charity, PDSA, as a Learning and Development Business Partner for Veterinary, where she supports the professional development of people in their Veterinary Hospitals. Her last position was with the rescue charity, Dogs Trust, as a Canine Behavioural Welfare Manager, where she worked on embedding evidence-based behavioural welfare best practices throughout policy and practices, with both internal and external professional stakeholders, such as the police and military. With a varied background in kennels, caregiver education, and charity dog training classes, Beckie is also an accredited Animal Training Instructor (APDT UK) and an Associate Clinical Animal Behaviourist (APBC).
Erin Jones, PhD, IAABC-ADT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, CANZ-ATI, CANZ-ABC, is the Journal Director of the IAABC Foundation Journal. She holds a PhD in Human–Animal Studies, an MSc in Anthrozoology, a PG Dip in Animal Welfare, and a BSc (Hons) in Anthropology and Psychology. An international presenter, editor, writer and mentor, Erin’s writing bridges research and practice with a focus on the intersection of philosophy, ethics and dog-centered behaviour practice. She is the author of Constructing Canine Consent and co-editor of Topics in Non/Human Coexistence and numerous academic and trade journal publications.