Save the Date for Arizona 2023!

The Pet Professional Guild will be holding an in-person summit at the Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix. The event will also be live streamed.

Wednesday, Nov. 1, through

Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023

Don’t miss it—put it on your calendar now!

Dogs Are Always Food Motivated - They Need It for Survival. It's Our Role to Figure Out What Works Best in Different Situations!

In this not-to-be-missed presentation, we will immerse ourselves into the topic of food motivation, increasing our understanding of why some dogs are indifferent to food during their training sessions, and discuss a variety of solutions!    

Presenter: Louise Stapleton-Frappell

When: Thursday, December 1, 2022, 9:00-10:30 AM ET

PPG Member Cost: $30

Register: Dogs Are Always Food Motivated

Preventing Bites in the Veterinary Hospital

Bites can be prevented in the hospital environment when staff is trained properly in understanding body language, and when they understand force-free, positive techniques. 

Presenter: Shannon Riley-Coyner

When: Wednesday, December 7, 2022, 4:00-5:00 PM ET

PPG Member Cost: $30

Register: Preventing Bites in the Veterinary Hospital

Let's Talk About 10 Types of Learning

In this webinar, which has been designed at a novice level, we will explore 10 different types of learning – what they are, their characteristics, and some examples of each – and the constraints within which learning takes place.

Presenter: Alexandra Santos

When: Thursday, December 15, 2022, 1:00-2:30 PM ET

PPG Member Cost: $35

Register: Let's Talk About 10 Types of Learning



Can’t make it to the live webinars? No worries!

All webinar recordings are sent via email 48 to 72 hours after the live sessions.

CEUs are available (click on the link to the event’s registration page for details).

Call for Webinars!

You have things to say, and we want to hear them! Share your knowledge and expertise by giving a webinar for PPG. Choose from the following topics:

Learning theory

Teaching skills

Training mechanics

Ethology

Ethics

Consulting

Marketing

Business development

... and other specialized topics - send us your ideas!

Click here for details and the link for the PPG webinar submission form.

Divisional Meetups

Informal, fun and educational live group chats for PPG members only!

To access the FREE meetups, log in directly through Zoom or watch the livestream in the Pet Professional Guild Members Only Facebook group.

More to come!

Check the Divisional Meetups page in the member area of PPG's website 

for newly added meetups.

Can’t make it to the live meetups? No worries! Recordings are available in the Pet Professional Guild Members Only Facebook group and the respective divisional Facebook group.

Chat & Chuckle!

Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison for a fun and informative Chat & Chuckle with Jeanette Davis about caring for community cats in winter!

When: Friday, December 23, 2022, 3:00-4:00 PM ET

Where: Live-streamed on PPG's Facebook Page

Event link: Chat & Chuckle with Jeanette Davis

The Feline Division Lounge is free and open to all PPG members!

The Feline Lounge is a casual, informal, unstructured support and discussion group to address whatever is on participants’ minds related to cat behavior, cat behavior consulting and whatever other topics come up in the conversation. Lounges are held through Zoom every other month on the second Tuesday, and they are not recorded (what happens in the Lounge stays in the Lounge). 

The next Lounge is Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 8:00 pm ET

Details for joining the Lounges are posted a few days ahead in the PPG All About Cats Facebook group. (PPG All About Cats is a private Facebook group and you must be a PPG member to have access. Ask to join the group today!)

New and FREE for PPG Members!

The Positive Bookworm

The Positive Bookworm (PBW) is a place for PPG members to learn together, support each other, network and have fun! The PBW will feature two different reading groups—one will read books and the other will read academic papers. PPG members will be free to participate in either or both groups as often as they wish.

To help ensure that everyone achieves a high level of comprehension and enjoyment, the PBW will offer support for participants with learning disabilities or who may need help navigating and progressing through academic texts. And, whenever possible, authors of the selected books and academic papers will attend meetings to discuss their works, explain difficult concepts and answer participants’ questions. Plus, participants in the book-reading group can earn CEUs!

For more information, click here.

