Professional Dog Walkers Conference 2025

Grab your place on the first Professional Dog Walkers Conference coming to you 1st June 2025!

Bringing together dog walkers and canine experts from across the Globe
 
Who is it for?
It is for everyone, whether you are thinking about becoming a dog walker, you are a brand new dog walker or are already an established dog walkers wanting to push your knowledge and business to the next level

We have an extraordinary team of speakers, covering topics from the psychology of successfully communicating with your clients through to turning your 'poop' knowledge into extra £'s 

When and where? At your place via zoom, 9.30am to 5pm on 1st June 2025

If you cant make it dont worry, grab your spot and we will send you recording afterwards 

All the stuff you didn't know you needed to know.... 

Can’t go for a walk? No problem! - Laura Ryder IMDT Australia

• Is the dog not able to leave the house? 
• Offer enriching alternatives and keep your furry clients and their owners happy and engaged as there's still plenty you can offer, no matter what the circumstances. Enhance your services and meet the needs of every dog and owner you work with.

Managing Dogs on a Walk - David Brice Head of Behaviour IMDT

• Walking multiple dogs successfully and safely
• Understanding and managing innate breed type behaviours
• The importance of positive relationships when working with dogs

The dogs are the easy bit – what about human behaviour?  - Dr Tamzin Furtado

• We’ll think about why people do what they do, and why it can be so hard to encourage people to change.
• Do you try and communicate with clients about their dog’s behaviour, weight, diet choices, or training practices? If so, this talk is for you
• We’ll look at the science of how we change our behaviour, and why people hate being told what to do!

Why dog walkers are already 'poop' experts - Dr Bushra Schuitemaker

• What is the gut microbiome?
• Why does it matter for dogs and what is the connection between dog gut health, behaviour, and overall wellbeing.
• Dog Walkers are the ‘First Line of Defence’, observing differences in stool consistency, frequency, and behaviour during walks.
• How these observations can provide early indicators of gut health issues.

Getting started as a dog walker - Steve Mann (Founder IMDT)

• Marketing tools to boost your business
• Adding value to your business by adding services

Great ideas for great walks - Tania Chappelle IMDT

• Themed walks: adding interest to walks
• After walk services to help get them through until the owners come home

Understanding human behaviour in order to improve companion animal welfare - Dr Tamzin Furtado 

• What about us? We’ll use the principles of human behaviour change to think  about ourselves.
• How can we best manage our own emotional wellbeing and put good habits in place, so we can be our best selves for dogs?

Canine body language - how to read the ‘Signs’ - David Brice Head of Behaviour IMDT

• Analysing canine body language with the aim to be one step ahead of any problems

Dogs in our green spaces - why it's not just a walk in the park! - Dawn Smith BSC National Park Ranger 

• An over-view of green space provision, purpose, protection and access.
• The potential negative impacts of walking dogs in these areas and potential for conflict.
• Ways to minimise your impact and reasons why it's good for your business

Practical training tips for the dog walker - Tania Chappelle IMDT

• Training exercises, every dog walker needs  

Puppies and the Professional Dog Walker - Steve Mann (Founder IMDT)

• Start them young and you’ll have a customer for life!

There will be a question and answer sessions after each speaker 

Grab your spot!

Step 1: Book on the course 
Step 2: Receive your booking confirmation 
Step 3: 2 Weeks before receive your welcome email with the running order for the day and your zoom link for the conference   
Step 4: 24hrs before you will again be sent your welcome email with the running order for the day and your zoom link for the conference, so dont worry if you book with less than 2 weeks to go! 
Step 5: See you on the 1st June 2025, Sit back and enjoy the day! 

Your Speakers 

Steve Mann (Founder IMDT)
As Founder of The Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT), the largest registered education and membership body in the world for dog trainers and behaviourists, Steve has taught dog training professionals throughout Europe, Australia, South Africa, South America, the Middle East and China.
Steve considers himself lucky to have done a lot of positive dog training on TV and has written several books in the ‘Easy Peasy’ series with ‘Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy ‘remaining the bestselling dog training book in the UK since it’s release in February 2019. 
With an unerring passion to help as many dogs as humanly possible Steve, from a ‘dog obsessed’ young boy, is now pushing forward to reach more people and make the world a better place for dogs. 

Laura Ryder IMDTB,KPA-CTP,CPDT- KA, CTDI
Laura runs IMDT Australia and has over 20 years’ experience working in a busy veterinary clinic as head dog trainer and behaviour consultant. She has presented both in Australia and overseas on a wide range of dog behaviour and training topics. She talks passionately about all things ‘dog’!
Laura’s four Border Terriers, Wicket, Malani, Lando and Rogue are regular presenters too – they love their role as ‘demo dogs’ – playing games and having fun. 

Dave Brice Dip CABT, IMDTB 
Dave has worked with dogs for over 20 years and has extensive experience of dog walking, rescue and rehabilitation, training (specialising in adolescence) and complex behaviour cases. As well as working with training and behaviour organisations, he has worked closely with vets and rescue organisations providing professional development for their staff, including puppy development, planning well run ‘puppy parties’, aggression, handling skills, and the mental wellbeing of dogs within their care. He works in conjunction with rescues for individual behaviour cases, both in the kennel setting and fostering environment. Dave writes all of the IMDT Correspondence courses and presents webinars and seminars on many behaviour-based topics for the IMDT.

Dr Tamzin Furtado PhD BA(hons) Adv Dip FLTHE 
Tamzin is a social scientist with a background in global health and has a specific interest in the interconnections between human and animal health and wellbeing. She completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool studying how we can improve the management of obesity in horses, particularly focusing on horse-human relationships and human behaviour change. She now works on projects covering a wide range of aspects of understanding human behaviour in order to improve companion animal welfare, and in using social sciences to find out more about how we can help people to change.

Dr Bushra Schuitemaker
Bushra is a zoologist and lead microbiologist with BIOME9, specialising in the microbiome of domestic animals. With a distinguished career that includes roles at the Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK, she is passionate about empowering dog walkers, trainers, vets, and pet owners by translating cutting-edge microbiome research into practical advice. Bushra focuses on implementing holistic dog health methods and promoting the microbiome as a valuable tool for improving canine health and well-being.

Tania Chappelle IMDT
Tania, is an instructor, assessor and mentor with The Institute of Modern Dog Trainers. With an impressive 13 years of experience of running her own successful dog walking and dog training business, she brings a wealth of knowledge in building a business and training both group classes and one-on-one sessions. Her expertise lies in building relationships with owners, working with puppies, agility training, and gun dogs.

Dawn Smith BSc (Hons)
Dawn has loved dogs since childhood; with her first dog joining the family when Dawn was 5. Equally interested in all animals and the natural world, she studied Zoology at university and has over 25 years' experience working in conservation. 
She knows firsthand the potential issues that can arise when trying to balance protecting and preserving wildlife, alongside the needs and impact that people and their dogs can have in our open spaces.
Dawn regularly assists with puppy classes and has studied a number of dog training and behaviour courses with the IMDT including Career as a dog trainer, Impulse Control, Canine Body Language, Perfect Puppy, and most recently the Professional Dog Walker Course. 
She still works in conservation as a National Park Ranger and now specialises in working with dog owners to minimise the impacts on wildlife and nature. Dawn also advises other conservation organisations on positive and effective strategies for working with dog owners and commercial dog walkers.