BARKS Podcast with Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Education: September 9, 2020
Join Niki Tudge as she chats with Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Education about the service dog industry, public access dogs, and the concept of at-home service dogs, as well as her new program, Mobility Task Training How-To’s. Listen to Podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click ‘Play’ below. Veronica Sanchez M.Ed CABC CPDT-KA is the founder of the Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach™, an educational certification program for professional trainers. She teaches dog trainers how to train service dogs and how to incorporate service dog… Continued
Position Statement on PPG’s Pet Industry Education Mandate
The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and its membership hold themselves accountable to a high standard of ethics, protocols and transparency. Since its inception in 2012, PPG has been unwavering and unequivocal about where it stands on equipment philosophy and training methods for pets. As such, its members are committed to the use, promotion and education of humane, scientific and effective training, care and management protocols, as espoused in PPG’s Guiding Principles (2012). While PPG has taken an exclusively force-free approach and a promise to “do no harm,” it also recognizes… Continued
Humane Education
By Stephanie Peters Humane programs that incorporate animal interaction have a profound capacity to help students on a personal level. Angel Banuelos-Price is a fifth grade teacher at Boone Middle School and she has enthusiastically welcomed my educational programs with Marmalade from the very beginning. She observes that Marmalade’s presence in her classroom reduces her students’ stress and anxiety levels, and that her attendance numbers are often higher on the days when Marmalade visits the classroom. Stacy Lehman of University Community Childcare in Ames also notes the social-emotional benefits to her… Continued
The Continuing Education of a City
By Kathy Wolff My philosophy has always been to help folks understand the “why” of what we do together. I found this created an environment of collaboration and cooperation between myself and my clients. Fast forward to present day and here I am, a certified professional dog trainer, graduate of distinction from CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. I espouse the training methodology of force-free positive reinforcement dog training techniques. And, I am a crossover trainer. Back in the day I was one of those trainers who would leash pop, yank, push… Continued
Service Dog Teams and Continuing Education
A few weeks ago, I was part of an amazing experience — the first-ever continuing education weekend seminar for guide dog teams that included trainers and puppy raisers, as well as 80 teams. The weekend was organized by the Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate council. Actually, it was two members of the council and their partners (including me). It was a lot of work to pull it off, and as the teams started arriving, we all had a moment of panic. But the weekend was an enormous success — and it made… Continued
Pet Professional Guild announces scholarship program for members to further force-free education
Eligible candidates can apply for educational opportunities that support PPG’s stance on avoiding the use of aversive methods and equipment in animal care and training WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – Jan. 17, 2017 – PRLog — The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) is to provide a limited number of scholarships for members to further their education in force-free training and/or pet care. Under the PPG Education Scholarship Program, members will be able to apply for suitable educational programs offered by organizations that support PPG’s Guiding Principles and goals, with a focus on… Continued
Pet Professional Guild Announces New Look, Innovative Educational Events for 2017 and 2018
Conventional annual summit in Orlando, Florida will be supplemented with practical, multi-species behavior and training workshops in Kanab, Utah WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – Jan. 9, 2017 – The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has announced the dates and location of this year’s annual summit, as well as a smaller educational event next year to incorporate a number of hands-on, multi-species workshops with internationally acclaimed animal training and behavior experts. PPG’s third annual educational Force-Free Summit will take place at the Sheraton Lake Buena Vista hotel in Orlando, Florida from November 16-20,… Continued
Proper Education, Not Faulty Legislation For Pet Dog Trainers
The profession of companion, or “pet” dog training is one that requires little more than the willingness to do it and promote oneself. There is no licensing required. Let me state right up front that given the appalling lack of education and the major divisions among pet dog trainers, there cannot be proper legitimate licensing that will give consumers more assurances of quality when they choose to hire someone. It is for these reasons and a few others that I am against the licensing of any pet dog trainers in… Continued
