The 5-Step Clinical Framework for Compulsive Disorders
4 Live Sessions via Zoom · Registration Full
Compulsive disorders are among the most misunderstood conditions in the dogs we work with. They get dismissed as quirks, labelled as attention-seeking, or seen as the dog "needing a job." But these dogs are at risk — and they need a real clinical plan, not a management workaround.
Over four live interactive sessions, we go deep into what compulsive disorders actually are, how to assess them, how to differentiate them from the behaviours they most commonly get confused with, and what a genuinely effective treatment plan looks like in practice.
Registration Full — $349 CADCourse Overview
4 live sessions via Zoom
45 min teaching + 30 min discussion + 30–40 min case consultation per session
Supplementary reading between sessions
Group case consultation in final session
$349 CAD
Approx. $284 USD
Registration Full
These dogs are being failed. This course changes that.
Spinning. Shadow chasing. Fly-snapping. Pica. Acral lick. Compulsive licking. These behaviours get dismissed, egged on, or punished. None of those approaches will help — and all of them can make things significantly worse.
If you have ever sat across from a dog who chases shadows until they collapse, who tail-spins past the point of being redirected, who snaps at invisible flies while their owner watches helplessly — you already know that "give them a job" is not an answer.
This course is built around Emily's 5-Step Clinical Protocol — a tried and tested framework that covers every layer of intervention, from medical foundation to behaviour modification. This plan has helped countless dogs struggling with compulsive behaviours, some in as little as one day.
"If compulsive disorders are a gap in your clinical toolkit, this is where to close it."
Four sessions. One complete framework.
Each session includes 45 minutes of teaching, 30 minutes of group discussion, and 30–40 minutes of case consultation. Optional supplementary reading and resources are provided between sessions.
Understanding Compulsive Disorders
The foundation — what compulsive disorders actually are, what drives them, and how they develop at the intersection of genetics, stress, and medical factors. We cover common presentations and breed predispositions, and look carefully at what these dogs are experiencing. We also address what they are most commonly confused with and how to tell the difference.
The Medical Foundation
Before behaviour modification can be effective, the medical picture needs to be clear. This session covers the diagnostic process, how to collaborate with veterinary professionals, the medication consultation, and guiding clients through the steps that need to happen first. For many trainers, navigating the medical side — from diagnostic workups to anxiety-reducing medications — can feel daunting. We cover how to support your clients through that process while staying firmly within scope of practice.
Environment, Training, Lifestyle & Stress
Environmental management, the role of exercise and enrichment in treatment, trigger identification and management, and the critical importance of stress reduction. We also look at which commonly used interventions are contraindicated in compulsive disorders — and why knowing this protects your clients and their dogs.
Case Application
We bring the full protocol together — how all five steps work as a cohesive treatment plan, and what life might look like for your client moving forward. This session includes a group case consultation, so come with questions about the real cases you are working on. If you don't have a case, Emily will provide examples for group discussion.
Each session includes
- 45 minutes of structured teaching content
- 30 minutes of group discussion
- 30–40 minutes of live case consultation
- Optional supplementary reading and resources between sessions
- Access to Emily's questions and case discussion throughout
Who this is for
Working trainers, behaviour consultants, and vet staff who encounter compulsive presentations in their practice and want a complete, clinically grounded framework for addressing them.
Whether you are newer to the field or have years of experience — if compulsive disorders are a gap in your clinical toolkit, this is where to close it.
Emily Priestley
CTC · CDBC · CCBC · CSB-DEmily is a certified dog and cat behaviour consultant based on Vancouver Island, BC, and a graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers. She spent a decade working within the BC SPCA shelter system, handling thousands of dogs and overseeing complex cruelty and hoarding intakes. Dogs with the most challenging behavioural needs from across the province were transferred to her location — compulsive disorders among them.
Emily's compulsive behaviour plans have been described by veterinary behaviourists as some of the best they have seen. She is the author of Urban Sheepdog, Reactivity in Herding Breed Dogs, and Understanding Your Sound-Sensitive Dog, and has been teaching and mentoring professional trainers, shelter staff, and veterinary teams on the complexities of behaviour for years.
Her approach in this course is the same as in everything she does: not what the behaviour looks like on the surface, but what is actually driving it — and what that means for the plan.
"Emily's compulsive behaviour plans are some of the best I have seen. They have genuinely influenced how I approach these cases with my own clients."
Veterinary Behaviourist
Ready to close this gap in your toolkit?
4 live sessions. A complete clinical framework. Real cases, real discussion.
$349 CAD · Registration Full
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