About this Webinar

Dogs exhibit a range of innate behavioural strategies that have evolved over thousands of years to aid survival. Whether it’s predation or resource guarding, these behaviours are deeply rooted in their neurobiology and can be challenging to simply "stop." Attempts at suppression without addressing their underlying drivers and ensuring the dog’s needs are met often lead to frustration, anxiety, or the emergence of alternative unwanted behaviours.

This webinar delves into the neuroethological basis of these instinctive behaviours, examining the precipitating factors and neural mechanisms behind modal action patterns such as guarding and predation. By understanding the motivations and triggers for these behaviours, we can develop practical strategies to address them effectively.

The session focuses on finding resolutions that prevent inappropriate expressions while safeguarding the dog’s welfare, providing actionable insights for trainers, behaviourists, and pet professionals seeking to create ethical and effective behaviour plans.

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Recognise the key neural mechanisms and precipitating factors behind modal action patterns involved in predation and escape behaviour in dogs.

  2. Understand the concept of homeostasis and how unmet needs and suppressive approaches can exacerbate unwanted behaviours.

  3. Provide safe and constructive outlets for behaviours rooted in evolution that do not compromise the dog's welfare. 

Meet your Instructor

Daniel Shaw MSc CDBC is an animal behaviourist with expertise in psychology, animal behaviour, and neuroscience. As the owner of Animal Behaviour Kent (ABK), he supports dogs and cats with behavioural challenges, provides expert witness assessments for legal cases under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and has contributed to Parliamentary discussions on dog bite reform. With a master’s degree in neuroscience, Daniel combines research with practical applications and has been featured on BBC Southeast Today, TalkTV, and LBC News. He teaches internationally on a range of topics, including aggression, frustration, and trauma in dogs, helping professionals enhance their understanding and approach to complex cases. Daniel also organizes the annual ABK Dog Behaviour Conference and runs ABK Learn, a platform offering science-based education in animal behaviour, training, and neuroscience.