Animal Behavior Seminars Alana Stevenson

Behavior Seminars, Live Webinars, & Workshops

Alana Stevenson brings a wealth of dog and cat behavior and training knowledge, practical tools, and real-world experience to her dog and cat behavior and training seminars, webinars, and workshops.

“Alana has worked to create comprehensive operating procedures for shelters that respect a cat’s natural behaviors, focus on reducing stress, and integrate feline-friendly handling techniques that are integral in working with cats.”
~ Heather O’Steen, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)

“Alana Stevenson is an animal behaviorist with an up to date, science-based approach to reduce behavior problems presented in a heartfelt way. Her contributions to low-stress feline care have improved the shelter, veterinary and home care experience for many cats.” ~ Dr. Sally J. Foote, Veterinarian, Speaker DrSallyJFoote.com

To schedule a dog or cat behavior consultation or training with Alana Stevenson, call 617.921.1224 or
EMAIL ALANA

SHELTER, RESCUE & VETERINARY STAFF TRAINING

Training and presentations can be tailored to teach staff and volunteers, specifically addressing behaviors that emerge in the shelter and clinical environments.

How we define and explain behavior is important. Often people label or criticize animals when discussing unwanted behavior. Words or phrases like alpha, dominant, ‘out of control,’ stubborn, mean, or obstinate are used or signs such as ‘Caution,’ ‘Fractious,’ or ‘Aggressive’ are placed on cages and carriers. Learning how to explain and describe behavior clearly allows you to assess an animal in an objective way and to implement any training or behavior modification more effectively. By clearly defining and explaining behaviors objectively, you can help an animal in need and remedy behavioral problems without stigmatizing that animal or creating unwanted behavior problems in the future.

Alana has developed a Use of Harnesses SOP or protocol for animal shelters.

Preventing stress and behavioral problems is pivotal for dogs in the shelter. Dogs who end up at shelters are already anxious from being in new scary surroundings and often have suffered from prior instability, inconsistency, punitive or ‘correction-based’ training, and/or poor handling.

In this series of lectures and workshops, you will learn how to read dog body language so you can understand what dogs are communicating to each other and to the people they interact with. Alana will discuss body language that dogs present when stressed or afraid so that adjustments can be made to keep them calmer. You will discover how your own body language, tone of voice, and manner of touch can directly influence a dog’s behavior and how even subtle gestures and changes in your body language can alter responses in dogs very quickly.

Alana will demonstrate simple behavior modification techniques, including desensitization and counter-conditioning exercises, that can be applied to work with dogs who are fearful, head shy, avoidant, show kennel stress, and/or jump or mouth excessively. She will provide ways to keep dogs behaviorally healthier in the kennels and tips on how to reduce noise.

Training and behavior modification techniques volunteers and staff can practice in their daily interactions with dogs at the shelter to ease anxiety, lessen reactivity, and make them more adoptable will be presented.

Alana will discuss the importance of monitoring and intervening in play groups to set dogs up for success. Play groups have become very popular. Oftentimes, dog aggression can occur. Many dogs may be mismatched and others are or become fearful.

In this lecture, you will learn how to read dog body-language so you can evaluate a dog’s behavior appropriately and interpret dog-dog interactions correctly, as well as how to intervene when and if play gets out of hand or dogs become unruly. Alana will teach you how to use positive reinforcement during playtime to encourage and reward desirable behaviors and prevent conflict. You will learn how to pair up or group dogs based on their behavior.

Humane handling makes handling cats easier!

How cats are handled during veterinary exams and some forms of restraint can dramatically affect their behavior. The mishandling of cats can have long-lasting negative effects on their emotional well-being. When cats are poorly handled, handling them in the future becomes more difficult. Cats can be labeled as ‘mean’ or ‘unapproachable.’ They become fearful more quickly and aggression can escalate. Because of past stressful experiences, many cat owners become reluctant to take their cats to the vet unless in an emergency.

