Jean Donaldson to Unveil Expanded Insights on Resource Guarding in Dogs at Bark! Fest Webinar

Celebrated canine behavior expert and author Jean Donaldson is slated to be a featured speaker at the upcoming Bark! Fest, the esteemed book festival for animal lovers. The virtual event, scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time (2:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM UK time), will offer attendees an in-depth exploration of resource guarding in dogs, coinciding with the release of the newly updated second edition of her seminal work, Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs. This highly anticipated webinar, co-hosted by Dr. Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson, promises to provide invaluable insights for dog guardians and professional trainers grappling with this often-challenging canine behavior.

Bark! Fest: A Hub for Animal Literature and Expertise

Bark! Fest serves as a crucial platform within the animal welfare and pet care community, dedicated to connecting readers with authors who contribute significantly to the understanding and well-being of animals. While specific details regarding its founding and annual cadence are often highlighted by organizers, its consistent mission revolves around promoting evidence-based literature, fostering responsible pet ownership, and advancing humane animal care practices. The festival typically showcases a diverse range of authors, from scientific researchers to acclaimed trainers, ensuring a rich tapestry of perspectives on topics spanning animal behavior, health, ethics, and conservation. Jean Donaldson’s participation underscores the festival’s commitment to featuring leading voices whose work profoundly impacts the human-animal bond. Her presence is expected to draw a significant international audience, given her global reputation as a pioneer in modern, positive reinforcement-based dog training.

The Enduring Relevance of Resource Guarding

Resource guarding, defined as the display of behaviors (such as freezing, growling, snapping, or biting) to retain possession of an item or space in the actual or perceived presence of another individual, is a common and often distressing behavioral challenge reported by dog owners. It can manifest around various items, including food bowls, chew toys, beds, preferred resting spots, and even human family members. While a natural, instinctual behavior rooted in a dog’s survival drive, its expression in a domestic setting can lead to significant safety concerns, erode trust within the household, and, in severe cases, contribute to the relinquishment of pets. The complexities of resource guarding lie not only in its varied manifestations but also in the emotional toll it takes on pet guardians, who often feel confused, frustrated, or guilty about their dog’s behavior.

A Classic Reimagined: The Second Edition of Mine!

The first edition of Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs rapidly ascended to classic status within the dog training literature upon its initial release. Its groundbreaking approach offered practical, humane strategies for addressing resource guarding at a time when punitive and confrontational methods were still prevalent. Donaldson’s ability to demystify complex behavioral science and translate it into actionable steps provided a much-needed resource for owners and trainers alike.

The decision to publish a second, updated edition reflects the dynamic evolution of canine behavioral science and training methodologies over the past decades. This new iteration of Mine! is not merely a reprint but a comprehensive re-evaluation and refinement of the original work, integrating deeper insights gleaned from years of research, practical application, and a more nuanced understanding of canine cognition and emotional states. Key updates and refinements include:

• Expanded Case Examples: The second edition offers a richer array of real-world scenarios, allowing readers to better identify with and apply the principles to their specific situations. These examples illustrate the diverse forms resource guarding can take and the tailored approaches required for effective intervention.
• Modern, Relationship-Centered Training: Donaldson emphasizes strategies that prioritize safety, build trust, and strengthen the human-animal bond, moving beyond mere behavior suppression to fostering genuine security and confidence in the dog. This aligns with contemporary understanding that fear and anxiety often underpin guarding behaviors.
• Nuanced Understanding of Etiology: The updated text delves more deeply into why dogs guard, exploring the underlying motivations, environmental triggers, and individual predispositions. This allows for a more targeted and empathetic approach to behavior modification.
• Updated Protocols and Troubleshooting Tips: Reflecting advancements in positive reinforcement techniques, the book provides refined step-by-step guidance, including new protocols and detailed troubleshooting advice for common challenges encountered during training. This ensures that guardians and trainers have a robust toolkit for navigating the complexities of the behavior.
• Emphasis on Prevention: A significant addition is the expanded focus on prevention strategies, crucial for puppies and newly adopted dogs. Understanding how to proactively manage environments and interactions can significantly reduce the likelihood of resource guarding developing or escalating.

By translating complex behavioral science into clear, compassionate, and practical strategies, the second edition of Mine! is poised to become an invaluable resource for a new generation of pet professionals and dedicated dog owners. It aims to empower individuals to assess risk accurately, implement humane and effective behavior modification plans, and ultimately restore harmony and security in homes where resource guarding has created tension. The book’s continued relevance underscores the ongoing need for informed, ethical approaches to canine behavior challenges, continually building upon a foundation of scientific understanding and compassionate care.

Jean Donaldson: A Pillar of Positive Reinforcement Training

Jean Donaldson’s influence on the landscape of modern dog training cannot be overstated. As one of the world’s most respected dog trainers and behavior experts, she has been a tireless advocate for positive reinforcement methods long before they gained widespread acceptance. Her philosophy centers on understanding dogs as sentient beings with their own unique ethological needs, rather than viewing them through a purely anthropocentric lens.

Donaldson is perhaps best known as the founder and former director of The Academy for Dog Trainers, often referred to as "the Harvard for dog trainers." This institution has played a pivotal role in professionalizing the field, equipping countless trainers globally with a rigorous, science-based education grounded in ethical, humane practices. The Academy’s graduates are recognized for their deep understanding of learning theory, behavior modification, and their unwavering commitment to force-free training methods.

