Do Pets Experience Emotional Trauma?
[Trigger warnings: abuse, hostage-taking, kidnapping, threats of violence] I recently met a gentleman who, upon learning I worked with animals, stated “I don’t know how you feel about this, but I demand my dog do whatever I ask him to do, immediately when I ask, and I have no problem hitting my dog.” He also was quick to tell me his dog loved him and they had a great relationship. I later learned his dog is 14 years old. Well, no dog should be treated that way, but older dogs… Continued
Pet Owners Say No
Renowned Canine Training and Behavior Experts Interviews We asked a group of renowned canine training and behavior experts how they would persuade pet owners that electric shock has no place in their toolbox for the training, care or behavior modification of any pet. Interviews by Susan Nilson & Louise Stapleton-Frappell. (2016, November 8 – 9). How to Convince Owners that the Use of Electric Shock Needs to Be off the Table in their Pet’s Training, Care and/or Behavior Modification. Pet Professional Guild Annual Summit, Tampa, FL. Here are their responses: Jennifer Arnold:… Continued
Doggone Safe Programs
Once you are a Doggone safe individual member or a Pet Professional Guild member and can access the membership resources, you can upgrade your membership to either/or Be a Tree Member or the Dog Bite Prevention Educator. These two enhanced memberships require you to complete an educational program and adhere to the PPG Guiding Principles. You will find discount codes for both programs in your member area. If you currently have a Be a Tree Kit or carry the Dog Bite Prevention Educator Certification, you may join at those levels now. Educational Tools A… Continued
Become a PDA Professional
PDA Professional Licensing Welcome! You are here because you are interested in becoming a Pet Dog Ambassador (PDA) Instructor or Instructor/Assessor. We are excited to have you! Currently, only Pet Professional Guild (PPG) members can both instruct and assess the program; non-members can instruct the program and access all the support resources. If you want to both instruct and assess the program but are not yet a member of the PPG, now is an excellent time to join! Why You Should Become a Licensed PDA Professional We provide the program… Continued
Professionals Say No
Renowned Canine Training and Behavior Experts Interviews We asked a group of renowned canine training and behavior experts how they would persuade pet professionals that electric shock has no place in their toolbox for the training, care or behavior modification of any pet. Interviews by Susan Nilson & Louise Stapleton-Frappell. (2016, November 8 – 9). Why Electric Shock Has No Place in a Professional’s Toolbox for the Training, Care and/or Behavior Modification of any Pet. Pet Professional Guild Annual Summit, Tampa, Florida. Here are their responses: Jennifer Arnold: I think it’s… Continued
What is Shock
What is Shock Training? Shock collar trainers have several names for the shocks that they administer through the collar. A tap. A stim. A nick. A page. Static. Application of pressure. It sounds like something short and relatively benign, but do not be fooled! Even the word “shock,” although it has much more negative connotations (which is why shock collar trainers usually don’t use the word), sounds like something brief. If you get a shock from scuffing your feet on the carpet then touching metal, it is unpleasant but… Continued
Shock-Free Coalition
Coalition Purpose and Function The Shock-Free Coalition has been developed purposely to bring together parties that have mutual business interests and a personal investment in the welfare of pets. The Coalition embraces stakeholders of similar values and interests, enabling all parties to combine their resources and become more successful in achieving the stated goals. Strategic Approach The key purpose of the Shock-Free Coalition is to build a strong and broad movement committed to eliminating shock devices from the supply and demand chain. This goal will be reached when shock tools… Continued
Pet Parenting Can Be Hard. It’s Okay – You Are Not Alone.
Pet guardianship can be trying at times. The good news is that if you’re reading this letter, you’re doing a great job! As professional canine behavior consultant and frequent Pets and Their People content contributor Don Hanson simply states in his article on building trusting and joyful relationships with pets, “No pet is preprogrammed to exist with humans harmoniously. Therefore, you will need to kindly and patiently teach your pet what they need to know.” If you’re thinking to yourself, that sounds easier said than done, the pet professionals who… Continued
Animal Training Foundations for Future Success
I’m very much into practical training and tend to focus on building behaviors that make managing and handling animals easier. Practical Training Foundations The benefit of this approach is that most of the behaviors I focus on build a foundation for the more advanced behaviors that people ultimately want. Teaching your horse to line up at the mounting block is great, but not if your horse is throwing his head up when you try to halter him in the stall, or is cutting you off when you’re trying to walk… Continued
Summer Fun for Dogs & Puppies
It’s summertime (in the Northern Hemisphere) with longer days, meaning that we can spend more time enjoying the nice weather with our puppies or dogs. For Dogs Who Love Water If you are spending time in the garden, make sure you provide shade and water. If your dog or puppy enjoys a paddle, then you can provide a paddling pool for your pup to play in and you can buy toys that float. Be careful with your dog or puppy around your sprinkler and limit the use or buy a… Continued
Nelly the Desert Dog: Once a Feral Night Roamer, Now a Super Trooper
by Sarah Bartley We arrived in the Arizona desert at the beginning of August 2022. What a relief—no stray dogs. Military bases are like gated communities. Resident dogs are always on leash or contained in a yard. A few months later, in November, is when I first saw the little orange dog curled up on the side of the road, just outside of base. I have no idea how she got there. We are literally in the middle of nowhere. I had been on my way out for a… Continued
About Barks
About BARKS BARKS is an online publication for pet professionals including trainers, behavior consultants, pet care providers, animal shelter and rescue workers, and all those working in the broader pet services industry. It is the official trade publication of the Pet Professional Guild. BARKS covers all things animal behavior and training, specifically in the fields of canine, feline, equid, and avian, with an occasional foray into pocket pets and exotics, as well as advocacy, business, sales, marketing, and consulting. Educational Platform In a world where there is often information overload, BARKS provides a platform… Continued
Help Your Pet Enjoy (not just tolerate) Brushing and Nail Trims!
