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Member Ethics Inquiry Procedure

Pet Professional Guild members, when joining the organization, pledge to work within the parameters of the Guiding Principles and agree to be “Informed by Science, Guided by Empathy, and Governed by Ethics.” As such, PPG’s membership holds itself to a high standard of ethical conduct. The Ethics Committee of the Pet Professional Guild consists of a committee chair and three other individuals made up of PPG Steering Committee members, other PPG members, and impartial professionals. The critical role of the Ethics Committee is to investigate all reported ethics violations. Below is… Continued

Reasons to Join

  Professional Membership Benefits When you join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) as a professional member, you enjoy proud affiliation with the only international membership association for pet professionals who subscribe to the view that aversive methods should never be used—or even deemed necessary—in the training, care or behavior modification of any animal. PPG is a prestigious, recognized membership organization with international reach throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Southern Africa. It is an organization that stands up for what you believe in and backs it up with the latest… Continued

The PPG Scholarship Program

You Are Invited … Each year PPG invests several thousand dollars into its Scholarship Program to award a limited number of full and partial scholarships to eligible candidates to further their education in force-free training and/or pet care. These scholarships are intended for PPG members to participate in suitable programs offered by organizations that support PPG’s Guiding Principles and goals. Only applications from candidates who are current PPG members in good standing for the prior 12-month period are considered. Not a PPG member yet? We invite you to join today and… Continued

Dog Walking Academy

Dog Walking Academy Earn Your DN-CPDW Trade in your stressful, stale, or unsatisfying work for a living doing something you love—spending time with dogs. Become a professional dog walker! Already walking dogs? Learn a few new dog tricks, gain a marketing edge, solve pesky problems, and grow your business to new heights. Save training time, set your company apart, and get more from your dog walking, pet sitting, dog daycare, and boarding kennel staff. Join PPG Today and access a 25% discount code Why Attend The Dog Walking Academy In… Continued

Become a Certified Pet Care Professional

Your Professional Pet Care Certification EARN YOUR DN-CPCP Become your local area professional in pet sitting, dog walking, pet boarding, or day care! DogNostics’ Professional Pet Care Certification course is a detailed and extensive online program of study that will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to operate a professional pet care company. Whether you are a current or aspiring pet sitting, dog walking, or boarding or day care business owner, this program is for you.  Investing in your professional development, your business, and your employees’ education… Continued

Ask a Trainer: When Will My Puppy Stop Biting Me?!

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Q. Is there a time when I can stop training my puppy? He’s 12 weeks old now. When will he stop biting me? –– via Facebook Messenger A. It’s great that you’re seeking guidance on training your puppy! Puppy Biting At 12 weeks old, your puppy is still in the early stages of development. Puppy biting is a common behavior at this age, as they explore their environments and learn about their surroundings through their mouths. Puppy biting is a natural part of their teething process and social development, but… Continued

Holiday Safety for Dogs

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While the holiday season can be a fun time of year for us, we also need to be thinking about how to keep our canine friends safe. This article explores some common seasonal pet hazards and how to avoid them. Holiday Decorations Pine needles – Real Christmas trees have sharp needles; not only can these hurt your dog’s paws, but if eaten they can cause tummy issues, including blockages, or puncture your dog’s tummy or intestines. Hoover up pine needles regularly. Tree water – Do not let your dog drink… Continued

Eye Drops for Dogs, the Premack Principle, and Stationing on the Stairs

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Students often ask me, “When can I stop training my dog.” That’s when I reply, “I never stop training.” By continuing to train, I keep my dog engaged, her life enriched, and my skills sharp. For example, my continued training with Muppy helped me quickly address a new behavioral challenge related to her health. Last spring Muppy was seen by an eye specialist and was prescribed eye drops that she requires every morning. Dr. Blackwood explained that one of the drops might sting and could cause Muppy to be less… Continued

Fungi Facts for You and Your Four-Legged Loved Ones (Part Two)

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In this series we continue to identify and discuss the top ten mushrooms that are poisonous to dogs and what to do if your dog decides to take a bite. While we like to think that our dogs would know better than to snack on some fungi (some show no interest) being aware of – and able to identify – certain strains of poisonous mushroom could save us animal lovers a costly trip to the ER and even Buddy’s life! Let’s take a closer look at a few more mushrooms… Continued

Can Acupuncture Help Pets with Painful Conditions?

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This article describes how acupuncture treatments helped my dog and horse, each of whom had arthritis. It also describes the calming effect of acupuncture. The end of the article contains links to two acupuncture organizations, to help pet stewards find a certified veterinary acupuncture professional in their area. Long ago we adopted Charlie, a two-year old yellow Labrador. Charlie was athletic and playful, enjoying chasing balls and Frisbees and playing tug with me. By his 10th birthday he began slowing down and we adopted Jake, an adolescent black Labrador. They… Continued

Arizona Humane Society Hosts Pet Professional Guild’s Annual Summit to Promote Positive-Reinforcement Training

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The partnership aims to positively impact the successful transition of rescued pets into their new homes while empowering and enhancing their welfare. The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) have partnered to host a summit featuring 25 world-class presenters from around the globe at the Arizona Humane Society’s Nina Mason Pulliam South Mountain Campus in Phoenix November 1-5. The “Homeward Bound” summit event will showcase the latest techniques in humane, ethical positive reinforcement–based training, helping both organizations reach their shared goal of ensuring that humane and… Continued

Why Focus on Life Skills vs Obedience in Dog Training?

