Schedule

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel while vendor tables and posters are set up in the Slate.

With IWDA President Karen Overall and Matthew Bottomley as Chair of the Local Organising Committee.

Presented by Michelle Van Lienden of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. The gut microbiome is the ecosystem of microbes that live in the intestines. It contains diverse bacteria that are mostly anaerobic. The microbiome plays a symbiotic, complex and vital role in the digestive processes that take place within the gastrointestinal system. Multimodal treatment with diet, psyllium, corticosteroids, and FMT can be used successfully to treat chronic diarrhea, resulting in resolution of clinical signs, recovery of digestive function, and a return of the microbiome to a healthy state. During the presentation I will discuss: · Causes and predisposing factors for diarrhoea​ · Normal gut anatomy and function​ · Dysbiosis and Dysbiosis Index​ · Impact of antibiotics on the microbiome​ · Multimodal treatment of diarrhoea - diets and supportive treatments

Presented by Madeleine Goumas of Guide Dogs UK, Diarrhoea is a relatively common health condition in young puppies, particularly when transitioning to new environments. While many cases of diarrhoea are mild and short-lived, puppies’ health and wellbeing can be severely compromised when cases are chronic or acute. It is therefore important for assistance dog organisations to monitor diarrhoea early in life and through the transition from nest to puppy raiser, with the aim of reducing the number and severity of cases. Previous studies have suggested that the administration of synbiotics (a combination of probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that naturally colonise the gut, and prebiotics, which are types of fibre that nourish these bacteria) could reduce the occurrence of diarrhoea, but evidence is limited. In this study, the effectiveness of a synbiotic was assessed using a triple-blind randomised controlled trial.

Presented by Sam Gaines. Head of Companion Animals at the RSPCA Welfare i.e. the physical and mental health of an animal is closely linked with performance and working ability. Studies of assistance dogs have shown that high levels of stress leads to failure and research using military working dogs has found similar links between elevated stress and poor performance. Working dogs are both valuable and of value so it makes good economic sense that they are happy and healthy. However, there are other reasons as to why welfare is important including our moral duty to do what is right, the public’s perception of how we treat animals, our legal duty and the increasing understanding around animal sentience i.e. the capacity to experience positive and negative feelings and that these feelings matter to animals. This presentation will provide attendees with a contemporary and evidence based understanding of animal welfare, introducing ideas about how we can meet the welfare needs of working dogs. In particular, the behavioural and social needs of working dogs will be looked at in detail and how we can influence these through our choices of training methods and interactions.

Presented by Mia Cobb from The University of Melbourne (Australia). The disconnect between human assumptions about dog welfare and what dogs demonstrably prefer creates significant challenges for working dog programs. Research reveals that the perceived welfare varies dramatically across contexts—with some working dogs rated highly despite sharing similar lives to others that are rated poorly. This presentation examines how stakeholder beliefs about kennelled dogs directly influence care practices, revealing several factors can create systematic differences in welfare priorities. Contemporary animal welfare science offers a framework for bridging this perception gap by focusing on dogs' agency, competence-building, and behavioural preferences alongside traditional health metrics. Transparent welfare assurance grounded in this evidence-based approach is increasingly critical for maintaining social license to operate for working dog programs, as community expectations and regulatory requirements evolve to reflect the recognition of animal sentience. By applying the Five Domains model and examining what dogs actively seek when given opportunities for choice and control, working dog operators can better align practices with both emerging science and public expectations, leading to more sustainable working dog industries.

With the Rt. Hon. The Countess Bathurst

Presented by Caroline Burke - Royal Canin. Caroline qualified as a Registered Vet Nurse from the University of Bristol in 2008. She joined Royal Canin in 2012 as a Veterinary Business Manager covering London. Caroline has subsequently worked as a Weight Management Specialist, Scientific Communications Manager and Regulatory Affairs Manager (from January - July 2023 and January - July 2025). Caroline completed a Nurse Certificate in Small Animal Nutrition in 2021

