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Apply for Professional Feline Trainer Accreditation (PFT-A)

Professional Feline Trainer – Accredited Welcome to the Pet Professional Accreditation Board’s (PPAB) Professional Feline Trainer – Accredited application page. The PPAB program is independent of any industry trade school, college or credentialing body. To apply, you are not required to be a member of the Pet Professional Guild, but you must meet and maintain all the eligibility criteria and ethical standards.  Study Guide: Professional Feline Trainer This guide was written to help you prepare for the PPAB Professional Feline Trainer assessments. It also serves as a syllabus to assist you in… Continued

Occupational Licensing for Pet Trainers and Behavior Consultants: Does a Suitable Model Exist?

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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

A Professional Dog Trainer Does So Much More Than Train Dogs

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I became a pet care professional in the fall of 1995 when my wife and I became the new owners of Green Acres Kennel Shop. I am fortunate to have entered the profession then because of the many advances in our knowledge of pet behavior, training, and nutrition. Obedience Class Disaster In the Spring of 1991, my wife Paula and I brought home our first puppy as a couple, a cairn terrier we named Gus. We wanted to do everything right, so we immediately enrolled ourselves and twelve-week-old Gus in… Continued

Do’s and Don’ts: A Guide for Assistance Dog Trainers

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by the Pet Professional Guild Assistance Animal Division Do Not Touch Someone’s Assistance/Service Dog Without Prior Consent You could distract the dog performing an alert or monitoring task. The dog could also become distracted and miss cues from the handler. You wouldn’t handle someone’s medical equipment, so please respect that an assistance dog is also a medical aid. Do Not Offer to Handle the Dog During Times of Training We need the handler to be confident and skilled in their handling. To work in tandem for the individual’s health is… Continued

What Do the Boy Scouts of America and U.S. Dog Trainers Have in Common?    

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A Lot, the Fox Is in the Henhouse By Annie Phenix and Pilley Bianchi Best-selling authors Annie Phenix and Pilley Bianchi have teamed up to write a compelling, fact-based news article that examines how family dogs are living in a time of major transition as they become more and more embedded in our families. More is expected of them, and more often than not, people expect their dogs to inherently know the rules of order. Sit, stay, come, chew this, not that. But despite 40,000 years by our side, dogs… Continued

Help! I’m a Dog Trainer, but I Don’t Have the “Perfect Dog”

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In this article, the experts at dogbiz share tips for dog trainers who may feel insecure about not having the “perfect dog.” Ask dogbiz Q: Hi dogbiz, Last year I became a certified dog trainer, and I’m now building my business. The problem is—my own dog still struggles with behavior challenges, and people seem to assume I should have the “perfect dog.” It often leaves me feeling unsure and like an imposter. I know I’m doing my best, but how can I overcome this insecurity? Thanks, Emma A: Hi Emma,… Continued

Do’s and Don’ts: A Guide for Assistance Dog Trainers

Do not touch someone’s assistance/ service dog without prior consent. You could distract the dog performing an alert or monitoring task. The dog could also become distracted and miss cues from the handler. You wouldn’t handle someone’s medical equipment, so please respect that an assistance dog is also a medical aid. Do not offer to handle the dog during times of training. We need the handler to be confident and skilled in their handling. To work in tandem for the individual’s health is a very personal interaction between the handler… Continued

Ask a Trainer: A Friend for a New Feline

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Q. I recently acquired a male, neutered cat, who is about 3 years old. He lived indoors all the time, his first two years with a sibling. They were separated when the owner passed away, then fostered. I’m the third owner in a month now. He is a gentle lapsitter, content to be in his room, looking out the window. I am contemplating getting him a companion. What’s your suggestion? Same age or a younger cat? Male or female? Breed? (He is a domestic shorthair, tuxedo.) – Thanks, C. A:… Continued

PPG Advocacy Panel: Are We Trainers or Teachers? What Best Describes What We Do for Our Clients?

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Listen as the PPG Advocacy Panel answers the questions, “Are we trainers or teachers? What best describes what we do for our clients?” Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Beth Adelman, Judy Luther, Sandra Machado, Kim Silver, and Sam Wike Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply click the ‘Play’ button below. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.

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

Meet Force-Free Puppy Trainer Colin Spence

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  Force-free training … is kind. It’s what all animals should get from humans—kindness. —Colin Spence   Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into dog training, and what you are doing now? I got into the industry as a trainer a while ago as I had a 12-week-old German Shepherd puppy who was very human and dog reactive as he was very scared. He would growl and lunge while shivering. I wasgetting somewhat (I now know as) very bad advice from local UK trainers… Continued

Ask a Trainer: Help for a Dog Who Growls at Strangers

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Q. My newly adopted 2-year-old female golden retriever is lovely with my husband and I, but growls (and has once snapped) at strange men. I realize she was probably abused by some man in the past. How do I help her get over this problem? – via Facebook Messenger A. I would ask a few questions if you were to come to me as a client with this situation. First, how long have you had her? Dogs in a new environment need time to decompress before meeting people. Were the men… Continued

Meet Kim Silver: A Dog Trainer Who Dabbles in Training Parrots

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“Dogs are misunderstood, and our cultural ideas about them are hurting them. Dogs need a voice, and often it’s their dog trainer who is speaking up for them. I love being that person for a dog.” —Kim Silver Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into animal training, and what you are doing now? I have been a professional dog trainer for 12 years. My interest in dog training was born from a compulsion-based dog training class I attended with my dog Eve in 1997. I learned… Continued

Apply for Professional Canine Trainer Accreditation (PCT-A)

Professional Canine Trainer – Accredited Welcome to the Pet Professional Accreditation Board’s (PPAB) Professional Canine Trainer – Accredited application page. The PPAB program is independent of any industry trade school, college or credentialing body. To apply, you are not required to be a member of the Pet Professional Guild, but you must meet and maintain all the eligibility criteria and ethical standards.  Professional Canine Trainer Study Guide This guide was written to help you prepare for the PPAB Professional Canine Trainer assessments. It also serves as a syllabus to assist you in… Continued

Ask A Trainer: Help! My Dog’s Barking is Getting Worse

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  Q. My 3-year-old whippet barks as soon as someone arrives next door, especially with a dog. This has gotten worse and I am at a loss to know how to stop him. – via Facebook A. Thank you for your question. We need to try and work out why your dog is barking. For example, is your dog barking because he is defending the house? Or is he worried? Or excited by people and/or other dogs? When someone arrives next door, is your dog’s barking triggered by him seeing… Continued

What is a “Positive” Dog Trainer?

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Let’s say you want to find a great trainer for your dog and so you do a web search. The search results in several web links and you check them out, seeking the best result for your beloved pet.  What might you find? Lack of Industry Regulation and Oversight First, understand that among about 50,000 dog “trainers” in the United States, there is no standard, regulation or oversight.  Any single person who wishes to call themselves a “dog trainer” is…voila, a “dog trainer.”  There is no need for qualification or… Continued

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