PPG Advocacy Panel: The Most Misunderstood Facts About Cats and Their Behavior
Join PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson as he hosts a clowder of feline training and behavior experts for a discussion about the most misunderstood facts about cats and their behavior. Your panelists for this discussion are Dr. Zazie Todd, Beth Adelman, Allison Hunter-Frederick, Holden Svirsky, and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison. 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. Recorded July 17, 2024. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.
Celebrating Life Together – Our Pets Share Our Lives, and Never for Long Enough!
I recently lost my Kitty Kat; it gave me pause, as always when we lose a pet. We flashback to all the memories, laughs, and lovely moments we shared over the years. I sat in a quiet location as my tears subsided and flashed back to how she came into my life. I have not yet reached the point where I can think back fondly with a smile; the pain is still too raw. But what I can do is reflect on our time spent together, our reinforcement history, the… Continued
Celebrating Life Together – Our pets share our lives, and never for long enough!
I recently lost my Kitty Kat; it gave me pause, as always when we lose a pet. We flashback to all the memories, laughs, and lovely moments we shared over the years. I sat in a quiet location as my tears subsided and flashed back to how she came into my life. I have not yet reached the point where I can think back fondly with a smile; the pain is still too raw. But what I can do is reflect on our time spent together, our reinforcement history, the… Continued
PPG Appoints Maria Karunuñgan as Vice Chair of Its Shelter & Rescue Division
Please join us in congratulating Maria Karunuñgan as the new vice chair of PPG’s Shelter and Rescue Division! “I am excited to help support Division Chair Holden Svirsky and the PPG in this new role, and continue the volunteer efforts and collaboration that I have been a part of since this division was formed in 2017.” Maria Karunuñgan, PhD, CTC, CSAT, has spent nearly 10 years working in different behavior and training capacities for various shelters and rescues in the Northern California Bay Area, including the East Bay SPCA, Joybound… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: The Importance of Empathy and Compassion in Animal Training—Why There Is No Need for Violence … Ever
Listen as the PPG Advocacy Panel addresses these important questions: Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson Your Panelists: Daniel Antolec, Pat Miller, Dayle Pierce, Holden Svirsky, Melissa Taylor, Jennifer Van Valkenburg, 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. Recorded June 19, 2024. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.
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
Shelter Dog Reactivity in the Big City: Daisy’s Success Story
Dogs living in a big city may face big challenges related to their environment and the expectations placed on them. As a long-time shelter worker and dog trainer, I’ve seen countless leash-reactive dogs enter the system who are ill-equipped to cope with life in a sprawling metropolis like San Francisco, where I live, and that includes two of the three dogs I’ve adopted myself. Those of us embroiled in sheltering and canine behavior modification may be familiar with the common refrain, “He just needs a backyard/farmland/island of his own and… Continued
Meet Kim Monteith of the British Columbia SPCA
Kim prioritizes the well-being of both animals and people in her work. Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into animal behavior/training or pet care, and what you are doing now? With over 25 years in animal behavior and pet care, my journey began with a pet-sitting business and then volunteering at the British Columbia SPCA in various roles, including trainer and dog walker, which ultimately led to a paid position as an animal care attendant. During this time, I also had the opportunity to… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: How Do We Turn Prospects Into Clients?
Listen as the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses ways to turn prospects into clients. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson Your Panelists: Dr. Eduardo Fernandez, Dr. Kristina Spaulding, Beth Adelman, Daniel Antolec, Allison Hunter-Frederick, Judy Luther, Sandra Machado, Debbie Sheridan, 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. Recorded May 15, 2024. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.
Chat & Chuckle with Michelle Martiya About Working With Hybrid Cats
Savannahs and Bengals (and spraying) … oh my! Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Michelle Martiya about working with hybrid cats! Michelle Martiya is an ABI certified exotic animal trainer who works with canines, equids, and exotic species. Michelle specializes in connecting and building relationships with fearful and feral equids, combining her natural ”way” with animals and her many years of experience, with a robust education in animal behavior and training. Michelle’s animal experience includes both domestic and exotic species, and she currently coaches… Continued
Cat Not Using the Box? It Could Be the Litter Box Setup!