Presented by Nicola Rooney of University of Bristol. We have long known that dogs can tell when a person or their handler is stressed. However, our team have recently explored both whether they can distinguish using remote odour samples alone and importantly whether smelling stress impacts a dog’s cognitive and emotional state. Eighteen dogs each participated in three cognitive bias sessions: baseline (no odour), stress odour and relax odour, with the order of the two test odours counterbalanced across dogs. The odours were combined breath and sweat samples from three volunteers showing measurable stress responses during a stress test compared to a relaxing activity. We found that dogs were significantly less likely to approach an ambiguous (near negative) location in the presence of stress odour. They were also significantly less likely to approach the trained unrewarded (negative) location and more likely to approach the rewarded (positive) location in the presence of both human odours. Learning over sessions and the order in which odours were presented also had significant effects, with the combination of stress odour and the last testing session having the greatest effect. This is the first study to show that in the absence of visual or auditory cues, olfactory cues of stress from an unfamiliar person may affect dogs’ cognition and learning. This could have important consequences for dog welfare and performance, and implications for the way we train working dogs. We also conducted a further study on 58 medical detection dogs and found that difference in dog’s performance at their working role were significantly correlated with their responses in the same judgement bias test. Dogs showing optimistic responses in the test tended to perform better as medical assistance dogs, whilst those showing more pessimistic choices tended to show greatest specificity. Together these studies (and others we will also discuss) suggest that judgment biases maybe be important predictors to working dog performance, and human stress may impact these biases and consequently dog performance and welfare.

Onsite lunch and poster exhibition.

Presented by Katy Evans of The Seeing Eye, Inc. Over a 23 year period, 11 litters were born in a guide dog breeding program in which one or more puppies developed characteristic respiratory clinical signs around 2 weeks of age. These included nasal discharge, chronic rhinitis and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections which sometimes progressed to bronchopneumonia. Mycoplasma cynos was often found on culture, but no primary diagnosis was determined until early 2023 by electron microscopy. Nasal biopsy samples from one affected dog revealed changes suggestive of primary ciliary dyskinesia. In-house pedigree analysis revealed a likely autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, tracing back to one common ancestor. Genome-wide association studies of 8 cases and 20 case-related control dogs revealed a single significantly associated region on canine chromosome 2. This region encompasses the SPAG6 (sperm-associated antigen 6) gene which has been suggested to play a role in ciliary dyskinesia in mouse knockout studies as well as being proposed as a mechanism in humans. A ‘risk haplotype’ of strongly associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was also identified. All the cases were homozygous for the risk haplotype. This enabled more accurate identification of carriers in our breeding program. Identification of carriers based on pedigree analysis, then risk haplotype, has allowed successful avoidance of producing more affected puppies. Whole genome sequencing of several known cases, parents of cases, unaffected littermates and unaffected unrelated dogs is currently underway to determine a causative mutation. We are hopeful that this may have been completed by June 2025. This presentation will discuss how, through partnership with research collaborators at Cornell University, we were able to very quickly stop producing affected puppies once it had been recognized as an inherited condition. It will be of particular interest to any organization breeding Labrador Retrievers. We have temporarily paused sharing Labrador/cross germplasm, until the genetic investigation is complete.

Presented by Marty Roache & Angel Landrau. This study examines the rehabilitation of Daniel, a 5-year 11-month-old male neutered Belgian Malinois with a documented history of anxiety and severe defensive aggression, serving as an Operational Department of Defense (DoD) Military Working Dog. Despite training in narcotics detection, Daniel's aggressive behavior led to multiple severe bites on three handlers, resulting in his reassignment and subsequent lack of operational engagement since November 2022. The primary objective was to explore the efficacy of a multidisciplinary approach in addressing Daniel's behavioral issues, emphasizing the collaboration between a veterinary behavior consultant and a military working dog trainer. Through a comprehensive methodology that included behavioral assessment, diagnostic evaluations, and tailored treatment plans, the study highlights the critical role of integrating diverse expertise in canine behavior modification. Key findings indicate that such a team approach significantly enhances the likelihood of achieving positive behavioral outcomes, transforming Daniel from a liability into an asset for law enforcement operations. This research underscores the importance of specialized intervention strategies in managing complex canine behavior cases, advocating for systemic changes in the training and rehabilitation processes of military working dogs. The insights gained from Daniel's case may serve as a valuable resource for canine handlers, behaviorists, and military organizations seeking effective solutions for aggressive behavior in working dogs.

