Who is Billie Groom?
Billie Groom, Canine Psychotherapist, is THE expert on Canine Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), having studied and researched canine behavior for three decades, resulting in the development of the only evidence-based methodology adhering to the principles of CBT.
Her dedication and the success of her method has earned her the position of a renowned Animal Welfare Activist, Social Entrepreneur, Innovator, Speaker, Author, Podcast Host, and, on a personal note, a pint of IPA on a patio with a dog or two! Get to know her here! Or find her CV here: Media
*PhD Transpersonal Ecology, Canine Psychotherapeutic Practices, University of Sedona, Current(Virtual)
*PhD, Antioch University, School of Leadership and Change, 2023-2024 (Virtual program)
*Animal Cognition and Emotion to Improve Animal Welfare (PhD course) University of Sweden Agricultural Sciences, (virtual) 2023
*B.A. University of Western Ontario (1989)
*Continuing Education Langara College (1991)
*Keynote Speaker at the Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Conference (2022 and 2023)
*Featured Presenter at the Animal Behavior Society Conference (2022 and 2023)
*Recipient of the Canadian Business Award, 2024
*Group Presenter at the Collaborative Workshop on Interdisciplinary Approaches to Teaching (ABS Conference 2022)
*Featured in Psychology Today Magazine (2022) by Marc Bekoff
*Featured Writer in LiT Magazine as an expert in Passionpreneurship (2022)
*Recipient of the Global Business Award (2021) for Client Satisfaction, Longevity, and Positive Impact
*Speaker at the University of Regina - Animals in Social Work Program (2000)
*Published Author, and Winner of the American Best Book Fest Awards (Pets/Narrative Non-Fiction). I am currently working on my second book with the support of New York Times best selling author, Jonathan Balcombe
*Advisory Board Member at Canine Innovations Inc. (University of Texas at Dallas)
*Completed “Brain Development in Life Stages Effecting Behavior,” (Canines), Dr. Kathy Murphy (2022)
*Featured on Roku TV as a Recognized Innovator and Entrepreneur by the LA Tribune and IGNITE Your Essence
*Guest on DVM 360, Dog Connection Show, Voices for Animals, The Entrepreneur Way, The Vet Blast, The Animal Innovations Show, Dog Lovers Live, Dog Desk Radio, Wag the Dog, and more
*Host and creator of Dog Training DistUPted podcast, recognized as leading podcast in canine behavior
*Host of Effective Animal Advocacy on All About Animals Radio, recognized as leading show in animal advocacy internationally
*Creator and host of The Solutionist Show on All About Animal Radio
*Guest on Access TV with Lisa Peters
*Published/Featured in Magazines/Blogs: Dog Edition Professional, Happy Homes Dogs, Ruff Drafts, American Assoc. of Pet Parents, Cold Noses News, Dog Desk, Voyage Denver, Wag Out Loud, and more
*Featured Speaker at The Global Grief Conference (as an expert on CCBT)
*Member of the Comparative Cognition Society, Animal Behavior Society, and Dog Writers Association of America
*Awarded by the Toronto Humane Society, Dedication to Animal Welfare, 2001
*Recognized by CHML Radio for Commitment to Community, 2001
My Learning Journey to becoming a Dog Behaviorist:
You could say I have had an unconventional journey, spanning over three decades, which has provided me with an advanced knowledge of dogs and great insight into the dog-world, which cannot be achieved through conventional learning. I did not study CBT for dogs and then apply it to dogs. My work with dogs has provided me with a wealth of experience. These dogs all had different pasts and experiences, so it is necessary to acknowledge their pre-conceived perceptions and their life-skills. I learned how to reach the cognitive side of their brain and to use this skill to effectively integrate them into our world. From there, I learned how to teach it to people and voluntarily worked with dozens of rescue organizations. This allowed me to create an easy to follow system which continues to save the lives of dogs and the sanity of the people who love them, everyday.
”I never liked the title of “Behaviorist” because it sounds so uptight and “Behavioral Rehabilitation” is so rule orientated. I educate people on how to apply cognitive behavioral therapy to easily and effectively reach their goals, of which addressing unwanted behaviors is common. I approach this much like a “Mixologist” - I am an expert at understanding how to creatively use different elements in a manner that adheres to a scientifically proven formula to achieve a desired outcome. Hence, I am an entrepreneur and a Dogologist.”
For more info on my learning journey, pls visit the links on this website to the many podcasts, tv shows and articles I am featured on. My book and my podcast begin with this journey.
My podcast: Season 1- Part 1 of 4 - Who the hell is Billie Groom? (buzzsprout.com)
I Owe it to the Dogs
I am grateful for the many dogs I have had the opportunity to work with, including dogs from I the Yulin Fest, fighting rings, reserves of Northern Canada, backyard breeders, basements, ditches, rooftops, the streets of Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, China, Korea, and the Galgos from Spain. I am currently working (pro-bono, of course) with a rescue in Romania who takes in scared and hurt dogs from the warzone.
My current dogs include a street dog from Mexico and a street dog from Costa Rica. I am a cardio junkie and lover of the outdoors. I enjoy reading fictional books (especially crime thrillers), and I can be seen enjoying a beer on a patio, preferably an IPA, and with dogs.
Photo is of Cuba, brought to Canada by Extraordinary Galgos and Podencos, and now in a loving home in Regina. Billie works a lot with Galgos and was featured in the Queen City Magazine in an article on the Galgos now happily living in Regina.