The Top 7 Reasons You Absolutely Cannot Miss The Pet Professional Guild’s Annual Educational Summit
The Top 7 Reasons You Absolutely Cannot Miss The Pet Professional Guild’s Annual Educational Summit 1. You Will Have Lots of Fun From the Welcome Reception, to Quiz Night, ‘Munch and Learn’ Merry-Go-Round and the Gala Dinner you will have more fun packed into a few short days than you thought possible, all while honing your skills and enhancing your professional education. The PPG Summit is just so much fun! Surrounded by like-minded professionals, you are free to socialize and share ideas, and reconnect with old friends while making new… Continued
Dog Bites and the Importance of Education
I was very fortunate to be able to attend PPG Special Council member Victoria Stilwell’s second Annual Dog Bite Prevention and Behaviour Conference, held earlier this month at the University of Lincoln in England. The conference is a national event dedicated to finding practical and workable solutions to the issue of dog bites through education and heightened awareness. It began with a welcome introduction by Victoria Stilwell, which had us all eagerly awaiting the presentations that were to follow. Three of the presenters hailed from the University of Lincoln itself.… Continued
Pet Professional Guild Launches Force-Free Dog Training Program at New Educational Facility
The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has launched the first in a series of practical force-free dog training workshops and educational seminars at the new Canine Behavior Center on King Lake in Wesley Chapel, FL. The first workshop took place 27 – 28 September, 2014 at the state-of-the-art dog training and educational facility, which is set on 23 fully-fenced acres against the backdrop of the lake, a 500-acre inland water feature hosting some of the state’s richest bird species. Sponsored by The DogSmith, the inaugural two-day workshop “Refining Your Training Skills”… Continued
Behaviour Team of Havering and Essex, UK
Welcome to the Behaviour Team of Havering and Essex, UK! Are you a Havering or Essex resident looking for professional training or care for your pet? You’ve come to the right place! The Behaviour Team of Havering and Essex takes a community-focused approach to training and caring for your pets. Our team members were brought together by a shared philosophy and code of ethics and are dedicated to working in concert to support you and your pets with the highest level of care. We recognise that helping pet owners requires a village… Continued
Nothing Shocking About Being Kind to Animals!
by Niki Tudge When critics argue against the use of electronic shock collars, proponents often claim the tools are perfectly benign if used “correctly,” yet there is actually nothing surprising about the severe risks they pose. In fact, a collective look across the internet at the manufacturers’ own instruction manuals, safety disclosures, and legal guidelines reveals a laundry list of warnings that openly acknowledge the inherent dangers of these devices. Far from being harmless, the consumer guides and behavioral literature consistently highlight that putting a shock collar on a pet… Continued
Behavior Team Leaders Ethics Reporting and Procedure
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What’s the Difference Between a Cue and a Command in Dog Training?
by Niki Tudge Modern dog training requires understanding how fear interferes with learning, how pressure accumulates, and how trust is either built or eroded through everyday interactions. And it requires us to communicate with Kindness. Kindness Is Not… Kindness is often misunderstood. It does not mean: Kindness includes management, clarity and support – delivered in ways that protect emotional safety. It reminds me of the difference in philosophical approach between using cues and commands. It’s simply a choice. You can either exert control or you can choose to empower and… Continued
Beyond the Backyard: Why Your Pet Dog Is an Athlete (and How to Prove It)
by Niki Tudge If you’ve ever successfully navigated a crowded park or managed a calm “stay” while the mail carrier arrived, you’ve performed an athletic feat! Dedicated dog guardians know living with a dog in the modern world is a sport. It requires focus, coordination, stamina, and a whole lot of teamwork. Your dog isn’t, “just a pet;” they are a partner in training. Through the Pet Dog Ambassador (PDA) program, the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) recognizes this partnership. Pet Dog Ambassador is a program for pet dog guardians to… Continued
The Pet Dog Ambassador Program: Show Your Clients the Value of Force-Free Dog Training in Everyday Living
by Niki Tudge For trainers and pet professionals, the Pet Dog Ambassador (PDA) program is more than just a curriculum—it’s a way to provide long-term value to your clients while upholding the highest ethical standards. The Professional’s Perspective: A Business-in-a-Box Are you dedicated to training the “real-life” skills that make a dog a joy to live with – walking on a loose leash, greeting people politely, and staying focused amidst life’s distractions? As a professional trainer, you can register for the PDA program and become an Instructor. If you are… Continued
How Can We Assess When It Might Be Time?
