Academic background:
I am an associate Professor of Ethology (title afforded from Stockholm University in 2017).
In addition, in the last 20 or so years, I’ve attended more than 60 international animal training courses, conferences and seminars, learning from some of the best contemporary animal trainers in the world.
I have taken Behaviour Works’ LLA course (hosted by Susan Friedman), I have a Fear Free Veterinary Certification, I’ve taken all four Chicken Camp courses (Introduction/discrimination; Criteria; Cues; Behaviour chains) with Bob Bailey and Marie Fogelquist, and I’m an honorary member of the European Primate Veterinarians.
Work history:
1996-2003: I had a part-time phD employment at Stockholm University.
2001-2018 I had part-time position at Smittskyddsinstitutet / Karolinska Institutet as a primate ethologist.
2003 After years of teaching, I founded ILLIS Animal Behaviour Courses (initially ILLIS Animal Behaviour Consulting), initially offering lectures and consultations to universities, zoos and dog-, horse- and cat organizations.
2005-2011 Intermittent enrichment / training consulting att Borås Zoo, including being Named Zoologist during 2009.
2016 I started offering online courses to the general public through ILLIS ABC.
Teaching experiences:
I have clocked thousands of hours of lecturing at universities, zoos, veterinary organizations, animal training professionals as well as the general public on diverse topics related to animal learning, behaviour and welfare.
I have taught in Swedish, English, French and Spanish.
I’ve been invited as a Keynote Speaker by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (Australia) and the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Australia, the international PPG as well as the World Congress of the Facial Expression of Emotion.
I have given presentations both online and on location in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria, Poland, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Israel, China, India, Indonesia, USA and Australia.
I have been invited to present for the PPG (Geek Week 2020, Geek Week 2021, Pet Resource Rescue), CAPBT, VeTa-bolaget, the Swedish Veterinary Congress, the Blue Star Veterinary Hospital Academy, the Swedish Organization of Academic Ethologists, Danish Society of Veterinary Ethology, the Flemish Group of Veterinary Behaviourists (VDWE), Belgian Association of Animal Professionals, Tierakademie Scheuerhof, Edogtorial, the Equine Behaviour Affiliation, International Canine Behaviourists, GoodDog, Dutch Cell Dogs, Grisha Stewart Academy, Dog-Centred Care, Powerdog, Hund i Fokus, Hundens Hus, Danmarks Civile Hundeförerförening, Dansk Kennel Klub, International Equine Professionals, International Feline Behaviourists, Svekatt, Copenhagen Zoo, Common Language, the Choice, Communication and Control Conference organized by Eva Bertilsson, as well as the Companion Animal Workshop.
I’ve participated in multiple online summits and podcasts, for instance KIENO (Kindness Is Essential, Not Optional) with Dr Holly Tett, the Barks podcast with Niki Tudge, Be Right Back with Julie Naismith, Tails from the Dog House: Separation Anxiety Explained with Ness Jones and Stacey Bell, What Reactive Dogs Really Need by Marilyn Melee, Decoding Your Canine Summit with Ness Jones, The fair.stärkt horse podcast, Djurtränarpodden with Jenny Afvander, Equinect with Susanna Davidsson, and the Huberman Lab with Andrew Huberman.
Relevant scientific publications:
2020. Animal Emotions and Moods: Why They Matter. In Animal-centric Care and Management (pp. 31-42). CRC Press. (Westlund, K & Clouthier, S).
2018. Formal definitions of “primary” and “secondary” reinforcers promote more efficient animal training. Journal of Animal Behavior Technology, 8(1). (Westlund, K).
2015. What teachers could learn from animal trainers. The learning teacher’s magazine. (Westlund, K).
2015. To feed or not to feed: Counterconditioning in the veterinary clinic. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 10(5), 433-437. (Westlund, K).
2014. Is training zoo animals enrichment? A letter to the Editor. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 152:100-102. (Westlund, K).
2014. Training is enrichment – and beyond. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 152:1-6. (Westlund, K).
2012. Questioning the necessity of food– and fluid regimes: Reply to Prescott and colleagues’ response. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 1: 210-213. (Westlund, K).
2012. Can Conditioned Reinforcers and Variable-Ratio Schedules make Food- and Fluid control redundant? A comment on the NC3Rs Working Group’s report. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 1: 202-205. (Westlund, K).
2003. On post-conflict affiliation in humans and other primates – methodological considerations. Doctoral Thesis, University of Stockholm (K.Westlund)