PPG Advocacy Panel: Conversations About Compassionate Care and Connection with Dr. Laura Donaldson
You don’t want to miss this special episode! It’s the first for a new Advocacy Task Force program called Conversations About Compassionate Care and Connection. These special Advocacy Panels feature a special guest and two co-hosts. The special guest for this Advocacy Panel is Dr. Laura Donaldson! Your Co-hosts: Judy Luther and Debbie Sheridan Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’ button below. Recorded April 17, 2024. Find out… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: Unrealistic Expectations: Where Do They Come From and How Do We Diffuse Them?
In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses unrealistic expectations for pets, where those expectations come from, and how to diffuse them. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Dr. Karolina Westlund, Daniel Antolec, Kristi Benson, Kim Silver and Sam Wike Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’ button below. Recorded March 20, 2024. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.
PPG Advocacy Panel: Changing a Pet’s Behavior by Changing Human Behavior
In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses changing a pet’s behavior by changing human behavior. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Dr. Zazie Todd, Dr. Karolina Westlund, Beth Adelman, Daniel Antolec, Judy Luther, Sandra Machado, Pat Miller, Debbie Sheridan and Sam Wike Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’ button below. Recorded February 21, 2024. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.
PPG Advocacy Panel: Are We Trainers or Teachers? What Best Describes What We Do for Our Clients?
Listen as the PPG Advocacy Panel answers the questions, “Are we trainers or teachers? What best describes what we do for our clients?” Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Beth Adelman, Judy Luther, Sandra Machado, Kim Silver, and Sam Wike Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’ button below. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.
Shock and Prong Collars Banned in Spain
Spain has joined the growing list of countries banning the use of shock and prong collars on animals. Read the full story here.
Action Needed! The Final Push for the U.K. Shock Collar Ban
We need your help to make a final, hard push for the e-collar ban in the United Kingdom! Please email the Leader of the House and ask her to re-schedule the House of Commons debate that was cancelled back in June, so that the legislation can go through on the timetable stated back in April. This will be a triumph for animal welfare! If you have friends, family or colleagues in the United Kingdom, please pass this email along to them so they can take action as well. Even if… Continued
PPG’s New Pet Training Science Alliance Program
Join Niki Tudge, Jean Donaldson, Judy Luther, and Rebekah King as they gather to officially launch PPG’s new Pet Training Science Alliance (PTSA)! Learn about what the program is, how the program works, and how you can help support it as an educator or as a learner. Stay up to date on the latest PTSA projects here: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/Pet-Training-Science-Alliance Listen to the podcast on a choice of platforms here. Or simply click on the “play” button below. Recorded September 25, 2023
Call to Action! Please Speak Out Against Abusive Dog Training Methods
It is extremely unusual for PPG to name individuals we disagree with. Normally, we speak to methods, philosophy and approach using facts. THIS IS DIFFERENT. Augusto DeOliveira (aka “the Dog Daddy”) is not training pets—he is inflicting pain and fear. This is not dog training; this is abuse. Some of the abusive practices the Dog Daddy exhibits in his videos are: Since its inception, PPG’s mission has been to combat cruel and abusive dog training methods like those used by the Dog Daddy, while simultaneously promoting its Guiding Principles and… Continued
Action Needed! The U.K. Shock Collar Ban
Your action is urgently needed. PPG British Isles members, please take immediate action and follow the instructions below. If you are not in the United Kingdom but have friends, family or colleagues there, please pass this email along to them so they can take action as well. As anticipated, the supporters of electric shock collars have come out in force to lobby Defra, insisting that e-collars are necessary for training dogs and modifying behavior. There is a real danger that this may sway the government, which is currently listening to… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: The Why and How of Teaching Our Students the Importance of Understanding Our Pets’ Emotions and Body Language
Grab your favorite snack or beverage, and settle in to listen as the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses the why and how of teaching our students the importance of understanding our pets’ emotions and body language. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Beth Adelman, Daniel Antolec, Judy Luther, Sandra Machado, Kim Silver, and Sam Wike Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion of misunderstood facts about dogs! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: How Do the PPG Guiding Principles Differ From LIMA?
Listen as the PPG Advocacy Panel addresses these five important questions: Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Niki Tudge, Dr. Eduardo Fernandez, Dr. Zazie Todd, Sue Kocher, Debbie Sheridan, and Kim Silver Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion of misunderstood facts about dogs! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’ button below. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.
Update on Radio Systems Corporation Class-Action Lawsuit
On May 10, the judge denied the defendant’s second motion to dismiss the case. This order is even better than the one before. It expands the number of PetSafe products subject to the case to 24. Click here to read the minutes from the May 10 court hearing.
England Bans Shock Collars
Great news! England has banned the use of remote-controlled electric collars on dogs, effective February 1, 2024. The Kennel Club, which led the decade-long effort, made the announcement on Friday, April 28. Please help keep the momentum going! If you haven’t already done so, sign the Shock-Free Pledge today and encourage your friends, clients and colleagues to sign as well.