By learning humane handling techniques and how to manage the environment to make cats less fearful, you can prevent cats from panicking or becoming aggressive. Humane low-stress handling will lessen staff injuries. This will make working with cats easier and more enjoyable.

In this presentation, Alana will teach you ways to keep cats calmer in the lobby and during examinations. You will learn how to read cat body-language so you can determine when a cat is fearful or anxious and you will discover how your own body-language, manner of touch, and tone of voice can influence a cat’s behavior. Understand how subtle gestures and changes in your body language can alter responses in cats very quickly.

Alana will present ways to make handling less stressful for cats when examining them or moving them from one place to another, and you will learn how to assess cats during handling to determine which approaches might work best for each cat. Learn why minimal restraint produces more cooperation in cats and why scruffing should be avoided.

Topics covered include: how movement and sound can affect a cat’s behavior; the importance in the placement of carriers and cages; use of towels and small blankets to keep cats calmer and prevent aggression; removing a cat from a cage; removing a cat from a carrier; how to pick up and carry cats; and how to hold and handle kittens.

Alana will provide additional tips that can be given to clients so they can help make veterinary visits in the future less stressful for their cats.

Cats who end up at shelters are often already anxious. Many have suffered from prior trauma, instability, or poor handling. They may become shut down and/or wish to remain hidden. Some cats lie in their litter boxes. Other cats may seem friendly, but then playfully bite or they bite during and after petting. Many cats squirm or leap out of arms when they are lifted or carried.

In this series of lectures and workshops, Alana will present behavior modification techniques, including desensitization and counter-conditioning exercises, that can be implemented to work with these cats to ease their fears and keep them behaviorally healthy.

You will learn how to read cat body language and discover how your own body language, tone of voice, and manner of touch can directly influence a cat’s behaviors. Understand how to approach cats to prevent fearful responses and how subtle gestures and changes in your body language can alter responses in cats very quickly.

Alana will go over environmental modifications that can be made in the shelter and within cages to keep cats calmer and prevent stress. She will discuss the importance in the placement of carriers and cages and will demonstrate how to lift up and carry cats, remove them from cages, and remove them from and place them into carriers.

Behavior modification techniques volunteers and staff can practice in their daily interactions with cats will be presented.

In this seminar, Alana will teach you how to enrich the environment for cats to make it feline-friendly and prevent behavioral problems. You will learn how to read cat body-language so you can make modifications according to the special needs and personalities of individual cats.

Alana will discuss the importance of play and vertical territory, and explain how to position food and water bowls, litter pans, scratching posts, and cat condos in locations that will boost a cat’s confidence, reduce fear and stress, prevent conflict between cats in multi-cat households and litter pan problems.

You will learn how to acclimate cats to carriers, and to being handled, picked up, and carried, as well as creative ways to play with cats to prevent boredom. The special needs of declawed and shy cats will be addressed and tips will be provided on how to bring outside cats indoors.

DOG BEHAVIOR 

In this workshop, Alana will teach you the principles of how dogs learn so you can know the best ways to teach them using a completely humane training approach.

Topics include the importance of timing in training, principles of association and context learning, and how your body language, eye-contact, and touch can directly influence a dog’s behavior.

You will learn how to read dog body language so you can have a better relationship with your dog and interpret dog-dog interactions correctly.

We have all met dogs who are aggressive or reactive. They may lunge and bark on leash or try to bite. In this workshop, Alana will teach you how to implement behavior modification successfully. You will learn how to resolve fearful and aggressive behaviors as well as leash reactivity in dogs.

Topics discussed include how to read dog body-language so you can keep dogs calmer and interpret dog-dog interactions correctly, the importance of using a humane approach when resolving fear and aggression, desensitization and counter-conditioning, and how your body-language and approach can directly influence a dog’s behavior.

