NC State CVM Companion Animal Behavior Symposium
September 19, 2026
The NC State Behavioral Medicine Service invites veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other professionals to attend the 2026 Companion Animal Behavior Symposium.
The NC State CVM Companion Animal Behavior Symposium will cover a variety of topics for the primary care veterinary practitioner, veterinary technicians, other professionals, and owners. The program will address a variety of behavioral problems that may be seen in a veterinary setting, some of which may be best served by quickly addressing them or beginning a safety/management protocol while pursuing further intervention with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
The Veterinary Professional track has been approved by AAVSB RACE for 7 hours of continuing education credit. Approved for 7 CEUs from the Karen Pryor Academy for KPA-CTPs, 11.5 CEU by IAABC and 10 CEUs for CCPDT.
Registration
Participation in the 2026 Companion Animal Behavior Symposium is in-person ONLY.
Veterinarian Track: $100 includes breakfast and lunch
Owner Track: $25 includes breakfast
Veterinarian Schedule
| Time | Topic | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:00 AM | Check-in and Breakfast | |
| 8:00 – 8:50 AM | Stranger Danger | Maggie O’Brian DVM, MS, DACVB |
| 9:00 – 9:50 AM | That’s Mine! Diagnosing & Treating Resource Guarding & Possessive Aggression in Dogs | Melissa North, DVM, DACVPM |
| 10:00 – 10:20 AM | Break | |
| 10:20 – 11:10 AM | Take 5!: Behavior Treatment Plans in Five Steps | Gahee Kim, DVM |
| 11:20 AM – 12:10 PM | Am I Grumpy or Do I Hurt? | Margaret E. Gruen DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB, Fear Free Certified |
| 12:20 – 1:30 PM | Lunch | |
| 1:30 – 2:20 PM | Raise ‘Em Right: The Dos & Don’ts of Socialization & Exposure | Raise ‘Em Right: The Dos & Don’ts of Socialization & Exposure |
| 2:30 – 3:20 PM | When Behavior Isn’t Just Behavior: Linking the Gut-Brain Axis, Pain, and Underlying Physiology in the Everyday Behavior Patient | Adele Hilliard, DVM |
| 3:30 – 4:20 PM | Speaker Roundtable | All |
Owner Schedule
| Time | Topic | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM | Check-in and Breakfast | |
| 8:30 – 9:20 AM | Pattern Games: Using Predictability to Reduce Arousal and Anxiety | Monica Henderson, RVT, KPA-CTP, CBCC-KA, FFCP (Veterinary), CCUI |
| 9:30 – 10:20 AM | From Tail Wags to Warnings: A Guide to Keeping Kids & Dogs Safe | Sherrie Yuschak, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP, Elite FFCP |
| 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM | Fear Free Grooming | Jesi Kirk, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA |
| 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM | Speaker Roundtable | All |