Unwanted elimination is one of the most common behavioral reasons cats are surrendered to shelters. Why is this problem so common? And what can be done about it? First, take your cat to the vet to check for possible medical causes. If the cause isn’t medical, it could be behavioral, such as separation anxiety, inter-cat aggression, or outside threats. In these situations, I’d recommend you contact a cat behavior consultant to help you problem-solve. As a cat behavior consultant, experience has taught me that elimination issues are often due to… Continued
Pet Professional Guild Announces New Event Titled Celebrating Life Together—A Pet-Approved Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Paula GarberEmail: [email protected]: petprofessionalguild.comSocial Media: Facebook, Twitter Pet Professional Guild Announces New Event Titled Celebrating Life Together—A Pet-Approved EventThe August event includes a three-day virtual education event and a month-long community outreach competition whose aim is to saturate social media and local communities with fun, effective pet training and care protocols for pet professionals and pet owners. The Villages, Fla. – May 10, 2024 — The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has announced a two-part event called Celebrating Life Together—A Pet-Approved Event to raise awareness for humane,… Continued
How to Train Your Equid to Stand for a Foot Soak
From softening the hoof so that it’s easier to trim in dry weather, to drawing out an abscess or treating a hoof condition, there are many reasons why you might need to soak your equid’s feet. Here is a brief guide to training your equid to stand for a soak. Step 1: To teach your equid to stand for a foot soak, I like to start with training them to stand on a mat. This behavior is useful for many different things, and the more you strengthen this behavior, the… Continued
Effectively Communicating with Clients with Disabilities
Service dog trainers need to be able to communicate effectively with their clients. Whether they are interacting with someone who has a sensory disability, a mobility disability, a cognitive disability or a mental illness, effective communication is essential. Here are some tips to consider when speaking with individuals with disabilities. Direct Interaction and Eye Contact Remember, you’re communicating with the individual, not their assistant or interpreter. Make eye contact and face towards your client, the person with the disability, when you speak to them. This detail is even more important… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Katlyn Grayson About Making Modifications for Cats With Mobility Issues
Cats with limited mobility need an environment that accommodates their need. Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Katlyn Grayson about making modifications for cats with mobility issues. Katlyn Grayson is a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP), Licensed Family Dog Mediator (LFDM), CertifiedProfessional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC). She is the owner of Pets Knead Peace in Northeast Ohio providing in-person and virtual behavior assistance for dogs, cats and their guardians. She began her behavior journey when she started working in animal shelters in 2009. Since then, she… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: Conversations About Compassionate Care and Connection with Dr. Laura Donaldson
You don’t want to miss this special episode! It’s the first for a new Advocacy Task Force program called Conversations About Compassionate Care and Connection. These special Advocacy Panels feature a special guest and two co-hosts. The special guest for this Advocacy Panel is Dr. Laura Donaldson! Your Co-hosts: Judy Luther and Debbie Sheridan Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson 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. Recorded April 17, 2024. Find out… Continued
When Kindness Hurts: The Importance of Self-Care for Behavior Professionals
by Anna Francesca Bradley When I first delved into the world of animal behavior over 20 years ago, there was very little, if any, emphasis on looking after oneself. The focus (and rightly so) was on clients’ well-being and doing one’s utmost to help both animal and human, and very little thought was given to the individual professionals who were throwing everything, their heart and soul, into that journey. Thankfully, awareness has changed. The Professional’s Role When I first thought about becoming a behavior modification and training professional, I did… Continued
Riff Raff: From Reactive to Relaxed
This article is the runner-up entry in the BARKS 2023 Summit Writing Competition! by Tasha Attwood Riff Raff is a 7-year-old entire (intact) male Leonberger who lives in a bungalow with his owners, Claire and Paul. They have had him since he was 8 weeks old, and he is the only pet in the household. Claire’s parents live in the house next door and have three Briards, two males named Bruce and Billy, and a female named Annie. The houses are separate but adjoined via a door in Claire and… Continued
What is Reactivity in Dogs?
‘He’s reactive’ or ‘I have a reactive dog’ is quite commonly heard nowadays, and is a bit of a catch-all label that gets put on dogs who respond in a certain way. So, what is reactivity really, and what is a ‘reactive dog’? A dog who is reactive is generally one who overreacts in certain situations, or to certain things (science calls these stimuli) in their environment, and this overreaction can vary in intensity, how long it goes on for (duration), or volume. What triggers reactivity in dogs? Common triggers… Continued
How Much Fetch Is Too Much?
How does a pet steward satisfy a dog’s strong desire to play without turning it into an obsession? Most dogs love to play, and some dogs love it so much that it can become an obsessive behavior. When my wife and I adopted Bruno, a chocolate Labrador, the foster family told us that he would play fetch for hours. Uh-oh. When I worked at a dog daycare, among the 200 dogs I knew, there was one who herded plastic balls constantly, all day long, for several days a week, never taking… Continued
How Can Sniffing Improve Your Dog’s Life?
Our dogs make no secret of how much they love to use their noses and have a good sniff. Some dogs make a very respectable career out of their nose power, detecting drugs or explosives. Others though, put their noses to much more embarrassing use, crotch sniffing visitors or poking it where it’s really not wanted! So why is sniffing so important to your pet? And what can you do to fulfill their sniffing needs without any embarrassment? As humans our primary sense is our sight, but for our dogs,… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: Unrealistic Expectations: Where Do They Come From and How Do We Diffuse Them?
In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses unrealistic expectations for pets, where those expectations come from, and how to diffuse them. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: Dr. Karolina Westlund, Daniel Antolec, Kristi Benson, 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. Recorded March 20, 2024. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.
The Surprising Similarities Between Dogs and Toddlers and How We Can Use Them to Make Us Better Pet Professionals
by Judy Luther In this post, I give a little insight into how dogs are much like toddlers when it comes to emotions and learning, and how teaching them like we teach toddlers can be so beneficial. It was 2016 and I was heading to session #2 with a client who had a new puppy. During the first session, the mom confided she felt like she made a mistake getting a puppy with a toddler in the house, and she was considering sending the puppy back to the breeder. When… Continued
Ten Tips to Help Your New Dog Decompress
You’ve brought home a new dog! Congratulations! Let’s look at some important things to help keep your new dog safe, emotionally and physically, in the first few weeks. Over the next several weeks and months, you will really start to see his personality blossom as he starts to bond with you, gets comfortable, and settles into your home and your routine. That’s when the fun really happens! Good luck and congratulations! About the Author Kate LaSala, CTC, CBCC-KA, PCBC-A, CSAT, FFCP-E is a certified, professional behavior consultant and trainer, who specializes in helping fearful,… Continued