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Life skills training isn’t just a flashy buzzword; it’s the most up-to-date way of training dogs, where we focus on skills for life vs the traditional obedience commands of yesteryear. The life skills approach emphasizes training dogs to be well-behaved and well-adjusted in everyday environments, rather than just focusing on obedience commands in a controlled training setting. Life skills training focuses on teaching skills to dogs that are relevant to their day-to-day lives. It has been so long since dogs were domesticated, and even relatively modern life is very different… Continued

Halloween Tips for People with Pets

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Halloween can be very scary for our pets and very dangerous. It is that time of year when many children and even some adults like to dress up in costumes that make them look different and often scary. They may also take on the stilted walk or the pseudo-terrifying vocalizations of the character they portray. Think about Halloween and all the shenanigans it entails from your pet’s perspective. Was your dog ever socialized/habituated to anything remotely like Halloween? Is it likely that they will find groups of people behaving weirdly… Continued

Halloween Can Be Stressful for Dogs

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Halloween can be fun for us but stressful for dogs, especially if you get a lot of trick-or-treaters coming to the door. Trick-or-Treaters You could consider putting up a sign saying, “no trick-or-treaters please” and leave sweeties in a safe place outside for children to help themselves to instead. Otherwise, keep your dog inside and away from the door as your dog may not recognize that the ghost, vampire or witch at your door is a child or person they know. Even a fairy can be scary to a dog… Continued

Creating Calm? Why Context Is Key!

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  by Anna Francesca Bradley When I first started my journey in training and behavioral therapy (with dogs), I must admit that initially my focus was quite narrow. I looked at what was right in front of me—the dog’s dislike of being touched, the fear of being left, the response to unfamiliar dogs in the park—and addressed it according to that behavior right there and then. Of course, I looked at antecedents of the behavior, possible inadvertent reinforcements, adverse events, and so on. However, although the notion fleetingly crossed my… Continued

Fallout is Not Good for You…or Your Pet (Part Two)

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A dog cannot be in a relaxed and restful state while simultaneously in a state of fear.  The same is true for humans. You are likely familiar with the survival mechanism often referred to as fight-or-flight. Here’s a brief overview of how that response works: The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The PNS is associated with rest and digest processes, while the SNS is associated with fear and anxiety. They work in balance with one another, rather like… Continued

Fallout is Not Good for You…or Your Pet (Part One)

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Recently I received an application from a potential client, who I will fictitiously call Jane Doe. Jane reported how she brought a boxer puppy into her life. Her primary concern was that her puppy was excited around new people, jumping on them, and she pulled on the leash. Jane took her pup to a group class, but her puppy was usually put behind a fence and got little help from the trainer. Excitability, jumping on people and pulling on leash sounded like typical puppy behavior and I thought, “Oh good,… Continued

Malena DeMartini: A Beacon of Light for Dogs Who Suffer When Left Home Alone

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  Malena DeMartini shares her personal and professional journey to creating her company that provides educational programs for dog professionals and guardians to help dogs with separation anxiety.   Who are you, and what makes you passionate about animal behavior? I have been a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant for over two decades and had a beautiful introduction to animal behavior via my education through the Academy for Dog Trainers. Initially, I worked with all manner of dog behavior, from jumpy puppies to human-directed aggression. However, I developed an… Continued

Puppy Not Listening to You? Here’s Why and What to Do!

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  “I love it when my pet doesn’t listen to me,” said no one ever. So what happens when your calls fall on deaf ears (when your dog isn’t actually deaf)? What else might be going on if you feel your puppy isn’t listening or responding to you?  There are many reasons why your pet is failing to respond to you. We’re going to get into it here, and help you with tried and tested strategies that will help your pet listen to you. Why is My Puppy Not Listening… Continued

Kate LaSala Helps Dog Owners Accept Their Dogs for Who They Are

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  Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into animal behavior/training, and what you are doing now? I’ve been an animal advocate for over three decades. I became vegetarian as a teen and have championed animal welfare as a rescuer, transporter, shelter worker, foster, volunteer, and trainer. But my life trajectory changed forever when our dog BooBoo arrived in our lives. I’ve been in private training for nearly 10 years now andremain committed to continuing education, helping people have better lives with their dogs, and… Continued

Cooperative Care with Cora: A Case Study

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  by Jennifer Van Valkenburg Cooperative care is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I have come to appreciate how important body autonomy and choice can be, especially when experiencing a painful and difficult medical diagnosis. Having some control over even small things can make a huge difference in our emotional state and comfort level. The same is true of our pets. The more they can participate in their own healthcare, the better for everyone involved. I started down the road of learning about cooperative care… Continued

How to Interact with a Dog – Respecting Personal Space

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While many people recognize and address the physical health of their pets, the same cannot always be said for their pets’ mental well-being. Sadly, I’m not surprised, as some people fail to recognize the importance of mental health in humans, believing behavioral issues are character flaws rather than symptoms of illness or distress. Behavior problems with pets are on the rise. Often, they occur due to an aspect of a pet’s mental health and emotional well-being. Feeling Safe Every dog, like every person, has a personal space bubble. Each person… Continued

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