About Dr. Ward
Dr. Camille Ward is the President and founder of About Dogs LLC, where she specializes in behavioral consultations for the prevention, modification, and management of canine behavior problems. Her philosophy stresses relationship building and working from the dog’s point of view.
Dr. Ward received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan studying cognition and the development of social behavior in domestic dogs. In addition to her work on dogs, she also conducted behavior studies on crows, primates, and fish.
Dr. Ward has lectured nationally and internationally at scientific and dog training conferences on dog behavior. She has published on animal behavior in a variety of scientific academic journals, and her work has been featured in the popular press on MSNBC, in Cosmopolitan magazine, and in the Bark. Dr. Ward has taught animal behavior to undergraduate students at the University of Michigan, and she designed and taught a seminar called Dog Cognition, Behavior and Welfare. Her current interests are in applied animal behavior especially the link between emotions and behavior. She recently published a paper entitled: “Greeting Behavior between Dogs at a Dog Park” in the journal, Pet Behaviour Science.
Dr. Ward received her certification through the prestigious Animal Behavior Society as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). The process to achieve certification is selective and rigorous, and it represents the highest achievement available to an academically trained applied animal behaviorist. Dr. Ward is currently serving as a member on the Board for Professional Certification.
Dr. Ward co-hosted a symposium on “Comparative Canine Behavior” at the 53rd Annual Conference of the Animal Behavior Society. The symposium was the first academic forum for canine behavior research in North America and included invited speakers from around the world to present their research on the behavior and cognition of both domestic dogs and their wild counterparts.
Dr. Ward is on the Advisory Group of Dr. Marty Becker’s Fear Free Initiative, where the emphasis is on the emotional well-being of dogs during veterinary visits, grooming procedures, when working with trainers, and more.
She also worked as an Animal Behaviorist for the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Team, working with other professionals on the rehabilitation of dogs rescued from fighting, hoarding, puppy mills, and other forms of abuse.
Dr. Ward is “owned” by a rescue Doberman, Jimmy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Desi, and a Doberman, Iris.