Her other seminal work, The Culture Clash, published in 1996, revolutionized how many people viewed canine behavior. This book eloquently bridged the communication gap between humans and dogs, explaining common behavioral issues as natural canine expressions often misunderstood within human households. The Culture Clash received widespread acclaim, being named the number one training and behavior book by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and remains a foundational text for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their canine companions. Its principles laid crucial groundwork for understanding specific behaviors like resource guarding within a broader context of species-specific needs and communication.

Beyond her foundational texts, Donaldson’s commitment to education extends to broader audiences. In 2017, she authored and instructed "Dog Training 101" for The Great Courses, bringing her expert knowledge to a general public eager for accessible, trustworthy information on canine behavior and training. Her consistent message emphasizes patience, observation, and the power of positive reinforcement to build a cooperative and joyful relationship between dogs and their human families. Her work continues to shape the professional standards and public perception of effective and humane dog training worldwide.

The Expert Hosts: Zazie Todd, PhD, and Kristi Benson

The webinar’s credibility is further enhanced by its distinguished hosts, Dr. Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson, both prominent figures in the realm of science-based animal behavior and training.

Dr. Zazie Todd is a highly respected animal behavior expert, author, and science writer. Holding a PhD in psychology, her work is dedicated to translating complex scientific research into practical, accessible advice for pet guardians. She is the author of "Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy" and "Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy," and maintains the popular blog "Companion Animal Psychology," which serves as a vital resource for evidence-based information on pet behavior and welfare. Her commitment to promoting positive reinforcement and humane animal care aligns perfectly with Donaldson’s philosophy, making her an ideal moderator for this important discussion. Her role in facilitating author discussions and promoting animal welfare literature, as evidenced by her curated lists on Amazon and Bookshop, highlights her dedication to fostering an informed pet-owning community.

Kristi Benson is another highly regarded professional in the dog training community. As a certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, she brings extensive practical experience and a deep understanding of canine learning and behavior to the discussion. Benson is known for her clear, compassionate approach to training and her ability to help guardians understand and resolve behavioral challenges using force-free methods. Her collaboration with Dr. Todd in hosting this event signifies a shared commitment to elevating the standards of dog training education and making expert knowledge widely available. Their combined expertise ensures that the webinar will be engaging, informative, and grounded in the latest scientific understanding.

Event Logistics and Supporting the Authors

The virtual webinar format offers unparalleled accessibility, allowing participants from diverse geographical locations to engage with Jean Donaldson’s insights. The live session on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM Pacific (2:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM UK time) will be conducted via Zoom. Recognizing the global audience and potential time zone conflicts, organizers have thoughtfully arranged for a recording of the event to be made available to all registered attendees. This ensures that everyone who registers, regardless of their immediate availability, will have the opportunity to benefit from Donaldson’s expertise.

Registration is essential to secure a spot for this enlightening session. Attendees are encouraged to save their spot promptly via the provided registration link to ensure they receive all necessary access details and follow-up information.

Beyond attendance, participants are strongly encouraged to support the authors by purchasing their books. This direct support is vital for sustaining the research, writing, and continued development of high-quality, evidence-based resources in the field of animal behavior. Donaldson’s Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs, Second Edition, along with her other works and those of Dr. Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson, are available through major booksellers, including online platforms like Amazon and Bookshop. The inclusion of affiliate links, transparently disclosed by Dr. Todd, reflects common journalistic practice in supporting content creators while providing convenience to readers seeking to acquire these valuable resources.

Broader Impact and Implications for Canine Welfare

The release of the second edition of Mine! and Jean Donaldson’s accompanying webinar at Bark! Fest carry significant implications for the landscape of canine welfare and human-animal relationships.

For dog guardians, this updated resource and educational event offer a beacon of hope and practical guidance. Resource guarding can be incredibly isolating, causing owners to feel alone in their struggle. Access to clear, compassionate, and effective strategies can empower them to manage and modify their dog’s behavior safely, reducing stress for both pet and owner, and ultimately strengthening the human-animal bond. By providing tools for prevention and intervention, the book and webinar aim to reduce instances of severe guarding behaviors that might otherwise lead to rehoming or euthanasia.

For pet professionals, including dog trainers, behavior consultants, and veterinarians, the second edition of Mine! represents a critical update to their professional toolkit. It ensures that their approaches remain aligned with the latest scientific understanding and ethical standards in the field. The webinar provides an invaluable opportunity for continuing education, allowing professionals to hear directly from one of the foremost authorities and engage with contemporary perspectives on a pervasive behavioral issue. This continuous professional development contributes to raising the overall standard of care and expertise available to the public.

More broadly, this event and publication reinforce the ongoing shift towards ethical, evidence-based dog training methodologies. Jean Donaldson’s career has been instrumental in advocating for positive reinforcement, and the success of Mine! in its updated form further solidifies the scientific consensus that humane, trust-based methods are the most effective and ethical way to address canine behavior challenges. This contributes to a larger cultural movement towards greater empathy and understanding of our canine companions, fostering more harmonious cohabitation and improving animal welfare outcomes on a societal level. The continued engagement of influential figures like Donaldson, Todd, and Benson ensures that the discourse around animal behavior remains rigorous, compassionate, and forward-thinking, paving the way for a deeper, more empathetic understanding of the animals with whom we share our lives.