Building the Bond: From Communication to Connection
One-Day Online March 21, 2026 from 9am-5pm PT
Presenters: Amy Cook Phd, Aleks Woodroffe, Crystal Wing, Denise Fenzi, Erin Lynes, Kim Palermo
Additional Guest Panelists - TBA
Join us from the comfort of your living room! If you cannot attend live the conference content will be available in your student library.
Tickets $89. Registration opens February 17th!
CEUs for CPDT and IAABC - pending
Click Here to Apply for a Scholarship (applications open February 17th)
Conference Schedule
ODS01: 9am - Build Opt-In by Using Opt-Out Stations
Discover how Opt-Out Stations will improve your bond with your dog with Kim Palermo! Allowing your dog to opt out from a training session or an activity can build motivation, ...
Kim Palermo (Faculty)
ODS02: 9am - Listening First - Where the Bond Begins!
Before marker systems, before training plans, before we ever ask for performance, there is a quieter exchange happening. Our dogs are constantly telling us how they feel, what...
Amy Cook, PhD (Faculty)
ODS03: 11am - Going Beyond Massage: Using Touch to Connect and Build Trust
Touch can be more than just a physical act; it is a also a language of communication. Join Aleks as she explores how integrating intentional touch into your daily routine can ...
Aleks Woodroffe (Guest Instructors)
ODS04: 11am - Follow the Joy!
We often start with breed. Herding dogs herd. Retrievers retrieve. Protection dogs bite. Hounds sniff. And yes, genetics matter. Function shaped form. Dogs were developed to d...
Crystal Wing (Faculty)
ODS05: 1pm - Panel Discussion - The Bond in Public with Aleks Woodroffe, Amy Cook, Kim Palermo & TBA
It’s easy to feel connected in the quiet of your home, but what happens when the front door opens? Between people, dogs, competition goals, and the unpredictable nature of the...
Various Instructors (Guest Presentations )
ODS06: 2pm - Belonging: Building Bonds in a Multi-Dog Household
When you bring home a new dog, you’re not only interested in helping them bond with you and your human family members, you’re also thinking about how they will fit in among yo...
Erin Lynes (Faculty)
ODS07: 2pm - Developing A Confident Team: Re-Defining Leadership for Dog Sports and Life
Are you a leader?Leaders provide a clear path to success for their dogs. They don’t allow them to flounder in uncertainty or emotional distress. They stay engaged in their dog...
Denise Fenzi (Faculty)
ODS08: 4pm - Panel Discussion - Balancing the Bank with Denise Fenzi, Erin Lynes, Crystal Wing
Every interaction with our dogs is a balance. We are either making a "deposit" through play, choice, and shared joy, or we are making a "withdrawal" when we ask for hard work,...
Various Instructors (Guest Presentations )
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Building the Bond: From Communication to Connection
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