Second Annual Enrichment and Wellness Workshop

1104 Ames Hill Road,Brattleboro VT 05301

15 October, 2021

Description

Enrichment and Wellness Workshop with Lindsay Mehrkam, Ph.D., BCBA-D, applied animal behaviorist and animal welfare scientist. The second annual Enrichment and Wellness Workshop with Lindsay Mehrkam, Ph.D., BCBA-D, will be an in-person and relaxed affair with a retreat vibe, so needed after the onslaught of the pandemic. While the workshop’s focus is on the science of enrichment for non-human animals, we will also explore evidence-based wellness strategies for humans. After all, if we don't take care of ourselves, we can't take care of the animals! Mehrkam is an applied animal behaviorist, animal welfare scientist, and doctoral-level board-certified behavior analyst. Her primary research interests focus on the benefits of human-animal interaction, enrichment, and training for improving the welfare of both animals and people in society. Mehrkam’s research has published widely in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at national and international conferences. The main topics of the workshop in relation to the science of enrichment: * Understanding function-based enrichment * Hands-on practice and enrichment evaluation. Participants will propose, review, and implement enrichment designs with animals housed at Training Matters/Lemon’s Hope Farm Animal Sanctuary in Brattleboro, Vermont. These include miniature horses, dogs, cats, sheep, a goat, guinea pigs and cockatiels. * Creating enrichment plans * Developing plans that participants can take back to their facilities and organizations Participants will arrive at 4 p.m. October 15 for an icebreaker with attendees and animals. The remaining two days will begin with lectures, followed by planning and implementation of enrichment designs as well as development of enrichment plans for attendees to take home with them. Participants must be vaccinated and masked in indoor settings. Backup plans, in case Covid variants make an in-person workshop impossible, are being made to conduct this workshop remotely, with little loss of active participation by registrants and no loss of information gained. CEUs pending. Organizer of An Introduction to the Neuroscience of Dog Training and Behavior at 1104 Ames Hill Road Brattleboro, VT