You can help your pet enjoy basic care, such as brushing and nail trims, at home. Here are our tips so that some common husbandry procedures can be pleasurable for everyone involved. Cooperative care and basic home pet care activities that help to keep pets healthy like grooming, bathing and nail clips have come a long way from the days of just ‘getting on with it.’ We now give our pets much more control and choice over these procedures so that they find them enjoyable. Brushing Your Pet Brushing your… Continued
Rocket Man vs Squirrels – What to Do When Dogs Overreact to Things in the Environment
Do you live with a dog who goes bonkers upon seeing squirrels or rabbits during walks? I often hear that complaint from pet stewards. Five years ago, I taught Rocket basic manners. He learned quickly but his family reported that, true to his terrier nature, he became very excited upon seeing squirrels and rabbits and launched himself toward them, earning the moniker of Rocket Man. The result for the person holding the leash was sore knees and shoulders, as Rocket unexpectedly bolted ahead. It was particularly concerning during winter conditions… Continued
Cats and Kids
by Andrea Carne “And in breaking news … a child was left scratched and in tears after a play session with his pet cat went horribly wrong …” Ever heard that on the nightly news bulletin? No, of course not. We may hear about dog bites from time to time and much has been written over the years about children and dogs. Indeed, many pages of books, articles and blogs have been dedicated to the topic and some fabulous community education and classroom programs have been developed to educate children—and their… Continued
The Key Charter
The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) was founded based on a commitment to provide educational resources to pet care providers and the public. This commitment is coupled with an emphasis on building collaboration among science-based and ethical pet trainers, professional pet care providers and advocates to advance mutually agreed upon guiding principles for the pet care industry. PPG partners, members, and affiliates focus on each pet’s physical, emotional, environmental, and nutritional well-being adhering to a holistic approach to the care and training of family pets. Established at the beginning of 2012,… Continued
Doggone Safe
The Doggone safe Mission Statement To promote education initiatives for dog bite prevention and increased child safety around dogs. To provide tools and resources to professional dog trainers, behavior consultants and pet care professionals to support dog bite prevention education. Doggone safe Mandate Provide: Dogs are amazing animals. They love us unconditionally. They protect our homes. They find lost children. They fetch the newspaper. They swim. They rest by the fire. They pull sleds in the snow. They predict seizures and sniff out cancer cells. They lead the blind. They… Continued
Canine Division
Judy Luther Your divisional chair and a member of PPG’s Steering Committee Email Judy Here, we focus on all things canine! In the menu bar, you will find links to lots of nice resources on a variety of canine-related topics, from advice on how to find great dog trainers to puppy education resources to articles about canine communication and social behavior. The Canine Division is very active and participates in lots of the programs developed at PPG. Several times per month, we host a Chat & Chuckle with special guests via Facebook… Continued
When You See Service Dogs with Their Handlers in Public, Remember These Three Tips
Service dogs are trained to provide specialized services to individuals with disabilities in order to help them live more independent and fulfilling lives. Service dogs are an invaluable resource for individuals with physical and mental disabilities. With this context in mind, it is important to understand proper service dog etiquette. Here are three tips to remember when you see service dogs and their handlers in public: Tip #1: First and foremost, it is important to remember that a service dog is not a pet. Service dogs are highly trained to… Continued
Join PPG
Why Join PPG? What Sets PPG Apart? The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) is the only international membership association representing multiple disciplines that subscribes to the view that aversive methods that cause pain, fear, or harm, should not be used—or even deemed necessary—as part of a strategic training or behavior modification program. Nor should they be used by pet care professionals. This means that PPG members agree to operate within our Guiding Principles and Code of Ethical Conduct. PPG members are “Informed by Science, Guided by Empathy, Governed by Ethics”™ As an… Continued
About Us
How It All Got Started I left the store in tears. How could this happen in a well-respected, nationally-recognized pet store? I got into my car where my husband sat waiting, now looking concerned. “What’s the matter, what happened?” he asked. I had only come in to town to buy some supplies for our pet resort. But about half way through my shopping, I heard a horrible scream, a dog’s scream, from another aisle. Thinking a dog must be in trouble, instinct took over and, leaving my shopping cart, I… Continued
Eligibility and Pricing
Credential Levels The Pet Professional Accreditation Board currently offers these credential levels: Each credential level consists of The Professional Behavior Consultant credential requires written case studies in addition to the above. The study guide for each level describes the assessment elements in detail. Study guides are available for download on the application pages for the credential levels (linked in the right sidebar.) Consumers draw inferences from certifications that a professional has met a specific standard of competency and/or carries a particular body or depth of pertinent knowledge. —Niki Tudge Guiding… Continued
Advocacy Task Force
Don Hanson Your task force chair and a member of PPG’s Steering Committee and board of directors Email Don The Advocacy Task Force promotes PPG’s Guiding Principles, Code of Ethical Conduct and critical advocacy programs—the Shock-Free Coalition, Project tRade, the Advocacy Panel and others. The Pet Professional Guild was founded based on a commitment to provide educational resources to animal trainers, pet care providers and the public, with an emphasis on building collaboration among animal trainers, pet care providers and advocates for mutually agreed force-free guiding principles for the pet… Continued
Study, Find a Mentor, Don’t Quit Learning—Sage Advice From Dog Training Professional Angel Rowe
Pet Professional Guild member Angel Rowe shares how he became a force-free dog training and behavior professional, and offers tips and advice to those starting out in the field. Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into animal behavior/training, and what you are doing now? Growing up I always had a dog. I loved being around the dogs more than people and really wanted to be a vet. However, as I got older life led me down the path of training. I started… Continued