During the hands-on component, Alana will teach Leash Isometrics™, a series of leash handling techniques that focus on proper body mechanics while utilizing isometrics, and body-positioning techniques on leash, which will enable you to maneuver your dog in situations where he may be uncomfortable, but so that he remains calmer and is more attentive to you. Alana’s Leash Isometrics™ enables you to use the leash without resorting to yanking or pulling on your dog, even unintentionally, and prevents injury.

The lecture and hands-on components can be taught separately or together (See Leash Isometrics™ and Body-Positioning Techniques on Leash).

Dog Behavior Seminar & Workshop Leash-Handling Isometrics ™ In this hands-on workshop, Alana will demonstrate Leash Isometrics™, a series of leash handling techniques she created that focus on proper body mechanics while utilizing isometrics. This will allow you to maintain control of your dog without yanking or pulling on him and prevents injury. These special leash handling techniques are illustrated and explained in The Right Way the First Time ©2007 and again with a new series of pictures illustrated in Training Your Dog the Humane Way ©2011. Shortening the leash, yet keeping it relaxed, and learning how to use your body to meet your dog’s resistance, even if he suddenly pulls or lunges, will markedly change your dog’s behavior and make him much more attentive to you.

Alana will demonstrate body-positioning techniques to help you maneuver your dog through uncomfortable or potentially tough situations, so that he stays calmer and is less reactive.

With Leash Isometrics™ and body-positioning techniques on leash you will be able to humanely and effectively manage and prevent problematic behaviors and aggressive responses in dogs.

Alana has developed a Use of Harnesses SOP or protocol for animal shelters.

Preventing stress and behavioral problems is pivotal for dogs in the shelter. Dogs who end up at shelters are already anxious from being in new scary surroundings and often have suffered from prior instability, inconsistency, punitive or ‘correction-based’ training, and/or poor handling.

In this series of lectures and workshops, you will learn how to read dog body language so you can understand what dogs are communicating to each other and to the people they interact with. Alana will discuss body language that dogs present when stressed or afraid so that adjustments can be made to keep them calmer. You will discover how your own body language, tone of voice, and manner of touch can directly influence a dog’s behavior and how even subtle gestures and changes in your body language can alter responses in dogs very quickly.

Alana will demonstrate simple behavior modification techniques, including desensitization and counter-conditioning exercises, that can be applied to work with dogs who are fearful, head shy, avoidant, show kennel stress, and/or jump or mouth excessively. She will provide ways to keep dogs behaviorally healthier in the kennels and tips on how to reduce noise.

Training and behavior modification techniques volunteers and staff can practice in their daily interactions with dogs at the shelter to ease anxiety, lessen reactivity, and make them more adoptable will be presented.

CAT BEHAVIOR

Animal Behavior Seminar & Workshop Feline Handling Alana StevensonCats are often considered independent and untrainable—mistakenly so! Learn why cats behave the way they do and how they communicate with humans and other cats. By understanding feline body language and communication, feline behaviors that were seemingly complex become less of a mystery.

In this seminar, Alana will teach you how to read cat body-language so you can have a better relationship with your cat. You will discover how your own body-language, manner, and tone of voice can influence a cat’s behavior and the common mistakes people make when handling cats.

Alana will go over important developmental stages in cats, discuss how cats deal with stress, and explain the importance of play and vertical territory. She will provide tips on how to make the home environment ‘feline-friendly’ to prevent common feline behavioral problems.

For Animal Shelters, Animal Hospitals & Feline Rescue Organizations

Humane handling makes handling cats easier!

Alana Stevenson has developed a Humane Feline-Friendly Cat Handling SOP or Protocol for animal shelters and feline rescue organizations.
Preventing stress and behavioral problems is pivotal for animals in the shelter. Cats who end up at shelters are often already anxious from being in new scary surroundings, instability, prior poor handling, or trauma.