PPG Advocacy Panel: The Most Misunderstood Facts About Dogs
Join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Advocacy Panel for this month’s discussion: The Most Misunderstood Facts About Dogs. It’s a long list! Pet guardians and pet professionals, listen as panel members share their expertise in a fun, free-flowing format. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Judy Luther, Sam Wike, K. Holden Svirsky, Aaron Jones, Sandra Machado, Kristi Benson, and Daniel Antolec Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion of misunderstood facts about dogs! Listen to the podcast here on a choice… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: Words Matter—How the Words We Choose Influence Human Behavior
Join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Advocacy Panel for this month’s discussion: Words Matter—How the Words We Choose Influence Human Behavior. Pet guardians and pet professionals, listen as panel members share their expertise in a fun, free-flowing format. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Kristi Benson, Judy Luther, Pat Miller, Debbie Sheridan, Dr. Zazie Todd and Sam Wike. Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’ button below. Recorded March 15, 2023.… Continued
Advocating for R+ Animal Training—Three Key Documents
Advocating for R+ Animal Training—Three Key Documents Contributed by Don Hanson, Chair of PPG’s Advocacy Division and a member of PPG’s board of directors As you know, positive reinforcement is under attack by some in the dog training community. Therefore, to prepare yourself to successfully advocate for and educate others about the benefits of positive reinforcement, I recommend you become familiar with these three documents: the PPG Guiding Principles, the 2015 AAHA Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines, and the AVSAB Humane Dog Training Position Statement. They will be valuable in helping… Continued
Class Action Complaint Against Radio Systems
Class Action Complaint Against Radio Systems On October 21, 2022, Plaintiff Steven Hernandez (“Plaintiff” or “Hernandez”) filed a class action complaint against Defendant Radio Systems Corporation. The lawsuit against Radio Systems in California is moving forward. PPG just received an email from the lawyer saying, “Great news! The court mostly sustained our claims in the shock collar case. That means the case is going forward and into discovery, such that defendants will start producing documents and be called for depositions.” Read the document below for details of the case. This… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: Anthropomorphism—Is It Relevant?
Join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Advocacy Panel for a discussion on Anthropomorphism—Is It Relevant? Pet guardians and pet professionals, listen as panel members share their expertise in a fun, free-flowing format. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: PPG Founder and President Niki Tudge, Sue Kocher, Linda Michaels, Debbie Sheridan, Dr. Zazie Todd and Sam Wike. Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’ button below. February 15, 2023. Find out more… Continued
PPG Member and Her Assistance Dog Let Down by Taxi Services
Uber is a taxi service that is accessible through an app. Within the app, you can book your driver and also let them know if you have an assistance dog. The idea is to help people easily access the most local driver and be assured that they can get to their destination, with their assistance dogs, in peace. However, some Uber drivers over the last five years have been refusing access to Ruby Welsford, a member of the Pet Professional Guild, and others (see below). It is illegal for Uber… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: What Do You Do When You’re the Only Force-Free Professional in Town?
Join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Advocacy Panel for a discussion on What Do You Do When You’re the Only Force-Free Professional in Town? Pet guardians and pet professionals, listen as panel members share their expertise in a fun, free-flowing format. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: PPG Founder and President Niki Tudge, Debbie Sheridan, Kim Silver, Sue Kocher, Judy Luther and Beth Adelman. Mentioned links: Advocating Together (article) PPG’s Guiding Principles Listen to the Podcast here on… Continued
France Bans “Training” Devices That Cause Pain to Animals
On January 16, 2023, Members of Parliament in France voted to ban the “use on cats or dogs of any device that has an electrical charge, a looping collar which tightens without a restriction or which has spikes turned in towards the animal’s body.” Click here to read the full story.
PetSafe Shock Collars Falsely Touted as Safe, Dog Owner Alleges
There is a new legal filing in California. It is a Class Action Against Radio Systems. A new Class Action case has been filed in California. The lawyer we have spoken to over the last year has finally found a member of the public with legal standing. You can read more here as it has been picked up by Bloomberg Law. PPG is mentioned in the filing and our resources are cited. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/petsafe-shock-collars-falsely-touted-as-safe-dog-owner-alleges The complete legal filing can be found here This is a consumer class action arising out of misrepresentations and… Continued
The PPG 2023 Summit Save The Date!
Homeward Bound – Transitioning Pets into Their New Homes Save The Dates Fun & Enriching Education for Pets & Their People Dates Nov 1-5, 2023, Arizona Humane Society 2023 Presentation Topics Homeward Bound Matchmaking 101: Pairing the Right Pet With the Best Home Welcoming a New Pet: Reality, NOT “Reality TV” Look, Listen and Learn: Teaching People What Their Pets Are Telling Them Animal Husbandry: Top 10 Important Skills & Knowledge for Clients From Cautious to Confident: Fun and Games for Shy Pets AND Their People Simplifying Shaping Skills… Continued