Fear and Reactivity: Understanding Your Pet's Behaviour (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Presented by Sammy Crisp, Kate Shaw, and Sarah Rutten

This panel discussion examines best-practice approaches to pet handling across common scenarios, including grooming, veterinary care, equipment use, and movement. Emphasis is placed on low-stress, force-free methods that support animal welfare.

Learning Objectives

Recognise the early signs of fear, stress and discomfort by learning to interpret your animal's body language before behaviour escalates.
Apply practical management strategies that reduce stress, improve safety and help prevent fearful or reactive behaviours from becoming established.
Understand how behaviour change works and know when your animal may benefit from support from a qualified trainer or a veterinary behaviourist.

About The Presenters

Sammy Crisp discovered her passion for force-free animal training while working in an animal shelter, where helping cats and dogs build confidence inspired her to pursue a career in behaviour and training. With qualifications in both human psychology and animal training, she combines an understanding of how people and animals learn to create practical, rewarding training plans.

Based in Brisbane, Sammy provides in-home consultations, specialising in reactivity, aggression, cooperative care, and enrichment. She is passionate about helping guardians build stronger relationships with their pets through positive reinforcement training that improves day to day life.

At home, Sammy shares life with her energetic Lab named Noodle, who is full of energy and so much love.

Contact Sammy https://www.sammyspettraining.com.au/

Kate Shaw has over 20 years’ experience using positive reinforcement with horses. She is passionate about fear, aggression, and helping people get started using food safely and effectively in training. She also works with dogs, cats, rats and other species. Kate has several rescue horses with traumatic histories, giving her both personal and professional experience of how effective force-free training, combined with species-appropriate care and management is, for even the most severe behaviour challenges. She holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science and serves on the PPGA Committee.

Contact Kate https://shawanimaltraining.com.au/contact/

Sarah Rutten Dip CBST KPA (CTP) CPDT-KA is a best selling author, keynote speaker, canine behaviourist, welfare advocate and self-confessed dog behaviour nerd, who runs a highly successful canine behaviour and training business in Australia. Sarah’s passion for dogs and their welfare, combined with her thirst for knowledge has led her to obtaining numerous qualifications, both in Australia and Internationally. Her witty, down-to-earth, “tell it like it is” approach has led to being featured on The Morning Show (Channel 7), Apple TV, Roku, Better Homes & Gardens, The Courier Mail, and numerous radio and podcast appearances.

Sarah adores helping humans and dogs improve their bond, and loves assisting them in learning how to communicate better “interspecies”.

Sarah runs a number of fun, comprehensive online programs and conducts 1:1 behavioural consultations.

Contact Sarah www.thecanineperspective.com.au

Pet Professional Guild Australia upcoming events

Fear and Reactivity: Understanding Your Pet's Behaviour (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)