Pets and Their People Blog

by Don Hanson

I’m thrilled that The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has a program designed specifically for young people. The PPG Junior Membership program is not just another program; it’s a crucial step in shaping the future generation of pet guardians and pet care professionals.

I’ve been a pet care professional for over 30 years now, and I am always delighted when I see a whole family—the parents and the children—actively caring for and bonding with their pets. That’s why we have always allowed children to participate in our training classes under their parents’ supervision. Some of these children have grown up and become employees in my business, working as pet care technicians, groomers, and trainers.

As someone who has hired many high school and college students over the years, I can assure you that an individual with a PPG Junior Membership on their employment application would be at the top of our list for consideration as a member of my team.

A Commitment to Well-Being

The Pet Professional Accreditation (PPAB) Board offers a FREE junior credentialing program for applicants who agree to the PPG’s Guiding Principles and Code of Ethical Conduct. These principles and code are not just rules; they are a commitment to the well-being of animals.

Even if a career involving animals isn’t in their future, young people can gain invaluable life lessons from learning about and caring for family pets. Caring for a pet teaches the value of empathy, responsibility, and the importance of prioritizing another’s needs over our own.

A pet can be a source of joy and comfort, contributing to a youngster’s well-being as a playmate, a snuggle buddy, or a quiet listener. Of course, as adults too, we often find solace and comfort in our pets. And these pets -sentient, living, breathing, and feeling creatures- rely on us to meet their needs with compassion.

A Force-Free Future Starts Here

Help young people learn about pet care and give them insight into living and working with animals in a force-free, fear-free way.

If your family includes someone between 8 and 20 years old, consider introducing them to them to the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Junior Member program.

The Pet Professional Guild’s junior memberships are divided into three categories by age group:

• Provisional Junior Basic (8-12 age group)
• Provisional Junior Advanced (13-17 age group)
• Provisional Apprentice (18-20 age group)

At each level of membership, junior members sign the force-free pledge.

You can learn more at https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/join-ppg/junior-membership/.

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About the Author

Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop and the founder of ForceFreePets.com, an online educational resource for people with dogs and cats. He is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB)  and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP). A Pet Professional Guild (PPG) member, Don serves on the Board of Directors, Steering Committee, and chairs the Advocacy Task Force and Shock-Free Coalition.

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Quick Links

FREE Junior Membership⁠ : PPG offers membership to children (8-12 years of age), teenagers (13-17 years of age) and young adults (18-20 years of age) as a way of helping them to learn about and understand force-free pet care and give them insight into the possibility of working with animals in the future.

PPG Podcast: This article is a companion to the PPG Advocacy Discussion Panel of July 16, 2026, An Introduction to Pet Professional Guild Resources for Pet Guardians. You may listen to that panel as a podcast at this link.