16.06.26
On Saturday 13 June 2026, ethical education provider Canine Principles hosted its Inside Out Symposium at Hartpury University, bringing together trainers, behaviourists, veterinary nurses, physiotherapists and other canine professionals who are passionate about improving dogs’ lives.
We were delighted that Natalie (pictured above with tutor, Holly Leake) from our campaigns team was invited to speak at the event, sharing insights from our work to tackle low-welfare and illegal dog breeding.
Natalie’s presentation explored how our use of Freedom of Information requests has helped uncover serious concerns within the UK’s puppy trade, including evidence suggesting that an estimated four in five dogs still come from unknown, unregulated sources. She also shared findings from our most recent report, which revealed that legal rules in England and Scotland designed to tackle harmful breeding are not being fully utilised.
A further focus of the talk was the ongoing concern around canine fertility clinics. These clinics and assisted breeding techniques have become an increasingly troubling feature of the UK’s dog breeding landscape, often enabling breeding practices that prioritise profit and convenience over welfare. Natalie highlighted the work we are doing to address these issues through advocacy, investigations and public awareness campaigns, and discussed how canine professionals can help support efforts to end low-welfare breeding.
The symposium featured a range of inspiring speakers and practical insights for those dedicated to improving dogs’ lives.
Professor Carri Westgarth from the University of Liverpool introduced the Ageing Canine Toolkit, a simple and accessible resource designed to help owners monitor their older dogs’ health and wellbeing. The checklist covers areas including mobility, weight, dental health, lumps and bumps, and more and can help owners decide when a veterinary visit is needed.
Veterinarian Hannah Capon, founder of Canine Arthritis Management (CAM), shared valuable guidance for supporting dogs living with arthritis. She reminded attendees that arthritis is not just a condition of old age but can affect dogs at any stage of life. Her presentation highlighted the positive difference that thoughtful home adaptations and informed care can make for dogs with arthritis, while also encouraging compassion and understanding for owners managing the responsibility of caring for an arthritic dog. For anyone living with a dog with arthritis, we recommend taking a look at CAM’s Home Assessment Tool.
The day also featured a moving presentation from Canine Principles founder, Jo Middleton, who shared stories from her work with rescue dogs to illustrate the incredible plasticity of dogs’ brains. Through real-life examples, she demonstrated the remarkable resilience and adaptability of dogs who have experienced trauma. Her stories showed how patience, compassion and appropriate support can help even the most shut-down dogs learn to trust again and thrive.
We are incredibly grateful to Canine Principles for generously donating half of the symposium’s profits to Naturewatch Foundation. Their support will help us continue our vital work to protect animals from cruelty and exploitation, and to campaign for lasting change that improves animal welfare.
Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke at, and supported this fantastic event. Together, we are helping to create a better future for dogs.
Find out more about our companion animal campaign here.
