Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! We Love Them!
So, how do we help dogs navigate our human world? When I go to see a client, I begin each session speaking about what it was like for me going to the zoo as a child. The lion, the gorilla, all the inhabitants lived in cages. As a result, they often displayed abnormal repetitive behaviors known as zoochosis, a form of psychosis that develops in animals held captive in zoos. These behaviors included pacing, bar biting, excessive licking just to name a few. I then move the conversation onto the happy fact that… Continued
What You Need to Know About Puppy Socialization
Socialization is a hot topic, but what does it mean exactly? Is it about your pet being able to play and being social? Well kinda, but not just that. Dogs and cats have a critical socialization period; in puppies this is a period of 3-12 weeks of age, and in kittens their key socialization period is up to 7 weeks of age. During these periods our pets are most receptive to new experiences, and the things they are exposed to -or not- can have far reaching consequences. That’s not to… Continued
Types of Unconscious Bias
Types of Unconscious Bias #1 Dr. Phil, the television doctor often says, “We can’t fix what we don’t admit.” Problems that are hidden or not identified cannot be productively changed. Biases work the same way. Different biases in different situations must first be identified. Only then can the error in judgement or thinking be identified and changed. There are many different types of biases that a person can possess. Unconscious biases can be based on a wide variety of attributes that are sourced from many different experiences. The first four… Continued
Unconscious bias- What Is It
It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into. Jonathan Swift Preface Unconscious biases are the biases that everyone has, that live in the dark recesses of the human brain. These biases are grown in each individual and can greatly influence the day to day decision that are made both at home and at work. The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend. Robertson Davies What is Unconscious Bias? What is it and how does it affect our day to… Continued
Religious Discrimination
Religion Stereotypes concerning religion have grown since the globalization of the business world. Never until lately, has the workforce been so diverse. With this diversity has come some challenges in the area of stereotypes and sensitivity towards others. We must all remember that this great country was founded on the basis of the freedom of religion, to have or even not to have. Employer Responsibilities An employee’s religion should not have any reflection on his/her work performance. The right to religion goes back as far as the beginning of this… Continued
Disability Discrimination
The only disability in life is a bad attitude. Scott Hamilton Disability When it comes to disabilities and stereotypes, many of them are with regard to the level of how much one is physically, mentally, or emotionally capable of performing. As with all other stereotypes, this mindset can be damaging to the one who is being talked about, as well as the one doing the talking, as limiting another’s abilities, can result in lost productivity. Employer Responsibilities When posting jobs, companies cannot use wording that openly discriminates against people with disabilities.… Continued
Age Discrimination
Ageism is as odious as racism and sexism. Claude Pepper Age Ageism is defined as “the act of discriminating against someone based on their age.” As life spans increase, so does the age of the workforce. Many seniors are not retiring when they hit 60s. People are working well into their 70s and 80s. Ageism can occur in the form of hiring practices, promotions, education, etc. Businesses today must ensure that ageism of any sort is not allowed in the work culture. Employer Responsibility Hiring employees of varied ages creates a… Continued
Sensitivity Training – Who Needs It?
Who Needs It? Everyone. Who needs more empathy? Everyone. Who needs better interpersonal skills? Everyone. Everyone can learn to better emotional awareness, better empathy, and better social skills that are involved in sensitivity training. Imagine a workplace where everyone was in control of their emotions, thought of others first, and when there was a conflict, everyone knew how to turn it into a growth event. This “imagined” workplace would be positive, successful and profitable. In this day of globalization, there are many different religions, cultures, ages, and types of people… Continued
Professional Pet Care Certification
50% Discount For PPG Pet Care Professional Members Your Professional Pet Care Certification Earn Your DN-PPCC The What, Why, When and How of Delivering Professional Pet Care Services Presented by: Niki Tudge, Lousie Stapleton-Frappell, Paula Garber & Rebekah King. We recognize that, as a business owner, to expand and grow your business, you need to develop new skills and knowledge and recruit, train and manage high-quality employees. Investing in your business and your employees’ education is a wise decision. Employing Certified Pet Care Professionals will make your company stand out as… Continued
Winter Weather Tips for Pets
