“No-Kill” Shelters Are Not Enough
An article I read recently in the New York Times (online) talked about a downside of a heavy emphasis on no-kill policies at shelters: By focusing on getting dogs and cats into new homes, the shelters might be neglecting the reasons many of those animals are in the shelter in the first place. Many people abandon their pets because they cannot afford to feed them or house them or provide needed veterinary care. I don’t for a minute think that that is the only reason animals end up in shelters, but… Continued
Chat & Chuckle: Chatting About the Credential Matrix with Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline
In this episode Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline chat about PPG’s Credential Matrix—what it is, how and why it was developed, and how it can be useful to you. Click here to listen to the episode on your choice of platforms! Or simply click on the play button below to listen now! Recorded October 6, 2025
Support Massachusetts H.2342 – An Act Relevant to Dangerous Dogs
It’s a short bill, but it could make a huge difference. The bill states, that if a dog hurts a person or another dog by breaking skin and a complaint is filed, the family would be required to work with a veterinarian, behaviorist, or trainer to create a safety and behavior plan using humane, ACVB and AVSAB evidence-based methods. The use of shock, prong, or choke collars is prohibited. Here’s the key part of the bill: “…(vii) that the owner or keeper of the dog consults with a veterinarian, behaviorist,… Continued
Do You Have a “Rescue” Dog?
Bruno and I have a request for you to consider. What if you stop referring to your dog as a “rescue dog” and just consider them a dog? Your dog. Hopefully, a very happy dog. Language and Labels Let’s think about the labels we may use to identify our pets, and how that could affect our goals and outcomes, as well as our relationships. I often see posts or hear people say things such as “My rescue dog is afraid of strangers,” or “My dog is reactive, he is a rescue,” as if… Continued
Reward-Based Dog Training: Your Questions Answered!
Thank you for making the decision to invest this time in your pet’s education. At PPG, we consider it an honor that you are trusting us to help guide you on your dog training journey. It is such an important decision- the one you have just made – a decision to invest the time and effort into helping your dog successfully integrate into your life and home. Why Train Your Dog? As data shows us, more pets are surrendered to shelters due to behavioral issues than for any other reason.… Continued
Bringing a New Dog into Your Family
The annual Clear the Shelters campaign, currently taking place, highlights pet adoption. This post is about how to bring a new dog into one’s home, allowing for decompression, enabling bonding and confidence, and establishing a sound foundation for a joyful lifetime relationship. Bringing a new dog into your family is exciting for people and dogs alike, but it is also a world-changing event for your dog. Everything they were once familiar with has changed. Dogs need time to decompress and adjust to their new surroundings, to establish relationships with new people, and… Continued
Overstimulation in Cats
by Misty Hampton The term “overstimulation” is sometimes used among cat professionals. Like any label, it has the potential to be useful in certain contexts. Applied too broadly, it limits understanding. In this article, the author discusses how the term “overstimulation” is applied to cats and proposes a working definition of the term to promote better understanding of cats’ behavior and needs. Overstimulation can be prevented. When we recognize the signs of overstimulation, strategic interventions can lead to better interactions and improved outcomes, for both people and cats. Starting Point I was inspired to… Continued
Make Every Walk with Your Dog Fun for Both of You!
Walking the dog. Wikipedia describes dog walking as “…the act of a person walking with a dog, typically from the dog’s residence and then returning.” Sadly, the definition suggests nothing about the walk being enjoyable or, better yet, fun for the dog. Some people might view walking the dog as an obligation to ensure dogs get physical exercise, which entails walking around the block or some other regular course, at an unvarying pace, with the dog in a perfect heel position. That’s not the type of walk where your dog… Continued
What’s Wrong With No Kill?
by Pat Miller Those who know me know that I abhor the entire deceptive, unethical, abusive “no-kill” movement. When I first spoke out against no kill at conferences 20-plus years ago, I was greeted by a roomful of puzzled looks and verbal resistance. Today, I get wild applause. Our industry has come to understand how damaging the so-called no-kill movement actually is. Imagine a world where no dog is euthanized for homelessness: more homes than dogs; waiting lists at dog adoption sources; potential adopters anxiously awaiting the next available canine.… Continued
Easing My Dog’s Stress at the Veterinary Clinic
Let’s start with a show of hands. Who enjoys going to the doctor or dentist’s office? Well, our pets probably feel the same way, so what can we do to help them? In 2016, Zazie Todd, Ph.D. wrote “Canine Stress in the Vet’s Waiting Room” and cited a study identifying the percentage of dogs who experienced stress while at a veterinary clinic. If a dog is not conditioned to enjoy visiting the clinic, it does not surprise me that the couple of visits per year when a dog is handled and restrained by… Continued
Weathering Your Dog’s Fear of Thunderstorms
Thunderstorm season has begun. There are 80-90 million dogs in the USA alone, and I have read that 20% have noise phobias. It can be debilitating for dogs, and life-changing for their people. My friend, Lisa, lives with such a dog, Sweet Min, who was very fearful of storms, fireworks and other sounds. Lisa has worked diligently to improve Min’s quality of life, and I wrote this post to tell her story of discovering what has helped, from a pet steward’s perspective. Is Your Dog Frightened of Thunderstorms? Many dogs… Continued
Occupational Licensing for Pet Trainers and Behavior Consultants: Does a Suitable Model Exist?
by Niki Tudge, Debra Millikan, and Louse Stapleton-Frappell This article was adapted from Tudge, N., Millikan, D., & Stapleton-Frappell, L. (2019). Occupational Licensing for Pet Trainers and Behavior Consultants. DogNostics Career Center Publishing. Ch. 1, pp. 14-21. Download your free copy of the ebook here. According to Roth and Ramlow (2016), “Americans have always been rooted in the idea of economic freedom.” In other words, Americans tend to be of the belief that hard work and determination will pay off. Children, from a young age, may be told that, rich… Continued
Sudden Tension Between Cats: Could It Be Non-Recognition Aggression?
