The International Animal Behaviour Conference is back!

Aurélie is a dog trainer specialising in shelter work in the Paris region. For eight years, she has supported rescue centres in working with dogs often labelled as “difficult”, from intake through to successful long-term adoption.

Drawing on extensive field experience and continued education in both France and the United States, she has developed a structured, ethical and pragmatic approach to rescue work. In her session, Aurélie shares her long-term vision: preparing dogs not simply to be adopted, but to thrive sustainably in their new homes.

Robin is a multi-certified avian behaviour consultant from Canada who’s worked for over 20 years supporting parrot guardians facing complex behavioural challenges, including biting, excessive vocalisation and aggression. Her work is firmly rooted in learning theory and a strong ethical commitment to welfare-centred practice.

At CICA, Robin challenges the common assumption that enrichment equals objects or toys. She invites us to rethink enrichment as opportunities for engagement, cognitive flexibility and emotional resilience. Drawing from both field observation and applied science, she proposes progressive and measurable strategies to recreate meaningful behavioural opportunities within domestic environments. Her presentation encourages guardians to observe, evaluate and refine enrichment practices with rigour and intention.

Sarah has been a canine behaviour consultant since 2019, specialising in predatory behaviours and reactivity. Based near Bordeaux in France, her interest in predation emerged after adopting Petra, her deaf dog with strong hunting instincts. Confronted with limited resources at the time, she undertook extensive study and now works exclusively with dogs presenting predatory patterns, often intertwined with reactivity.

At CICA, Sarah moves beyond simplistic interpretations of predation as disobedience or stubbornness. She offers a nuanced and functional understanding of predatory behaviour, integrating emotional states, environmental context and reinforcement history. Her intervention provides practical levers for regaining safer, more connected walks while respecting the dog’s behavioural repertoire.

Julie is a certified canine behaviour consultant specialising in resource guarding and founder of Robinsonner Ensemble. Fear Free® certified and a Certified Canine Behaviour Consultant (4C), she grounds her work in behavioural science and supports guardians through respectful, non-aversive methods designed to reduce fear, stress and anxiety while preserving emotional safety for all involved.

In her CICA session, Julie explores resource guarding in depth. She explains why this behaviour is both normal and functional, how to recognise early warning signals before escalation, and how environmental management and predictability can restore safety within the household. Her presentation is structured, reassuring and highly practical, offering families clear guidance when faced with emotionally charged situations.

Marion is an animal behaviour consultant specialising in chronic stress, trauma-related patterns, sensitivity profiles and separation anxiety. Internationally multi-certified, she supports complex cases often presenting comorbidities such as chronic pain, noise sensitivity, neophobia and reactivity. Her approach is grounded in rigorous data collection, scientific literature and strict ethical standards centred on emotional well-being.

At CICA, Marion explores noise sensitivity through a structured and functional lens. She distinguishes between different sensitivity profiles and examines the interplay between stress, pain and learning processes. Through practical profiling tools and a reflection grounded in scientific literature, she provides clear frameworks to understand, prevent and support these often misinterpreted sensitivities. A structured, rigorous and deeply insightful presentation designed to better support the most vulnerable dogs.

Marion is a canine behaviour consultant and the founder of Nobody’s Perfect, established in 2021 following extensive training in Applied Behaviour Analysis. Specialising in supporting families with puppies, she helps bridge the often challenging gap between the imagined puppy and the real one, with their own genetics, experiences and individual needs. Her approach combines scientific rigour with deep empathy, placing strong emphasis on prevention and a nuanced understanding of everyday behaviour.

At CICA, Marion explores puppy biting from a fresh perspective: what if it were a barometer of unmet needs? Rather than focusing solely on stopping the behaviour, she invites us to understand its function. A need for movement, sleep, emotional regulation, space… or even indicators of underlying discomfort. Her session offers clear guidance for adopting a calmer, more functional interpretation of behaviour, enabling families to support their puppy with greater confidence and clarity.

Jen is a canine nutritionist with a strong interest in raw feeding and individualised diets. Her professional path emerged from a deep personal commitment to understanding her own dog’s nutritional needs.

At CICA, she tackles a topic that generates widespread confusion: food allergies and intolerances in dogs. She distinguishes between immune-mediated reactions and digestive sensitivities, addresses common misconceptions (including so-called “miracle tests” and hypoallergenic marketing claims), and explains why elimination diets remain the gold standard. Her presentation emphasises careful observation, veterinary collaboration and critical thinking in navigating complex nutritional cases.