Better Together: Elevating the Standard of Pet Training & Care

Stop, think, and change the way you work.

Are you tired of working in a vacuum? Imagine being part of a professional circle where support is mutual, expertise is shared, and every referral is backed by trust.

Whether you are a trainer, a groomer, or a veterinarian, you don’t have to navigate the complexities of animal behavior alone. Behavior Teams is designed to bridge the gap between isolated professionals and create a community rooted in positive reinforcement and collective success.

Why Behavior Teams?

Working with pets is a rewarding career, but it can also be emotionally draining and physically exhausting. Between coordinating with clients and managing complex behavior cases, it often feels like running an endless obstacle course.

We’ve identified the core challenges facing our industry today:

Professional Isolation: Many trainers and consultants lack a reliable support network.
Limited Access: A shortage of veterinary behaviorists makes it hard for owners to get advanced care.
The Regulation Gap: A lack of industry standards can make referring cases feel like a risk.
Practical Disconnect: The gap between an academic diagnosis and real-world training implementation can hinder a pet’s progress.

Behavior Teams Was Built To Solve These Problems

Our Mission: Collaboration Over Competition

Developed by the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), Behavior Teams facilitates synergy between behavior experts and pet professionals. Our goal is to create a seamless ecosystem of care that supports both the pet and the guardian.

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

What We Aim to Achieve:

Effective Collaboration: A working model where veterinarians, behaviorists, and trainers work in tandem.
Ethical Standards: A standardized, best-practice approach ensuring humane and ethical support for every client.
Resource Sharing: Access to a credential matrix and manuals to ensure every referral is appropriate and competent.
Growth & Supervision: Providing less-experienced professionals with the mentorship needed to handle cases safely and effectively.

**You do not need to be a PPG member to join Behavior Teams – You Do Need To Agree To The PPG Guiding Principles & Code of Conduct **

Program Components

We provide the framework; you provide the expertise. The Behavior Teams program includes:

Collaboration Framework: A blueprint for how teams work together effectively.
Communication & Feedback Model: Streamlined systems to keep everyone on the same page.
Client Intake & Assessment: Standardized flowcharts for functional assessments and intake procedures.
The Credential Matrix: A guide to understanding professional competencies.

Monthly Support: Ongoing meetings during and after your team’s launch to ensure long-term success

PPG Ethics & Guiding Principles

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Together – Helping Pets & Their Families

Ready To Join The Community!

You do not need to be a PPG member to join Behavior Teams. We welcome all professionals who are committed to our mission. The only requirement is an agreement to follow the PPG Guiding Principles & Code of Conduct.

There are two ways to join Behavior Teams. Click below to learn more.

How to Join Behavior Teams

Your Supervisory Team

Niki Tudge

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Contact info in bio

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Niki Tudge, MBA, PCBC-A, CABC, CDBC, is the founder and president of the Pet Professional Guild, DogNostics Education and The DogSmith. She has substantial leadership experience in business management and administration, particularly in the nonprofit sector, which encompasses her role as the president of Doggone Safe, a nonprofit educational organization. She has published numerous articles, which have been featured in publications such as the New York Times. She has also authored five books. Her most recent book, Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People, which she co-authored, was published in 2019.

Niki holds a dog training and dog behavior credential from the Pet Professional Accreditation Board, has successfully completed two diplomas (animal behavior technician and canine behavior science and technology) with James O’Heare at the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, and is a certified dog trainer and dog behavior consultant through the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals.

Before following her passion into small business and nonprofit management, she enjoyed a distinguished career in the hospitality industry, holding executive positions all over the world. Her real passion in her corporate role was the identification and development of female talent in the workplace. She enjoyed managing and coaching her team through both their personal and professional development, and loved watching the process of female empowerment and growth at a high level of management.

In recent years, Niki has invested time in moving her love of running from a hobby to a professional business. Her professional credentials include International Sports Science Association (ISSA) certified fitness trainer, ISSA certified transformation specialist, nutritional coach and ISSA elite trainer. She is also a certified chi walking and running coach, and has successfully complete the MAF Foundations’ certificate course.

Along with her business degrees from Oxford Brookes University in the UK, Niki holds a Six Sigma Black Belt certification, specializing in data analysis and process improvement and is an International Training Board (HCITB) certified people trainer at levels TS1, TS2 and TS3, and a certified facilitator and project manager. In addition, she was recognized for her outstanding contribution to the business community and honored with a Fortune 500 Company Leadership Award for her accomplishments.