About this Webinar

This course explores the complex neuroscience behind how dogs perceive and process pain. Participants will learn about nociception, pain modulation, and the emotional and sensory components of pain. The course explores how pain signals are processed in the brain, including the distinction between physical and social pain, and the influence of attention, mood, and past experiences on pain perception. Behavioural considerations for suporting dogs experiencing both acute and chronic pain are considered, including in both clinical and home environments.

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand the neurobiological mechanisms of nociception and pain perception in dogs.

  2. Explore the role of the brain in modulating pain through ascending and descending pathways.

  3. Learn how mood, attention, and past experiences influence the perception of pain in dogs.

  4. Identify the similarities between physical and social pain, and how they affect behaviour.

Meet your Instructor

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 supports dogs and cats with behaviour problems, and has a special interest in aggression, frustration, and the effects of trauma on animals. Daniel provides expert witness assessments for legal cases involving the Dangerous Dogs Act and recently spoke in Parliament on the topic of dog bite reform. Daniel also regularly appears in the media, and has been interviewed on LBC News as well as being interviewed for the Guardian. 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 masters degree in neuroscience.