The Pet Training Science Alliance (PTSA) was founded with a singular, vital objective: empowering our professional community to directly fund, execute, and disseminate independent, empirical canine behavior research.
Instead of relying solely on external academic agendas, PTSA harnesses the power of the PPG community. Every time you register for a PTSA educational webinar or step up to present your expertise, the proceeds directly bankroll critical research initiatives that champion animal welfare, clarify training methodologies, and provide our industry with irrefutable, peer-reviewed data.
Featured Study: The 2025 Trainer Perspectives Project
In 2025, PTSA funding made possible a groundbreaking study led by Dr. Jamie DeLeeuw, investigating the underlying philosophies, evidence bases, and ethical considerations guiding modern canine professionals.
Professional Dog Trainers’ Perspectives on Training Methods: Ethical and Evidentiary Insights
Authors: Dr. Jamie DeLeeuw & Dr. Todd J. Williams
Published in:Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Section: Animal Behavior and Welfare)
Status: Open Access / Peer-Reviewed
Key Discoveries at a Glance:
The Epistemic Divide: Reinforcement-based trainers more often prioritize behavioral science and formal education, whereas mixed-methods (“balanced”) trainers lean more heavily on practitioner experience, vocational training, and apprenticeships.
The “Crossover” Catalyst: Trainers who transition away from aversive equipment to force-free, positive reinforcement methods often cite further education in learning theory and heightened empathy for canine emotional states as the primary drivers of their change.
Shared Challenges, Divergent Tools: Trainers across both groups identify human-related challenges (client consistency, unrealistic quick-fix expectations), as well as shared concerns about unqualified practitioners and the need for stronger professional standards, while differing in their perspectives on the appropriate use and regulation of aversive training tools.
Implications: The findings highlight opportunities to strengthen professional standards, improve public education, and foster constructive dialogue and collaboration across training approaches, while emphasizing the importance of continued research and canine welfare.
To every PPG member who has presented a PTSA webinar, purchased a ticket, or participated in our scholarly circles: this paper carries your imprint. Your participation ensures that ethical animal training isn’t just an opinion—it is an empirically validated standard.
Looking Forward: Research 2027
Our mission does not stop with one publication. The Pet Professional Guild is already actively collaborating with Dr. Jamie DeLeeuw to determine the scope and structure of our next major research undertaking, scheduled for 2027.
PROFESSIONALS, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
It’s easy … just buy a webinar!
Buy single webinars one at a time or all the webinars in the series. You can even give these webinars as gifts to colleagues and friends! All funds generated by these special webinar events will support this and future PPG research projects.
Not only will you be supporting science to move our industry forward, you will get a great learning experience and earn CEUs. And as a key stakeholder, at the conclusion of the project you will also be invited to attend a free webinar by Dr. Deleeuw where she will share a summary review of the studies and findings. How cool is that?
And there’s more—you’ll also get your own copy of this special badge identifying you as a Pet Training Science Alliance Learner to display on your website and social media, and a certificate to commemorate your support of this groundbreaking research project.