Each year, countless cats and their guardians are affected by non-recognition aggression, a phenomenon in which a cat returning home from an outing is suddenly treated as an intruder by a cat who remained at home. This situation often occurs after a visit to the vet, but it can also happen after a trip to the groomer, an outdoor excursion, or a visit to a home with dogs. Experts believe scent plays a key role in triggering non-recognition aggression. If left unaddressed, the at-home cat may attack the returning cat,… Continued
Pet Care Member Publications
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What to Look for in a Pet Care Professional–Part 1
This post is the first in a series of articles designed to assist pet care consumers with selecting an appropriate professional to care for and help them with their pets. In this article, I will answer the question, “What is a professional?” I will also discuss the importance of working under a Code of Technical and Ethical Standards developed by acknowledged experts in pet care. What is a Professional? Almost all professions follow the attributes listed under the heading “A Professional Will:” Many different professionals work in pet care. They… Continued
Without Eyes to See: Adventures with My Blind Puppy
Dogs and humans are both very visual species. We rely on body language so much to understand the context and communication of the world around us. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would feel like not to have any sight, and for my other senses to be heightened to compensate for it. For my dog Jellyfish, that’s exactly how it is, and yet he is the happiest, most excited little man that I have ever met. Jellyfish loves life. Puppy Basics When I adopted him from the nearby… Continued
PPG Member Meetings – Support and Help
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Celebrating Life Together – The Votes Are In!
The Pet Professional Guild has announced the results of the public voting portion of the Community Outreach Competition! Thank you to all who participated in the PPG Advocacy Event and Community Outreach Competition – Raising Awareness for Humane, Ethical, and Effective Pet Training and Care! Whether you presented at or attended the Celebrating Life Together Virtual Educational Event (or purchase the conference recordings package), entered into the outreach competition, or voted for your favorite entry, by joining forces to be part of the solution, you helped provide the antidote to… Continued
Celebrating Life Together – The Votes Are In!
The Pet Professional Guild has announced the results of the public voting portion of the Community Outreach Competition! Thank you to all who participated in the PPG Advocacy Event and Community Outreach Competition – Raising Awareness for Humane, Ethical, and Effective Pet Training and Care! Whether you presented at or attended the Celebrating Life Together Virtual Educational Event (or purchase the conference recordings package), entered into the outreach competition, or voted for your favorite entry, by joining forces to be part of the solution, you helped provide the antidote to… Continued
Let’s Go on Sniffari!
Should people allow their dogs to sniff during walks, or is it all about marching forward in lockstep? I suppose the tone of the question predicts my response. I suggest that dogs not only be allowed to sniff but should be encouraged and empowered to do so…and here is why. As a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, I enjoy educating the public about dogs. My motivation is to help others avoid the many mistakes I made with my puppy in 1983, when I knew nothing about raising a puppy. Note to… Continued
Scholarly Circle – September 2024: Janis Bradley Talks Saving Normal
Janis Bradley is your academic mentor for reading Saving Normal: A New Look at Behavioral Incompatibilities and Dog Relinquishment to Shelters. Click here to access the recording.
Escape-Proof Crates: If They Sound Cruel, It’s Because They Are
by Gwendy Williams Many of us have been taught to embrace the benefits provided by crating dogs. It is why many animal caregivers avoid reading articles like this one. We don’t want to question something that has become customary and acceptable, even when we know instinctively that it’s not. Crates for dogs are, indeed, needed. However, the times that they are truly necessary account for a tiny fraction of how pervasively crates are used. When we force our dogs into isolation for extended periods of time, the discomfort we cause them is clear. They let us know. Their scratching and howling are signs of emotional states that are difficult to misinterpret, even for first-time pet owners. Dogs crying and clawing at the walls of… Continued
PPG Appoints Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as Feline Division Vice Chair
Please join us in congratulating Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as the new vice chair of PPG’s Feline Division! “I am thrilled to accept the role of vice chair of the Feline Division at the Pet Professional Guild,” said Joanna. “In this position, I will be dedicated to advancing feline welfare through education, advocacy, and support for other cat professionals. Together we will strive to improve the lives of cats and strengthen the bond between pets and their guardians.” Joanna is a Houston-based dog and cat trainer and behavior consultant. She started on… Continued
Doing Your Activity and Preparing Your Submission
Doing Your Activity and Preparing Your Submission This page highlights information you’ll need to do your outreach activity and prepare your submission for uploading to the voting platform. Click below to download the full competition guidelines with all the details (recommended!). In mid-July, you will receive an email with information about how to upload your entry to the voting platform. You will upload your entry to the platform between August 1 and 30. Let’s get started! Choose Your Outreach Activity and Submission Type Choose your outreach activity from one of… Continued