Behaviour in Practice Conference
Save the Date: June 19 to 21, 2026
Location: Alt Hotel Saskatoon
Saskatoon, SK S7K 1P4
The Saskatoon SPCA is proud to host the Behaviour in Practice Conference, a three-day professional event focused on animal behaviour, animal welfare, and humane, science-based care. This conference is designed for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, dog trainers, shelter and rescue professionals, pet care workers, and anyone passionate about improving the lives of animals.
This animal behaviour conference in Saskatoon will bring together experts from veterinary medicine, dog training, and education to share practical tools, real-world case examples, and research-informed approaches. Whether you work hands-on with animals or support their care through policy, education, or community outreach, you will leave with ideas you can use right away.
A Conference Focused on Behaviour, Welfare, and Care
The Behaviour in Practice Conference explores how behaviour, health, learning, and environment are deeply connected. Sessions will highlight ethical, modern approaches that support both animals and the people who care for them.
❋ KEYNOTE: Trauma-informed and trauma-assumed care
❋ Conference topics pending.
This veterinary and dog training conference is designed to be thoughtful, welcoming, and grounded in both science and compassion.
Headline Speakers
We are excited to announce our two headline speakers for the Behaviour in Practice Conference: Linda Randall, DVM, KPA-CTP, TagTeach Level 3 and Kathie Nurena, MD, KPA-CTP, CNWI.
Additional speakers will be announced soon.
Linda Randall, DVM, KPA-CTP, TagTeach Level 3
Linda Randall, DVM, is a currently practicing veterinarian, professional dog trainer, and educator whose career uniquely integrates veterinary medicine, behavior science, and social responsibility. A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Linda practiced for over 20 years as an ABVP Board-Certified Diplomate in Companion Animals and founded Cloverleaf Animal Hospital in Ohio. Today, she continues to practice companion animal medicine and behavior at Seville Animal Hospital, where much of her clinical focus centers on the medical dimensions of behavior.
Throughout her veterinary career, Linda has emphasized the inseparability of health, behavior, and environment. She is widely recognized for her ability to translate complex medical and behavioral science into practical, ethical decision-making—particularly in cases where behavior is influenced by stress, trauma, or adverse life experiences. Her approach is grounded in trauma-informed care for people and trauma-assumed care for animals, with an emphasis on function, context, and safety rather than blame or compliance.
In parallel with her veterinary practice, Linda is the owner of One Smart Dog, a full-service dog training facility in Ohio specializing in positive reinforcement training for family dogs and puppies, agility, and scent work. Holding credentials including Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP), TagTeach Level 3, and Living and Learning with Animals certification, Linda is known for her exceptional ability to integrate modern learning theory with medical insight—a combination that allows her to address behavior challenges with both clinical rigor and compassion. This dual perspective is a defining feature of her teaching and is rarely found at this depth in either profession alone.
Linda presents nationally and internationally on trauma-informed / trauma-assumed practice, the intersection of veterinary medicine and animal training, and system-level influences on behavior. She frequently co-presents with physician and trainer Kathie Nurena, MD, KPA CTP, CNWI, offering a powerful cross-disciplinary lens that resonates with trainers, shelter professionals, and veterinary teams alike.
She also speaks extensively to veterinary hospitals, shelters, rescues, trainers, boarding facilities, and foster networks on infectious disease awareness, zoonotic risk, and preventive care standards. Her talks emphasize responsible communication and practical implementation of vaccines, attention to the GI Biome, parasite control, and cleaning protocols in environments where dogs move between homes, shelters, training facilities, and veterinary settings.
A Distinguished Alumna of both Earlham College and The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Linda is widely regarded as a thoughtful, engaging, and trusted educator. Attendees consistently describe her sessions as insightful, grounded, and energizing—anchored in science, informed by real-world practice, and delivered with clarity, warmth, and humor.
Kathie Nurena MD, KPA-CTP, CNWI
Kathie Nurena is a physician and a dog trainer. She graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine Residency at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut. She is currently faculty at that program, teaching residents in both the outpatient and hospital settings. Within medicine, Kathie has a strong interest in social determinants of health, health equity, trauma informed care and scholarly activity. She is the Medical Director the Stamford Hospital’s facility dog program.
There were always pets in the house while Kathie was growing up. She got her first dog as an adult after completing residency and was fortunate to find a supportive training community that quickly became an important part of her life. She and her first dog, Shorty, a Maltese, competed in Agility, Nosework, and Freestyle. Kathie later graduated from Karen Pryor Academy as a Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP) and also earned her Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) credential. She currently teaches nosework classes.
Kathie volunteers with Metropolitan Maltese Rescue and has volunteered with the American Bouvier Rescue League. These experiences have deepened her appreciation for rescue work and the human–canine bond. Through years of observation, training, and education, she has become particularly interested in the relationship that develops between a handler and dog through learning and play. She has also come to value how principles of learning theory and positive reinforcement used in animal training translate meaningfully to her work with human learners in medical education—and how insights from medical education literature may, in turn, inform animal training practices.
She shares her home with her husband, a Maltese, and two Bouvier des Flandres.
Continuing Education Credits
Continuing Education credits will be available for select professions, including veterinary and dog training fields. Full CE details will be announced closer to the event.
Registration and Fees
Conference fees and registration details will be announced at a later date. Early-bird opportunities will be available.
Conference Location
The Building Better Behaviour Conference will take place at the Alt Hotel Saskatoon, located in downtown Saskatoon at 480 2 Ave S, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1P4. This central location offers easy access to dining, river walks, and local attractions.
Stay Tuned for More Details
More speakers, session topics, and schedule information will be announced soon. This page will be updated regularly as new details become available.
If you care about animal behaviour, animal welfare, and humane education, we invite you to save the date and join us in June 2026.
