2020 APDT Virtual Conference

By ADPT Staff

Due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) has changed its in-person 28^th Annual Conference and Trade Show originally scheduled for October 21–24 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to a two-day virtual conference for October 21–22. “Protecting the health, safety, and well-being of APDT members and attendees was the paramount reason for the decision to cancel the in-person conference for the first time in APDT’s 27-year history,” said APDT Chair Khara Schuetzner.

“The APDT staff and board of directors actively monitored the situation and with guidance from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and the American Veterinary Medical Association, canceling the in-person conference was the right thing to do during this historic time.”

APDT’s virtual conference will provide a variety of opportunities to improve as trainers, as businesspeople and as an industry, Schuetzner added.

“From amazing keynote speakers to CE classes, the 2020 APDT Virtual Conference is a dynamic event for serious dog-trainers who want to stay at the top of their game,” she said.

The two-day conference features two keynote speakers, animal behaviorists Alexandra Horowitz, Ph.D., and Bob Bailey, Sc.D. And it will have 21 session speakers for 18 session titles that cover all aspects of training, including but not limited to animal learning; human learning; canine behavior, health and nutrition; and client interactions.

Those who sign up for the full virtual conference on-demand to watch at their leisure, can earn 29 CEUs that are accepted by CCPDT-KA, KSA, CBCC-KA, IAABC, KPA and NADOI. For those who only attend the virtual conference “live,” as many as 11 CEUs can be earned for the two days.

Register by Sept. 30, you will receive access to nine bonus sessions (listed below) for an additional nine CEUs, a value of $225. The cost is $149 for APDT Premium Professional Members; $159 for Professional Member; $169 for Supporting Member, and $199 for a Non-Member.

You can also look for more educational opportunities via APDT’s webinars and online certificate courses available at https://www.pathlms.com/apdt throughout the remainder of 2020.

For more information, including the conference schedule, click here or visit APDT’s website and click on the conference tab at the far right on the screen.

APDT Foundation Scholarship Programs

Individuals who are interested in submitting an application for the Blue-9 Pet Products Scholarship Program find more more information and applications by clicking here.

The scholarships enable trainers, behaviorists, shelter employees/volunteers, etc., who may not otherwise have the funds available to attend the APDT Virtual Conference. Those interested must submit a completed application by Aug. 31. Applications are to be submitted to info@apdtfoundtion.org. The APDT Foundation thanks Blue-9 Pet Products for their generous support of this scholarship program.

The APDT Foundation Scholarship Task Force will score the applications based on the following criteria: content, completeness, thoroughness of responses to application questions, and financial need. The number of applicants selected to receive funds will be limited by the amount of monies available provided through sponsorships. The APDT Foundation Scholarship Task Force will notify the president of the APDT Foundation Board of Trustees of all scholarship winners. The APDT Foundation will notify the scholarship winners by Sept. 16.

Previous recipients of the Blue-9 scholarship are not eligible to apply again for 5 years. The APDT Foundation maintains a list of scholarship recipients. Members of the APDT Board of Directors and the APDT Foundation Board of Trustees are not eligible.