Separation Anxiety Dog

Amber Batson graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1999. She started working in general veterinary practice straight from graduating, but quickly became aware that many consultations involved elements of behavior, which set her on a path of acquiring science-based behavior knowledge. For many years she worked in practice whilst undertaking a number of behavior qualifications in dogs, horses and cats which became blended in with her veterinary work. In 2007 she set up her own business, Understand Animals, with the aim to bridge the gap between up to date science and using that in a practical way to benefit animals and the humans they share their lives with. Alongside working in clinical vet practice, her business provides education across the globe regards animal behaviour and welfare, as well as providing vet behaviour consultations for clients and legal expert witness work. Amber remains passionate about using science to support a pragmatic and empathetic approach to behavior issues in animals.

Dr. E’Lise Christensen Bell (Dr. C) is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist on a mission to bring joy, curiosity, and understanding to pets and their people. With 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine, Dr. C started from the ground up—cleaning cages and training therapy dogs at 16—progressing through puppy classes, dog training, and veterinary school, including a veterinary behavior residency at Cornell. Her journey includes hands-on roles in sheltering, general, specialty, and feline-only practices, giving her a well-rounded, compassionate perspective on the behavioral challenges families face. Today, Dr. C’s boutique veterinary behavior service blends academic insights with practical solutions, creating a supportive space for families navigating pet behavior issues and professionals worldwide. Her service is a vibrant hub of consulting, international lectures, and media contributions, all dedicated to advancing animal behavior, public health, and sheltering knowledge.

Dr. Amy Cook is an Applied Animal Behaviorist, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the IAABC, a longstanding professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and was one of the first trainers nationally to become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through independent evaluation. Dr. Cook received her Ph.D. in Psychology from UC Berkeley, with her research focusing on the dog-human relationship and the impact that social support can have on stress. Dr. Cook is the founder and creator of the Play Way, a therapeutic approach for resolving behavior issues in dogs through social interaction and dog empowerment, and she is a popular instructor for the online school The Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, where she also teaches a course in active management games for dogs, and in a play-based approach to resolving sound sensitivity. She has been training dogs for nearly 30 years, and has specialized in the rehabilitation of shy and fearful dogs for over 20 years. Amy has worked for the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society, the San Francisco Animal Care and Control, has provided behavioral evaluations for shelters and rescues throughout the Bay Area of California, and was a member of the anti-cruelty team for the ASPCA, working in triage sheltering and rehabilitation for large rescue cases. Amy gives seminars all over the country and is a frequent conference presenter. She also competes in sports with her dogs, and has titled in Competition Obedience, Rally, Agility, Barn Hunt, and Nosework.

Malena DeMartini is a Certified Trainer and Counselor (CTC) and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) – She is renowned in the dog training world for her work on canine separation anxiety spanning more than two decades. Her books, Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs and Separation Anxiety in Dogs, Next Generation in Treatment Protocols and Practices, have helped countless numbers of dogs (and the people who love them). Her online course for guardians, Mission: POSSIBLE, has proven to be an invaluable resource in the industry, and the success rate realized there is immeasurable. In addition to writing and lecturing for a worldwide audience, Malena oversees a team of top separation anxiety trainers. She runs an internationally accessible certification program for accomplished dog professionals looking to hone their skills. Malena is passionate about furthering education in this field through science-based methods. Resources about separation anxiety and support with training can be found at malenademartini.com

Moira Hechenleitner graduated from Mayor University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007, in Santiago, Chile.She is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), with a postgraduate in Animal-Assisted Therapy. Dr. Hechenleitner is a founding board member of the Chilean Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT Chile) and has spent the last 16 years offering consultation services for pet guardians and teaching courses to dog professionals. She is a speaker on the topic of Separation Anxiety, giving seminars internationally in English and Spanish. Moira currently resides in Noank, Connecticut and helps dogs and their families from all over the world overcome separation anxiety.

Daniel Shaw, MSc, CDBC is an animal behaviourist with expertise in psychology, animal behaviour, and neuroscience. As the owner of Animal Behaviour Kent (ABK), he supports dogs and cats with behavioural challenges, provides expert witness assessments for legal cases under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and has contributed to Parliamentary discussions on dog bite reform. With a master’s degree in neuroscience, Daniel combines research with practical applications and has been featured on BBC Southeast Today, TalkTV, and LBC News. He teaches internationally on a range of topics, including aggression, fear, frustration, and trauma in dogs, helping professionals enhance their understanding and approach to complex cases. Daniel also organizes the annual ABK Dog Behaviour Conference and runs ABK Learn, a platform offering science-based education in animal behaviour, training, and neuroscience.