This unique four-day professional development experience will take place October 15-18, 2026, at the International Conservation Center in Fairhope, Pennsylvania. Participants will observe and learn from the protected contact training systems used with elephants and Bactrian camels, gaining valuable insights that can be directly applied to shelter, rescue, and canine behavior work.

In  addition to our own experienced staff, we have partnered with Emily Lewis of Vermont Dog Behavior, a certified Dog Behavior Consultant, to both design and deliver the workshop.

Emily Lewis, CDBC

• 25 years of professional experience as a dog trainer, shelter behavior consultant an veterinary technician.
• Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
• 13 years of experience in shelters doing behavior evaluations, dog to dog testing, creating enrichment and training plans, and counseling adopters
• Specializes in a wide variety of behavior issue, including human directed aggression

Throughout the training, attendees will explore:

• Positive reinforcement and protected contact training techniques
• Ethical, welfare-centered animal training practices
• Strategies for working with fearful, reactive, or aggression-prone dogs
• Cooperative care principles and consent-based training
• Applications for shelter and rescue environments
• Observation and behavior analysis skills from experienced wildlife training professionals

The workshop also offers Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for eligible dog training professionals through CCPDT (19 for trainers and 11 for behavior consultants), IAABC (33.8), and KPA (30).

Event Details

• Dates: October 15-18, 2026
• Location: International Conservation Center, 1487 Glen Savage Road, Fairhope, PA 15538
• Standard Registration: $1,895 (participant) or $1,995 (participant with overnight accommodations)

This is a rare opportunity to learn training principles where precision, safety, animal welfare, and clear communication are essential, and to bring those skills back to your shelter team and the animals in your care.

To learn more about the training program, visit: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/protected-contact-training/

We hope you'll join us for this one-of-a-kind professional development experience.