What We Learned At A Leading Dog Training And Behaviour Conference

Introduction

At Lola's House, we believe that learning never stops.

On 15th May 2026, we attended the Guild of Dog Trainers and Cambridge Institute of Dog Behaviour & Training (CIDBT) Networking & CPD Event at the Royal Kennel Club in Warwickshire. As relatively new members of the Guild of Dog Trainers, we weren't entirely sure what to expect from the day, but we came away genuinely impressed.

The event brought together trainers, behaviourists, industry professionals and dog enthusiasts from across the country for a full day of education, networking and practical demonstrations. With an 8am start and a packed schedule running until 6pm, it was certainly a long day, but one that provided plenty of valuable insights and ideas that we can bring back to Lola's House.

As dog trainers, opportunities to step away from the day-to-day running of the business are relatively rare, which made the event even more valuable. Spending a full day learning from experienced professionals and connecting with others in the industry was time extremely well spent.

Neuroscience And Behaviour

Another standout session was Jo Croft's presentation on neuroscience and behaviour.

Understanding how dogs learn, process information and respond emotionally is a huge part of successful training. The session explored how emotions, stress, learning and behaviour are all connected, reinforcing the importance of creating calm, positive learning environments for dogs.

As trainers, we spend a lot of time helping owners understand not just what their dog is doing, but why they are doing it. Sessions like this help strengthen that understanding and ultimately allow us to better support both dogs and their owners.

Revisiting Canine CPR

No matter how long you've worked with dogs, it's always valuable to revisit emergency procedures.

The canine CPR demonstration was a useful refresher and reinforced the importance of being prepared for unexpected situations. Whilst we hope never to need these skills, keeping them fresh is an important part of maintaining high standards of care.

This is particularly relevant when caring for dogs in a professional environment, where safety and welfare must always come first. Learn more about our 5 star boarding environment.

The Advanced Dog Ownership Initiative

One of the topics that particularly caught our attention was the Advanced Dog Ownership Initiative.

The initiative focuses on promoting higher standards of dog ownership and encouraging owners to develop a deeper understanding of canine behaviour, welfare and responsible dog ownership.

Many of the principles discussed align closely with the values we already promote through our training services, and we're excited to explore how some of these ideas can be incorporated into both our Puppy Programme and Dog Training Programme in the future.

The Fascinating World Of Scent Work

The scent work demonstration was another highlight of the day.

Watching dogs use their natural abilities to locate scents was both impressive and fascinating. Scent work provides excellent mental stimulation, builds confidence and gives dogs an outlet for natural behaviours.

It's something we'd love to explore further with Lola, and it's certainly given us ideas for future enrichment activities with the dogs we work with. We already provide agility sessions as a form of enrichment.

More Than Just Learning

While the educational talks were excellent, one of the biggest benefits of the day was meeting other professionals within the industry.

Dog training can sometimes feel surprisingly isolated, particularly when you're focused on running a business and supporting clients every day. Events like this provide valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, discuss challenges and learn from people working in different areas of the industry.

We're already looking forward to staying in touch with many of the people we met throughout the day.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed attending the Guild of Dog Trainers and CIDBT Networking & CPD Event.

The day reinforced many of the principles we already believe in, challenged us to think differently in certain areas and provided plenty of practical ideas that we can take forward into our own work.

Most importantly, it reminded us that good dog trainers never stop learning.

A huge thank you to the Guild of Dog Trainers, CIDBT, the speakers and everyone involved in organising the event. We left feeling inspired, motivated and excited to continue developing our knowledge for the benefit of the dogs and owners we work with every day.

We look forward to attending future events and continuing our professional development journey.

About Lola's House

Lola's House provides professional dog training, puppy training, dog boarding and daycare in Burton-on-Trent.

As members of the Guild of Dog Trainers, we are committed to ongoing professional development and regularly attend industry events, workshops and training courses to ensure we continue providing the highest standards of care and education for both dogs and their owners.

Whether you're looking for help with a new puppy, behaviour support, structured socialisation or home-from-home boarding, our goal is always the same: helping dogs become calm, confident and happy companions.