When cats are poorly handled, they can be set up for failure when interacting with people in the future, whether it be shelter staff, volunteers, or adopters. There is a negative association with fearful and stressed cats. Cats are falsely labeled as ‘mean’ or ‘unapproachable.’ By learning humane handling and desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques, as well as how to manage the environment to make cats less fearful, you can prevent cats from panicking, shutting down, or becoming aggressive. The implementation of humane handling techniques will also lessen injuries to volunteers and staff.

In this series of workshops, Alana will teach you how to read cat body-language so you can interpret behaviors and determine if a cat is fearful or anxious, and you will discover how your own body-language, manner of touch, and tone of voice can influence a cat’s behavior. Understand how even subtle gestures and changes in your body language can alter responses in cats very quickly.

Alana will go over environmental modifications that can be made to reduce fear and why positioning carriers and cages in the right locations is behaviorally important.

Learn why minimal restraint produces more cooperation in cats and why scruffing should be avoided. Topics covered include how movement and sound can affect a cat’s behavior; removing a cat from a cage; how to pick up and place down a cat; removing a cat from and placing him into a carrier; and how to hold and support kittens. Alana will address how to make handling less stressful for cats when examining them or moving them from one place to another, and you will learn how to assess a cat during handling and which approaches might work best for each cat.

Humane handling and behavior modification techniques volunteers and staff can use in their daily interactions with cats will be presented.
This workshop can be tailored to the individualized needs of a shelter. Contact Alana with your request and desired dates.

Cats who end up at shelters are often already anxious. Many have suffered from prior trauma, instability, or poor handling. They may become shut down and/or wish to remain hidden. Some cats lie in their litter boxes. Other cats may seem friendly, but then playfully bite or they bite during and after petting. Many cats squirm or leap out of arms when they are lifted or carried.

In this series of lectures and workshops, Alana will present behavior modification techniques, including desensitization and counter-conditioning exercises, that can be implemented to work with these cats to ease their fears and keep them behaviorally healthy.

You will learn how to read cat body language and discover how your own body language, tone of voice, and manner of touch can directly influence a cat’s behaviors. Understand how to approach cats to prevent fearful responses and how subtle gestures and changes in your body language can alter responses in cats very quickly.

Alana will go over environmental modifications that can be made in the shelter and within cages to keep cats calmer and prevent stress. She will discuss the importance in the placement of carriers and cages and will demonstrate how to lift up and carry cats, remove them from cages, and remove them from and place them into carriers.

Behavior modification techniques volunteers and staff can practice in their daily interactions with cats will be presented.

In this seminar, Alana will teach you how to enrich the environment for cats to make it feline-friendly and prevent behavioral problems. You will learn how to read cat body-language so you can make modifications according to the special needs and personalities of individual cats.

Alana will discuss the importance of play and vertical territory, and explain how to position food and water bowls, litter pans, scratching posts, and cat condos in locations that will boost a cat’s confidence, reduce fear and stress, prevent conflict between cats in multi-cat households and litter pan problems.

You will learn how to acclimate cats to carriers, and to being handled, picked up, and carried, as well as creative ways to play with cats to prevent boredom. The special needs of declawed and shy cats will be addressed and tips will be provided on how to bring outside cats indoors.

“I was fortunate to attend Alana Stevenson’s seminar at Paws4Ever in Mebane, NC where I volunteer train for them. She provided great information and assistance on how to work with dogs who are fearful and leash reactive, and taught us leash techniques that are really effective. We loved her demonstrations.” ~ Kelley Neiderhiser, Gate City Animal Hospital, North Carolina

“Our front staff is still talking about your seminar, and applying what you’ve said to evaluate the way pets are behaving in the lobby!” ~ Shannon Nowak, LVT, Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas

“Alana worked with Homeward Bound in 2017 and her knowledge of behavioral challenges, their motivations, and how to address them was astounding. She was patient, detailed, and very attentive to the needs of the dogs and the questions of the staff.”
~ Jessica Danyow, Executive Director, Homeward Bound