Dr.
John Wright, Ph.D., C.A.A.B
Dr. Wright obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from
Miami University in 1976. He was honored as a Charter Fellow of
The American Psychological Society in 1988 and was professionally
certified as an Applied Animal Behaviorist in 1991. He has authored
many studies and delivered numerous seminars on dog and cat behavior
with a special focus on dog and cat aggression. Dr. Wright has
served as an adjunct faculty member for The University of Georgia's
School of Veterinary Medicine and has served as Chairman of the
Animal Behavior Society's Board of Professional Certification.
He is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Applied Animal
Welfare Science, has a Veterinary referral “house-calls
practice in Atlanta, Georgia, and is presently Professor of Psychology
at Mercer University. Visit him at http://www.mercer.edu/psychology/Faculty_Staff/Wright_JC/Wright_JC.htm.)
Ms.
Pia Silvani, CPDT
Pia is Director of Pet Training and Behavior Counseling at St.
Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, Madison, New Jersey. Through research,
continuing education, and enthusiasm she was instrumental in developing
a pet training curriculum focusing on positive, reward-based techniques,
which are extremely effective in the enhancement of the bond and
relationship of the dog and her human companion. The result of
her efforts is an astounding 75+ classes per week, which includes
8 levels of pet training classes, specialty courses designed for
dogs with extreme behavioral problems and much more. She has written
five training manuals, which are being used around the country
as a resource guide for other trainers. Pia also developed a behavioral
department, which offers a wide range of private consultations
in both canine and feline behavior.
Dr.
Randy Lockwood
Randall Lockwood has degrees in psychology and biology from Wesleyan
University in Connecticut and a doctorate in comparative and physiological
psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. He joined
the Humane Society of the United States in 1984 and became Vice
President for Research and Educational Outreach in 1999, where
he now oversees professional education and training conducted
by The HSUS. Dr. Lockwood's research has examined many different
aspects of the interactions between people and animals including
the benefits of pet ownership to human health, the role of pets
in our perception of people, the problem of aggressive behavior
of dogs, the connection between cruelty to animals and other forms
of violence, and the treatment of animals within disturbed families.
For over 25 years he has worked closely with humane societies,
animal care and control agencies and law-enforcement, serving
as an expert on the interactions between people and animals. He
has been an advisor for the Centers for Disease Control and the
U.S. Postal Service, and a member of the American Veterinary Medical
Association’s Task Force on Human/Canine Interaction, established
to review the dog bite problem and appropriate community responses.
He has served as an expert witness in many civil and criminal
trials.