By Don Hanson In September, I discussed my dog Muppy’s cancer diagnosis and my anticipatory grief. Today, there is less sunshine in our lives. My wife, Paula, and I helped our dog Muppy cross the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday, March 24th, after she courageously battled kidney disease and bladder cancer since June of 2025. I believe sharing our story can help others facing similar journeys with their dogs. I hope my experience makes your path a little easier. Daily Assessment Questions Within days of Muppy’s diagnosis, I developed a list… Continued
The Language of Dog Training: It’s Not Just Semantics
by Louise Stapleton-Frappell Originally published in BARKS from the Guild (Stapleton-Frappell, 2015). Updated and expanded for 2026 with current perspectives from DogNostics Education. Why Do Semantics Matter? The language we use shapes ethics, learning, and relationships in modern force-free training. According to the Britannica Dictionary, semantics is “the study of the meanings of words and phrases in language, and how those meanings shift depending on context.” In dog training, semantics matter because the words we choose don’t just describe what we do; they reveal how we think about and relate… Continued
How We Talk About Dogs: What Does Our Language Reveal?
by Louise Stapleton-Frappell Language shapes how we think, how we teach, and how we relate to the world — and that includes our dogs. This isn’t “just semantics.” The way we talk about dogs reflects the ethics, empathy, and science behind how we teach them skills to live successfully in our human world. Commands vs. Cues – More Than Just Words You don’t need to bark “commands” at your dog to train them. You don’t need to be a “pack leader,” issue “orders,” or demand submission. You don’t need to… Continued
Behavior Pros Say Your Pet Wants You to Do These Four Things Starting Today
by Tasha Attwood A recent Pet Professional Guild Advocacy Panel discussion centered on the question, “How can guardians and professionals work together to create a kinder world for pets?” It was a follow up to two previous discussions about helping to make our pets’ world a little more friendly and kind. This series of PPG podcasts began with asking specifically what we, as pet guardians, can do. The next discussion explored how pet professionals can help. And now, this third installment brought it all together by asking how guardians and pet… Continued
Help Get the Whole Household on Board with Your Training Plan
by Veronica Boutelle In this article, the experts at dogbiz share tips for working with a committed client who’s training is being undermined by a skeptical partner. Ask dogbiz Q: Hi dogbiz, I’m working with a really great client who is totally committed to training her dog. The problem is that her partner is not on board at all. He ignores the training plan, uses completely different methods, and sometimes jokes that the dog “needs a firmer hand.” My client is frustrated and says she feels like she’s doing all… Continued
Behavior Team of Sacramento, CA
Welcome to the Behavior Team of Sacramento, CA! Are you a Sacramento, CA, resident looking for professional training or care for your pet? You’ve come to the right place! The Behavior Team of Sacramento, CA, takes a community-focused approach to training and caring for your pets. Our team members were brought together by a shared philosophy and code of ethics and are dedicated to working in concert to support you and your pets with the highest level of care. We recognize that helping pet owners requires a village of professionals they can… Continued
Dog Training for the Real World
by Daniel H. Antolec Is your dog prepared to cope with the “real world”? Recently, I saw social media posts from two force-free trainers offering helpful tips. Each post was attacked by Trolls, using identical language, asserting that reward-based training falls apart in the “real world.” Some personal insults were added for acidic tone. It seems common for proponents of aversive methods (choke, prong, shock) to attack force-free (no fear, no force, no pain) practitioners online, and it appears this “real world” text is the meme du jour. However, that… Continued