The first Positive Bookworm book and academic paper readings will begin in January 2023. Here are the details and registration links: 

Book: Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It, by Marge Rogers and Eileen Anderson

Meeting schedule: weekly on Mondays, January 16 to March 27, 2023, 12:00-1 PM ET 

Register: Positive Bookworm, January 2023 - Puppy Socialization 

Paper: Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience, by Steven F. Maier and Martin E. P. Seligman

Reviewed with: Dr. Kristina Spaulding

Meeting date: Monday, January 23, 2023, 10:00-11:30 AM ET

Register: Positive Bookworm, January 2023 - Learned Helplessness at Fifty

The Top Ten Tips On How To Network and Spread The Mission

Moderator: Don Hanson

Panelists: Aaron Jones of the PPG Inclusivity Division and PPG Shelter and Rescue Division, Linda Michaels, Kim Silver, Dr. Karolina Westlund and Monique Williams of the PPG Equid Division.

Listen to the podcast here!

Recorded October 28, 2022

Class Action Case Filed Against Shock-Collar Manufacturer Radio Systems in California

A new class action case has been filed in California. The lawyer we have spoken to over the last few months has finally found a member of the public with legal standing. You can read more here as it has been picked up by Bloomberg Law. PPG and our position statement are mentioned in the case.

Schubert Firm Investigating Sellers of Shock Collars, Offering Free Legal Consultations

In response to the class action case filed against Radio Systems, the Schubert Firm is investigating whether sellers of shock collar products have misled consumers in violation of state and federal laws. If you purchased a shock collar from one of the following brands, you may be entitled to damages and an injunction forcing the seller to halt the practice:

• PetSafe
• Invisible Fence
• SportDog
• PremierPet

If you purchased one of these shock collar products and would like to learn more about your legal rights or would like to participate in the class action lawsuit, please complete this form for a free legal consultation.

Welcome PPG’s New Corporate Partner, BusyPaws!

The Pet Professional Guild has a new Corporate Partner - BusyPaws! Check out BusyPaws' special offer for PPG members in the Member Discount Programs area of the PPG website!

Industrywide Survey Issued by the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers

The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) was founded and launched on a commitment to provide educational resources to animal trainers, pet care providers and the public, coupled with an emphasis on building collaboration that advocates for mutually agreed guiding principles for the industry. Since its inception in 2012, PPG has been unwavering and unequivocal about where it stands on equipment philosophy and training methods for pets.

PPG has continued to be at the forefront of moving the dog training and pet care industry forward, based on scientific research, animal welfare and a commitment to consumer transparency.

Over the last 10 years, many other organizations representing pet professionals have emerged with codes of ethical conduct, and existing organizations have updated and revised their ethical codes of conduct based on scientific research and a more progressive approach. PPG acknowledges these efforts and recognizes these positive steps forward. In 2022, PPG and its collective membership still stand on principle regarding the use of aversive equipment and methodologies, as well as take on the responsibility to advocate for professionals who are Informed by Science, Guided by Empathy, and Governed by Ethics.

The Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT) recently issued an industrywide survey regarding training tools and equipment. They have invited all dog training and behavior professionals to participate in this survey with the goal of helping to “inform any updates to CCPDT policies.” In a letter accompanying the survey, CCPDT’s executive director expresses the organization’s responsibility for moving the dog training industry forward and goes on to state the survey’s purpose:

[T]o understand the perspective and knowledge of the broader professional community to be sure our policies reflect the current state of education, experience, professional practices, and professional challenges to serving clients …

Here at PPG, we are concerned about the policies of the leading industry credential provider being influenced, based on the current state of an unregulated industry. As a result, and because many of you have emailed, we encourage you to take the survey and provide your professional and objective feedback.

The survey link can be found here and will be available until November 30th.

Having taken the survey, we found that some of the questions did not provide answer choices we felt comfortable choosing. If you are planning to participate in this survey, please schedule at least 20 minutes to do so, as some of the questions require careful reading and constructed responses for answers.

It is a privilege and responsibility to represent pet professionals and, consequently, reach the wider audience comprised of pet owners and caretakers. We are in the optimal position to make significant changes across our industry, within our representing bodies and for the benefit of the pets we serve, the owners we service and the professionals we represent. The time to achieve this is now, and it is our duty to shape the future.

New Year, New PPG Website!

Exciting news! At the start of 2023, the Pet Professional Guild will be launching a brand new website that will bring together all of PPG's platforms - Doggone Safe, Pet Dog Ambassador, Pet Professional Accreditation Board, and Shock-Free Coalition. Your one PPG member login will give you access to all of these programs - no more visiting separate websites and keeping track of multiple logins. The site will be easy to navigate and feature a brand-new member area packed with resources to help you succeed. Everything you need to take full advantage of your PPG membership will be at your fingertips. We can't wait to share it with you!

Stay tuned ... more information to come in January 2023!

Highlights from PPG's Publications