
Dr. Spaulding tracks the latest in animal behavior, saving you hours of complex research.

Join monthly webinars to explore the newest findings, their impact, and brainstorm real-world applications.

Network with a passionate community of professionals committed to using cutting-edge scientific methods.

Earn 1 CEU per webinar for CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA and IAABC certifications.

But you don’t just love them. You want to do everything you can to make their lives better, and that takes keeping your professional knowledge shiny and polished.

You can’t get enough learning about dogs, training, & behavior. You don’t just live and breathe dogs, you read and watch and learn dogs.

You want to know all the cool new stuff but don’t want to have to battle your way through academic writing to get to the good bits.

You’re a serious dog trainer or behaviorist who understands that being a professional means staying up-to-date in your field.

You love talking dog shop with training and behavior colleagues who are as geeky and passionate about dog behavior as you are.

Research Bites will give you some seriously awesome conversation starters and make you the most interesting person at any gathering!
Monthly Research Webinars + CEUs
Live webinars exploring current research and what it means for real-world practice. Includes Q&A and discussion with Dr. Spaulding and other members. Webinars are recorded for later viewing.
Coffee Breaks
Informal, unscripted conversations where Dr. Spaulding and members integrate research and professional experience to think through real-world applications. Listen to a Coffee Break discussion.
Quarterly Topic Webinars
Big-picture reviews of current scientific thinking on specific topics, with discussion of implications for practice.
Member Discounts
Reduced pricing on Science Matters courses and events.
Replay & Discussion Access
Ongoing access to webinar recordings and member discussions.
Joining today gives you access to the next webinar, plus all ongoing member benefits.
Tuesday, March 10th, at 12 pm and 7 pm ET
Can Toy Play Become Addictive for Dogs?
Few topics spark stronger opinions than toys and play—how they should be used, which games feel appropriate, and where the line is between enrichment and excess. We know that play can be highly reinforcing for dogs, but what happens when interest in toys starts to look more like fixation? This month in Research Bites, we’ll dig into a study that explores whether patterns of toy use can resemble addictive behavior. We’ll look closely at what the researchers actually found—and, just as importantly, what those findings mean (and don’t mean) for thoughtful, science-informed practice.
Paper: Mazzini, A., Senn, K., Monteleone, F., & Riemer, S. (2025). Addictive-like behavioural traits in pet dogs with extreme motivation for toy play. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 32613. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18636-0
Tuesday, March 10th, at 12 pm and 7 pm ET
Can Toy Play Become Addictive for Dogs?
Tuesday, April 14th, at 12 pm and 7 pm ET
New Insights into Arousal and Training Retention: What Helps Learning Stick
CEUs available from CCPDT and IAABC for all webinars
Subscribe monthly or yearly.
(Yearly is the best deal—saves you $72!)
Cancel any time.
Research Bites webinars are presented live and recorded. So, if you cannot attend live, you will have access to the recording. However, it is recommended that you attend live is possible so that you have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in the discussions.
Yes! CEUs are available from CCPDT and IAABC. Other organizations are available upon request. Note that CEUs are only available for webinars that are presented while you are an active member.
I’m so glad you asked! In addition to the monthly webinars, members also receive the following benefits:
Yes! Memberships can be canceled by e-mailing us at sciencerocks@sciencemattersllc.com. This will prevent your membership from being renewed.
Yes. Once you cancel your membership, you will lose access to all Research Bites material at the end of the current billing cycle.