Adolescent Pets: Growing, Learning and Playing (Wednesday, November 25, 2026)

Wed, 25 Nov 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Presented by Dr Petra Edwards and Andrea Carne

Adolescence is an important stage in your pet's development, bringing changes in behaviour, learning and social interactions. It can also be a challenging time for pet guardians as previously learned skills seem to disappear and new behaviours begin to emerge.

Join our PPGA experts in pet training and behaviour as we explore what happens during adolescence and how you can support your pet through this stage of life.

We'll discuss realistic expectations for adolescent pets, the benefits of play, and why revisiting foundation training skills is so important. We'll also explore how trick training, enrichment and age appropriate activities can make learning enjoyable, along with ways to prepare your pet for future activities.

Whether you share your life with an adolescent dog or cat, this webinar will provide practical advice to help you understand your pet's changing needs, build new skills and strengthen your relationship.

Learning Objectives

Understand adolescent development: Recognise the physical, cognitive and behavioural changes that influence learning, behaviour and age appropriate expectation.

Apply effective training strategies: Understand how play, realistic expectations and revisiting foundation skills can support adolescent pets through this developmental stage.

Explore opportunities for learning and enrichment: Identify how trick training, age appropriate activities and preparation for dog sports can develop skills, confidence and strengthen the human animal bond.

About The Presenters

Petra Edwards PhD Certified Applied Animal Behaviourist, Grad. Dip (Psych) BSc (Animal Behaviour) (Hons) Cert IV TAE

Petra is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviourist, with a PhD in dog behaviour and welfare, a BSc (Hons) with a specialisation in animal behaviour and a Graduate Diploma in (human) Psychology. She regularly consults and provides animal handling and animal behaviour training to local government, shelter/ rescue and pet care industries, and currently works in local government in an education and engagement capacity relating to animal management. Petra has over 20 years’ experience in the dog training industry and a keen passion for training, developing and coaching people about pets the they care for.

Contact Petra https://www.petraedwards.com/

Andrea Carne is a Feline Professional Member of PPGA and a Certified Cat Behaviour Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She is also a Cert IV veterinary nurse and a qualified dog trainer through the Delta Institute where she began her career in animal behaviour and training.

Her business “Cattitude” was established in 2018, initially focused on in-home consultations with cat guardians in Hobart and surrounds. She has since expanded the business to include online consultations with clients across Australia and overseas.

From toileting problems, fearfulness and inter-cat conflict, to helping introduce felines to new ‘family additions’ (two legs and four), Andrea has helped clients from all walks of life to bring some purr-fect harmony to their home and build a better bond with their cats in the process.

Contact Andrea: https://cattitude.com.au/

Don't forget that Daylight Savings Time has started so if you are in a state that doesn't have Daylight Savings then please adjust the webinar time in your calendar.

Pet Professional Guild Australia upcoming events

Adolescent Pets: Growing, Learning and Playing (Wednesday, November 25, 2026)