by Don Hanson Like people, some pets love the winter snow and cold, and others hate it. Our dog Dulice was not deterred by the snow but found a terrier’s dream as it allowed winter burrowing. My current dog Muppy, a rescue from Mississippi, hated her first seven winters in Maine. However, Muppy enjoys a good roll in the snow today as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below 30 F. Our cat Boomer enjoys outdoor journeys on a harness and leash and lying in the summer sun, but when… Continued
Meet Laura Cassiday of Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training
Laura Cassiday takes cat owners from hopeless to hopeful using her feline expertise and force-free training techniques. Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into animal behavior and training, and what you are doing now? I studied English and professional writing in college and grad school, and worked a couple of writing and editing jobs. In 2017, I was so bored and miserable that I just quit without any real plans. I took some time to figure out what I wanted to do with… Continued
Teaching a Fearful Dog Trust and Skills – In That Order
Teaching is a proactive process, rather than a reactive one. The goal is to prevent unwanted behaviors, rather than wait for them to occur and then try to remedy the situation. Helping Maizey When a client asked for help with Maizey, a dog with several fear triggers, I resolved to begin with a proactive plan. Maizey had a history of fear of strangers, fear of trucks, fear of other dogs and excessive arousal upon seeing squirrels. Her behavior responses included barking and lunging which made it stressful for her family… Continued
Welcome to Pets & Their People
Welcome to Pets and Their People – Your online tips, tools and resources! You’re busy. You really, really love your pets. So, where do you turn with day-to-day pet care challenges and questions: Can I feed this to my dog? Why does my horse do that? How do I find a reliable pet sitter? Why does my cat think that’s the litter box?? It’s okay – you got this and we’re here to help. We’re on a mission to provide resources and practical tips to pet people…with a dose of encouragement and humor! Our… Continued
When Services Refuse Access to Assistance Dog Teams
Pet Professional Guild Member Let Down by Services That Promise Otherwise Uber is a taxi service which 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 to easily access the most local driver and have reassurance that they can go 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 and Millie Gee (and… Continued
Pets, Emotions and Anthropomorphism
by Don Hanson Emotions are complicated and messy. So much so that as a youngster watching Star Trek in the 1960s, I was attracted to the Vulcan ethos of suppressing all emotion and replacing it with logic. However, I eventually learned that without emotion, we are devoid of joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe and love. But, unfortunately, the price for those positive feelings is negative emotions such as anger, emptiness, frustration, inadequacy, helplessness, fear, guilt, loneliness, depression, feeling overwhelmed, resentment, failure, sadness and jealousy. The fact… Continued
Advocating Together—The Mission, Vision and Values of the Pet Professional Guild
by Niki Tudge Each of us wants to bring about change in our industry. We yearn for a day when pain and fear are no longer used in the training and care of pets. We have a mammoth job ahead of us, and it most certainly is not a sprint but a marathon. It is possible to hold professional autonomy and support your choice of humane hierarchy while also taking a stand and position against the use and application of tools designed with one purpose: to inflict pain or fear.… Continued
Are You a Cat Person or a Dog Person?
How many times have we seen this question posted or have we been asked it ourselves? Becoming a Dog Family In my own family my husband developed cat allergies as an adult. He once stopped to see what had been thrown out of the car in front of him on his way home on a cold dark night. It was a kitten. We named him Buddy and he was the sweetest little guy – followed us around purring, so happy to have been found! Dave’s eyes… Continued
Tips for Parents and Dog Guardians to Help Keep Kids Safe
The 3 Most Important Things to Teach Your Kids Dogs Don’t Like Hugs and Kisses – Teach your kids not to hug or kiss a dog on the face. Hugging the family dog or face-to-face contact are common causes of facial bites. Instead, teach kids to scratch the dog on the chest or the side of the neck. Be a Tree If a Strange Dog Approaches – Teach kids to stand still, like a tree. Trees are boring and the dog will eventually go away. This works for strange dogs… Continued
Preventive Vet: Get the Essential Tips for Your Clients – Customized for You
You don’t have access to this content. Username or E-mail Password Remember Me Forgot Password
Press Release for New Pet Professional Guild Members to Circulate to Their Local Media
You don’t have access to this content.
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
Be a Tree FAQ
You don’t have access to this content.
Your Be a Tree News Relese
You don’t have access to this content.
How Many Dogs Should I Adopt at the Same Time?
Adopting a dog is so exciting, not just for us but for the dog as well. I don’t think there is much that can match the feeling of giving a previously unwanted dog a new beginning. Of course, you do have the option to adopt more than one dog; here are a couple of things to keep in mind. Adopting One Dog…At a Time Adopting two or more puppies together is not advisable. Similar to purchasing siblings from the same bred litter, two puppies are double the costs, cleaning up,… Continued