Debbie Emmerson

Debbie is a clinical animal behaviourist dedicated to the promotion of animal welfare through the use of practice-based education to enhance student learning and professional development.

Email: [email protected]

Background

Debbie is a Clinical Animal Behaviourist and the Pathway Lead for Pet Behaviour and Welfare. She runs the Pet Behaviour Clinic at Writtle Campus, where students gain invaluable exposure to real-world cases.

Currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD), Debbie is deeply committed to innovative, practice-based, student-centred teaching that bridges theory and practice.

Debbie plays a significant role in shaping professional standards within the sector. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) as Assessments and Applications Officer and serves as the APBC representative to the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC).

Debbie contributes to the ongoing review and development of ABTC practitioner standards. Her students benefit from an educator who is an experienced practitioner and heavily involved in development of the field of animal behaviour and welfare.

Research interests

• pet behaviour,
• assistance dogs,
• clinical and practice-based education,
• professional identity formation.

Areas of research supervision

• companion animals,
• animal behaviour,
• animal training.

Teaching

BSc (hons) Animal Science/Management - Pet Behaviour and Welfare Pathway Lead

• Level 4 modules: Animal Husbandry; Canine Behaviour Management (BSc Canine Therapy)
• Level 5 modules: Professional Practice and Legislation; Applied Behaviour and Training
• Level 6 modules: Clinical Animal Behaviour; Developing Clinical Practice

Second year tutor for BSc (hons) Animal Science and Animal Management

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour – ARU
• MSc Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling – University of Southampton
• Post Graduate Certificate in Education - Otley

Memberships, editorial boards

• Animal Behaviour and Training Council recognised Clinical Animal Behaviourist (ABTC)
• Full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC)
• Committee member and assessor for APBC
• APBC representative to the ABTC

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

2022, Video Library for Behaviour and Training Professionals with Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), and Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). £27000 Research England KE fund.

Selected recent publications

Gray, S., Emmerson, D., Thomson, Z. van Veggel, N., and Engward, H. (In Press). Preparing for Assistance Dog Retirement: What do we currently know about the retirement of assistance dogs? OSF Preprints DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/6v9gs

Gray, S., Emmerson, D., Thomson, Z., van Veggel, N. and Engward, H. (2024) 'A Scoping Review: Current Insights and Knowledge into Assistance Dog Retirement'. Interdisciplinary Innovation: How can we advance research and practice in human animal interaction. Society for Companion Animal Studies [online], 20 October 2024.

Thomson, Z., Emmerson, D., Gray, S., van Veggel, N. and Engward, H. (2024) 'Investigating the challenges of assistance dog retirement: A OneWelfare approach to support human-dog partnerships in the UK'. Interdisciplinary Innovation: How can we advance research and practice in human animal interaction. Society for Companion Animal Studies [online], 20 October 2024.

Recent presentations and conferences

Reka, B., Gray, S., Thomson, Z., Emmerson, D., van Veggel, N. and Engward, H. (2024) 'Preparing for Assistance Dog Retirement: information for assistance dog users available in the public domain'. 4th Anthrozoology as International Practice (AIP) Conference, AIP, [online], 17-19 November 2024.

van Veggel, N., Emmerson, D., Gray, S., Thomson, Z. and Engward, H. (2024). Participatory Research Fund Project: Preparing for Assistance Dog Retirement. 2nd Let's Shape Research Together Conference, ARU Cambridge, Cambridge, 26 June 2024. DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.26195204.v1.

van Veggel, N., Emmerson, D., Gray, S., Thomson, Z. and Engward, H. (2024). Preparing for Assistance Dog Retirement - a PPIE case study. 2nd Let's Shape Research Together Conference, ARU Cambridge, Cambridge, 26 June 2024. DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.26195210.v1.