Meet Our Speakers

Michael Shikashio, CDBC, is the founder of AggressiveDog.com and focuses on teaching other professionals from around the world on how to successfully work aggression cases. He is a five-term president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and was the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Member of the Year in 2020.

Michael is sought after for his expert opinion by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, New York Post, Fox News, The List TV, Baltimore Sun, WebMD, Women’s Health Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, SiriusXM Radio, The Chronicle of the Dog, and Steve Dale’s Pet World. He also hosts the popular podcast show “The Bitey End of the Dog” where he chats with the foremost experts on dog aggression.

He has been a featured keynote speaker at conferences, universities, and seminars in more than 200 cities and 14 different countries around the world, and offers a variety of educational opportunities on the topic of canine aggression, including the Aggression in Dogs Master Course and the annual Aggression in Dogs Conference.

Sindhoor is a canine behaviour consultant, a canine myotherapist and an engineer by qualification. She is a TEDx speaker, the author of the book, Dog Knows and an independent ethology researcher studying the free-living dogs in India. Her studies have been published by IAABC and PPG blog in the US, were presented at the PDTE summit in the UK and were mentioned in the book Canine Confidential by Dr. Marc Bekoff and a National Geographic Bookazine called the Genius of dogs. She is currently pursuing her master's in Anthrozoology from Exeter University (UK) and is the principal and director of BHARCS. BHARCS offers a one of its kind, UK accredited level 4 diploma on canine behaviour and ethology and boasts of students from all parts of India and across the globe. 

Robert Falconer-Tayor was veterinary director and head of education of the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE), the first organisation in the UK to develop government-regulated courses to degree level specifically in companion animal behaviour and training. COAPE also developed the renowned EMRA system used by behaviourists and trainers all over the world, now summarised in their book – EMRA Intelligence: The revolutionary new approach to treating behaviour problems in dogs.

He teaches and consults around the world along with writing for the veterinary and other professional press. He is also author of the informative PET CPD Blog, published on this website, which has been taken up and endorsed by many training and behaviour organisations all over the world.

Sarah Fisher is a canine and equine behaviour advisor and educator and has worked with animals for almost thirty years. She is the founder of Animal Centred Education, and developer of ACE Free Work that has been inspired by the dogs that Sarah has connected with over the years.

ACE Free Work offers canine caregivers and guardians a unique opportunity to stand back, watch more, and ‘do’ less. It enables dogs to become the pilot of their own learning experiences, with support from their caregiver or guardian. Free Work is proving to be life changing for dogs of all ages and backgrounds; it has helped countless dogs worldwide learn how to reorganise their bodies more efficiently which has had a profound effect on the way the dogs respond to their external environment.

Sarah is experienced with a wide range of breed types and teaches staff workshops for many of the UK’s animal welfare organisations, including Battersea. She also teaches online courses and webinars for behaviour and training advisors, presenting a variety of topics at canine education and behaviour seminars in the UK and internationally.

Andrew Hale BSc, ISCP.Dip.Canine.Prac is a Certified Canine Behaviourist with Association of INTODogs. He is the behaviour consultant for Pet Remedy and the British Isles Grooming Association and is a Canine Arthritis Management Expert Advisor. He also works to support many dog rescue organisations around the UK. With a background in Human Psychology, Andrew is passionate about exploring the emotional experience that lies behind behaviour, both in dogs and the humans around them. Andrew has played a leading role in the UK Dog training and behaviour community, having been the chair of the Association of INTODogs, and the driving force behind the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter.
 

In 2020, Andrew started Dog Centred Care (https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogcc) which focusses on supporting a dog led, emotionally centred, approach to providing their best care and support. Within the Dog Centred Care Facebook group, he has been hosting on-line conversations with some of the world’s leading scientists, researchers, trauma experts, dog professionals and veterinarians. Andrew has also co-hosted the Beyond The Operant series of conversations with Kim Brophey and Kathy Connor (www.youtube.com/c/DogCentredCare/videos). These conversations are credited with helping transform the perceptions and language around dog training and behaviour. 

Daniel Shaw BSc (Hons), GMBPsS, CDBC is an animal behaviourist with a background in animal behaviour, psychology and neuroscience. As the owner of Animal Behaviour Kent, Daniel has a successful history of supporting dogs and cats with behaviour problems, and has a special interest in the effects of trauma on animals and frustration in dogs. Daniel is a degree qualified psychologist, a certified dog behaviour consultant with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC), and is currently obtaining a master’s degree in neuroscience. 

Helen Howell BSc (Hons), ACDBC is a forensic behaviourist, researcher and leading UK expert witness in canine behaviour. A former police detective with 16 years police service Helen, following her retirement from the police, pursued a career in behaviour. She graduated with a first-class honours degree in canine behaviour and management and is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Lincoln where her subject of research is the risk of human directed aggression in dogs. 

Helen has worked with dogs all over the world including street dogs in Sri Lanka and India, game bred pit bull terriers in the United States and Spanish hunting dogs at the Galgos del Sol Rescue in Spain.  Helen is one of the UK’s leading expert witnesses, assessing dogs and providing expert evidence in respect of both breed type and behaviour for dangerous dog and personal injury cases across the country, including cases involving life changing injury and fatality. 

Helen has presented her opinion in Parliament regarding the dog bite crisis in the UK and the welfare of seized dogs, she delivers training for police officers regarding canine welfare and is a guest lecturer at a number of universities.

Amber Batson graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1999 and began her own behaviour education journey the following year. Amber runs her own education business, Understand Animals, providing on line and in person education on a variety of behaviour and welfare topics globally. She is passionate about improving the experience of animals during human-animal interactions including within the veterinary context and continues to work in a general practice clinic on a regular basis as she loves being a behaviourally mindful vet and to ensure she continues to improve her own skill set in this area. 

Hannah Molloy BSc Hons is a qualified Animal Behaviourist that has trained and rehabilitated over 10,000 dogs, in 10 years. Featured on Channel 4's Puppy School as a training expert and the author of the internationally best selling dog body language encyclopedia 'What's My Dog Thinking?' Hannah is an award winning and engaging speaker for zoo's, colleges and professional associations such as International Canine Behaviourists (ICB), is an expert witness in Crown Prosecution for dangerous dog cases and is called upon to consult on polices regarding dog and human behaviour in Parliament. Her previous paths have seen her at the Dogs Trust as a Training & Behaviour Advisor, and running an inner city dog training company in Birmingham. Hannah has a deep knowledge in the practical application of behaviour science with people and animals. She also creates tailored content for Pet Shops, Vets, Groomers, and Pet professionals who are interested in using Applied Behaviour Principles to challenge cultural norms, strengthen pet businesses and improve pet mental health globally.

Raising children and dogs together is no joke.

So, Justine Schuurmans BA. CPDT-KA. LFDM-K, former TV Producer, mum, and Dog Trainer for 20 years, has been on a mission to help lighten the load for young families everywhere - giving them blueprint for building a safe and happy life with their dog.  

Founder of The Family Dog, and the creator of the STOP THE 77 viral video campaign, her goal is to change the way families see their dog, and teach a brand new way to maximize success for parents, kids and dogs! 

The Family Dog’s unique content has helped thousands of young families navigate this exciting (but often challenging!) new adventure. And now, with the release of her new “The Dial Method” book, workbook, and video program - she provides a simple, fun framework for busy parents to raise their family dog right. 

And family-specific training is growing.  There are now over a hundred trainers worldwide, teaching The Family Dog’s programs in their communities.