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PPG Advocacy Panel: Beyond Belly Rubs with Niki Tudge & Louise Stapleton-Frappell

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In this episode, the panel is joined by special guests Niki Tudge and Louise Stapleton-Frappell to discuss their new book, Beyond Belly Rubs: The Compassionate Pet Guardian, How to Truly Connect With Kindness & Love, Your Guide to a Lifelong Bond, published by DogNostics Education. Your moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson Today’s panelists: Tasha Attwood and Dayle Pierce Relax and enjoy the discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms.  Or, you can click on the play button below to listen to the episode now!… Continued

Chat & Chuckle: Chatting About Behavior Acquisition

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Tune in as Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline chat about behavior acquisition, training mechanics, and much more! Click here to listen to the episode on your choice of platforms! Or simply click on the play button below to listen now! Recorded April 9, 2026.

PPG Scholarly Circle – Professional dog trainers’ perspectives on training methods: ethical and evidentiary insights with Dr. Jamie DeLeeuw

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The Scholarly Circle is PPG’s academic paper reading group where an academic mentor joins the meeting to explain difficult concepts and answer questions. The Research Paper – Professional dog trainers’ perspectives on training methods: ethical and evidentiary insights. You can download the paper here. This research was funded by the Pet Professional Guild’s Pet Training Science Alliance Program. The APC was funded by Grand Valley State University. Academic Mentor – Jamie DeLeeuw, PhD, is a community psychologist and evaluation leader specializing in animal welfare systems. She is the Founder of Community… Continued

PPG Advocacy Panel: Guardians and Professionals Working Together to Help Make a Kinder World for Pets

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The Advocacy Panel is a monthly event hosted by the Pet Professional Guild and showcasing a number of experts. In this episode, the panel discusses how guardians and professionals can work together to help make a kinder world for pets. Your moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson Today’s panelists: Tasha Attwood, Rebekah King, Kim Silver, and Jennifer Van Valkenburg Relax and enjoy the discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms.  Or, you can click on the play button below to listen to the episode now!… Continued

PPG Advocacy Panel: How Can Professionals Help Make a Kinder World for Pets?

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The Advocacy Panel is a monthly event hosted by the Pet Professional Guild and showcasing a number of experts. In this episode, the panel discusses how we, as pet professionals, can help make a kinder world for our pets. Your moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson Today’s panelists: Tasha Attwood, Dayle Pierce, & Rebekah King Meet today’s panel: Your moderator, Don Hanson, serves on the PPG Board of Directors and owns Green Acres Kennel Shop in Maine, USA and Force Free Pets. His goal is to help people before… Continued

Chat & Chuckle: Chatting to Will Bangura About “Sniff to Soothe”

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Tune in as Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline chat with Will Bangura, M.S., CAB-ICB, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, FDM, FFCP about his new book, Sniff to Soothe: Rewiring Neurobehavioral Patterns of Aggression, Anxiety, and Reactivity Through Structured Scent Work. Click here to listen to the episode on your choice of platforms! Or simply click on the play button below to listen now! Recorded February 12, 2026.

Massachusetts H.2342 – An Act Relevant to Dangerous Dogs

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Summary 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,… Continued

Hernandez v. Radio Systems Corp. – Proposed Settlement

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CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE Dated June 10, 2025 Below is a motion to approve a settlement in the Hernandez v. Radio Systems Corporation matter. The motion was filed last month. A hearing on the motion is set for one week from today. We have been advised that a significant portion of the settlement will not be allocated to RSC customers. The attorneys will seek attorneys’ fees up to 33-1/3% of the settlement, reimbursement of their costs and expenses (including expert witness fees), and a $10,000 “service award” for… Continued

PPG Advocacy Panel: How Can Guardians Help Make a Kinder World for Pets?

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This episode is the first PPG Advocacy Panel discussion of 2026 and the topic is: How do we, as pet guardians, make a kinder world for our pets? Your host/moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson Your panelists: Tasha Attwood, Dayle Pierce, Debbie Sheridan, Sam Wike, Kim Silver, Beth Adelman, and Michelle Martiya Technical support: Rebekah King Relax and enjoy the discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms.  Or, you can click on the play button below to listen to the episode now! Recorded January 21,… Continued

Significant Legislation Targeting Dog Training

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As of late 2025, the most significant legislation specifically targeting dog training is moving through state houses in the Northeast. There is a clear legislative trend: bills are increasingly attempting to mandate “force-free” or “positive reinforcement” methodologies by law, effectively banning the use of tools like e-collars (shock collars) and prong collars for professional trainers. Here are the three major bills currently pending or moving through state legislatures: 1. New Jersey: The “Dog Training Licensing Act” (S3814) 2. Massachusetts: Dangerous Dog Rehab & “Ollie’s Law” (HB 2342) 3. New York:… Continued

Major Legislation Impacting Pets 2025

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The following is a summary of major legislation impacting pets in the United States from December 2024 through December 2025. The legislation is categorized by Federal (nationwide impact) and State (specific state laws with significant precedents). I. Federal Legislation (United States Congress) Note: Much of the federal activity in 2025 involved bills being introduced or moving through committee. Enacted federal laws are rare and typically take longer to finalize. 1. The PURR Act of 2025 (H.R. 597) 2. HELP PETS Act (H.R. 233) 3. Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act of 2025… Continued

Chat & Chuckle: The Dynamic Dog Practitioner and the Connection Between Pain and Behavior with Erika Liljefelt

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Join your hosts, Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline, as they chat and chuckle with Erika Liljefelt of ⁠Relax, Rover⁠ about the Dynamic Dog Practitioner and the connection between pain and behavior. Relax and enjoy the lively discussion! Click here to listen to the episode on your choice of platforms! Or simply click on the play button below to listen now! Recorded December 1, 2025

PPG Advocacy Panel: Advocacy When Pet Professionals Are Pet Parents, Too

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In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses how many pet professionals are also pet parents, and the role that plays in their advocacy efforts. Your host/moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson Your panelists: Tasha Attwood, Rebekah King, Dayle Pierce, and Niki Tudge Relax and enjoy the discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms.  Or, you can click on the play button below to listen to the episode now! Recorded November 19, 2025. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.

PPG Appoints Dayle Pierce to Its Board of Directors

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Dayle brings a crucial international perspective to the organization’s leadership. The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dayle Pierce to its board of directors with immediate effect. Dayle, based in the United Kingdom, has held many roles since joining the organization in 2016. He became a member of PPG’s Steering Committee in 2018 and has co-led PPG’s British Isles Chapter with Nathan Watson and Tom Candy since 2021. He has served with PPG’s Shelter and Rescue Division since 2022 and also co-hosted PPG Chat and… Continued

Chat & Chuckle: The Myths and Lies About R+/Force-Free Training—Let’s Dispel Them! with Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline

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Join Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline as they discuss the myths and lies about positive-reinforcement and force-free training—and dispel them! Relax and enjoy the lively discussion! Click here to listen to the episode on your choice of platforms! Or simply click on the play button below to listen now! Recorded November 13, 2025

PPG Advocacy Panel: Kind Alternatives to the Use of Shock Collars and Aversives

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In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses kind alternatives to shock and aversives. Your host/moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson Your panelists: Tasha Attwood, Judy Luther, Dayle Pierce, and Jennifer Van Valkenburg Relax and enjoy the discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms.  Or, you can click on the play button below to listen to the episode now! Recorded October 22, 2025. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.

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