Call for Speakers

Call for Proposals
The 2014 APDT Annual
Educational Conference & Trade Show

October 15 – 18, 2013 - Location TBD

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) is seeking educational content for the Annual Conference and Tradeshow!

We are looking for presentations that:

• "Break out of the mold"
• Feature fresh, innovative content that has not been presented elsewhere
• Give attendees the chance to connect and interact with each other AND with YOU!
• Learn tangible, real, applicable methods and skills that can be implemented immediately
• Feature information that focused on "How" rather than "About" or "Why"
• Includes demos, videos, and plenty of visual aid
• Provides hands-on
• Is targeted to either those brand new to the topic being presented OR targeted to those highly experienced in the topic
• Address Animal Learning, Human Learning, Behavior, Business, Laws & Regulations, as well as Health & Nutrition (Learn more about our Body of Knowledge)

In line with our new strategic plan, we are seeking to change our format to meet "best practices" in professional adult education. All speakers will be required to work within the APDT Speaker Guidelines. Please review prior to submitting your proposal.

Criteria Checklist:

Please ensure EACH proposal meets the following:

• Application is complete
• Presentation is not a sales pitch for a product, book or DVD, or program.
• Format contains interactivity, visual aid, demo, etc and is NOT lecture only
• Topic is fresh, innovative, and provocative
• Content focuses on "how" attendees can do it, and be applied immediately
• Content is aimed at attendees highly experienced in the topic OR brand new to the topic
• Falls within at least one of the APDT Body of Knowledge Subject Areas
• Is one of at least three proposals, or is a full-day topic

Before You Begin - Read the Following Instructions Carefully.

• Proposals must be submitted on-line.
• Incomplete submissions will NOT be reviewed
• View the PDF Checklist to identify all required information.
• Prepare materials accordingly; note the maximum word counts for all sections.
• Collect all necessary information in advance.
• Spell check and Word Count are NOT available in the on-line form. Please plan accordingly. We recommend drafting proposals in a word processing software
• All fields with an asterisk * are required
• A new submission form is required for each presentation.
• Print/save a copy of your submission for future reference.
• If you do not receive automatic emailed confirmation, please re-submit or follow up with the APDT Office (education@apdt.com).  
• Speakers who have not previously spoken for APDT will be asked to provide a video sample of a presentation given to an audience by July 1, 2013, 5:00 p.m. Pacific/8:00 p.m. Eastern.

How Will You Know if You Are Selected?

• Selected speakers are contacted by the end of 2013.
• A contract outlining the date, time, and place of the presentation, the agreement terms, the deadlines for session descriptions, audiovisual requirements and presentation workbook material submissions will be provided
• If you are not selected for 2014, you will receive a letter by the end of December 2014.

Please remember that we receive a large number of proposals and can only select a small number of speakers each year. We receive many wonderful proposals we are not able to select due to limited speaker slots.

On-Line Submission Form

Questions or Having Difficulties:
Katenna Jones, Director of Educational Programs
katenna@apdt.com or education@apdt.com
1-800-PET-DOGS (738-3647, ext 9)