Presented by Dr Jenna Kiddie of the Dogs Trust Dr Jenna Kiddie represents The Canine Behaviour Team at Dogs Trust. The Canine Behaviour Team works with dog professionals, to enable and empower them to provide high-welfare and evidence-led services to dogs in their care and communities. Their messaging is informed by research and aims to promote positive dog behaviour and welfare, as well as protecting human safety. The Canine Behaviour Team have already delivered training to the police, Border Force, fire and rescue, Animal Welfare Scheme Independent Visitors, Local Authorities and boarding establishments, on a range of topics relating to dog behaviour, training, housing, husbandry and welfare. They offer bespoke in person and online training, as well as additional consultancy and support services. In 2024, the Canine Behaviour Team delivered 113 sessions to 2,140 individuals. Furthermore, the Canine Behaviour Team launched Dogs Trust Campus in 2024 - an interactive, online learning platform. So far, the team have uploaded 20 courses for the police and other public safety and enforcement agencies, who work with and care for working dogs. Course topics include Behaviour and Welfare Assessments, Handling in Kennels, Dog to Dog Interactions, Setting Puppies up for Success, What Dogs Need, and Training for Retirement. So far 425 individuals have signed up to Dogs Trust Campus, with 1710 course enrolments. The Canine Behaviour Team also developed online courses which have been accessed by over 300 OK9 Wellbeing and Trauma Support Dog handlers. They recently delivered bespoke Behaviour Champion Training and presented at the OK9 conference in December. The Canine Behaviour Team is made up of passionate, knowledgeable individuals with varied backgrounds and a wealth of experience in animal welfare, behaviour, research and teaching.

Presented by Erin Perry of Southern Illinois University. Working dogs have unique dietary needs. Increased protein and calorie requirements coupled with increased propensities for gastrointestinal distress create a challenge for many handlers. Recent research has investigated methods for feeding management including the use of rotational ingredients, fiber and varying meal sizes. Proponents of rotational feeding suggest that it may prevent food boredom and enhance dietary interaction. However, little is known about the impact of this feeding strategy on the health of the gastrointestinal tract. This presentation will share evidence related to the benefits of rotational feeding including impacts on inflammatory biomarkers, changes in beneficial microbiota and resulting impacts to gastrointestinal stability. Additionally, data will also be presented on recent research related to the use of fiber as a preventative measure for potential gastrointestinal stress. Finally, we will explore varying meal sizes in working dogs. Authors will share data related to distractibility, focus, energy lag and gastrointestinal hormones associated with hunger and satiety. These data will help to inform handler choices on the latest research related to managing the dietary needs of working dogs beyond simple calorie and protein increases.

Presented by Andrea Henderson of DoDMWDVS. Human physical therapists and sports medicine practitioners rely heavily on functional assessments for baseline evaluation and as criteria for fitness and for return to sport in human patients and athletes. However, functional assessments are limited in development and underutilized in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation. The author’s group developed a functional assessment intended for Military Working Dogs, based on their required performance parameters, and comprised of tasks for which reported dysfunction was observed specifically for dogs with lumbosacral pain (Henderson et al 2014). As our understanding of the mechanics of movement improves with varying sources of pain and injury, we should develop and refine tests to isolate and localize the specific causes of dysfunction in coordination with neuromusculoskeletal exam findings. Some positions or transitions can potentially differentiate between sources of pain and injury based on the specific postures adopted. The authors have developed a Foundational Functional Assessment for Military Working Dogs for experienced handlers and trainers (attached) to identify the dogs' fitness for duty on a regular basis, and a version for veterinarians to incorporate into their semi-annual physical exams. As MWDs tend to be very stoic for examinations, and their drive may override pain during certain aspects of work and training, a standardized functional assessment may be the best means of identifying sources of pain and injury to facilitate early intervention. Functional assessments are essential indicators of capability to perform in and, after injury, return to work and sport in human athletes, and should be considered in working and sporting dogs as well. Further research, development and refinement of veterinary functional assessments are needed, with the goals of identifying early signs of neuromusculoskeletal disease and mitigating risk of re-injury. Attention should be given to the dog's specific duty, particular tissues and associated mechanics involved, and a potential neuroplasticity element to optimize these critical outcome measures.

Presented by Lyndsay Sielski of USAR and UK ISAR. On 6 February 2023, a series of devastating earthquakes struck Türkiye and Syria, claiming over 55,000 lives. The disaster affected an estimated 8.8 million people, with at least 230,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. In response, the UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team was deployed on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Within 48 hours, a team of 76 personnel -including search and rescue specialists from 14 fire and rescue services, medics, engineers, and vets -arrived in Gaziantep to support life-saving operations. Among them were four highly trained urban search and rescue dogs, playing a critical tasking to locating survivors trapped beneath the rubble. These dogs worked tirelessly, detecting live human scent, and assisting rescue teams in clearing search areas. Their efforts highlighted the invaluable contribution of canine teams in disaster response. In this presentation, Lindsay Sielski BEM will provide a firsthand account of the team's mission, the challenges faced in such an extreme environment, and the emotional toll of working amidst devastation. She will also reflect on the resilience and generosity of the Turkish people, whose humanity left a lasting impact even in the darkest of times.

Enjoy a delicious catered BBQ on the lawns outside the venue (if weather is inclement, contingencies are in place to host indoors)