Thumbs and Empathy
By Bob McMillan I spotted it driving down a rural road in Tennessee just before dawn one morning on my way to work. At the edge of my headlights, strolling nonchalantly down a driveway, was a coyote, unperturbed by my passing car. My first thought was, “You lucky dog. You go where you want to go, do what you want to do when you want to do it. You’re free, the master of your own domain.” I was a little sleep-addled, obviously, because my three dogs were back home doing exactly… Continued
L-Bo’s Dog Blog: Making Memories
On the morning of May 24 I walked the Woodford Wag 2K in Versailles, Kentucky. The dog walk and accompanying 5K run benefit the Woodford Humane Society. My walking partners were my senior rat terrier Zip and his wire fox terrier buddy Clever Trevor. We had a good time. We did not walk the fastest, but we, by no means, walked the slowest. Most interesting to me is how much Zip relies on Trevor to walk with him and maintain a steady pace; otherwise, Zip can be stressed without his “goat” to keep him… Continued
How to Talk Dog
Dogs and humans have been friends for thousands of years. In fact based on some of the latest studies, it is estimated that dogs evolved from wolves almost 40,000 years ago. But what is most incredible is that science, until the last decade, hadn’t been interested in studying dogs; after all why bother with a common domesticated animal when there are so many exotic species to study? But they couldn’t have been more wrong, as it is domestication that sets these amazing creatures apart from other animals and as such… Continued
If I Knew Then What I Know Now
By Bob McMillan If the Hound of the Baskervilles ever needed a stand-in, my dog Cuchulain would have pushed to the head of the line. A Scottish deerhound/Irish Wolfhound mix, he was a 130-pound guided missile of shaggy black fur, crazy long legs and very big teeth. The day he started rushing at strangers and snapping is the day I began to seriously rethink my approach to dog training. “No really, he’s not aggressive,” I reassured them shrilly. I was a little less convincing than the dog looking them level… Continued
The Clicker versus Yes!
I have recently seen and heard discussions on message boards and dog training forums about the use of clickers versus verbal markers such as using ‘yes’. I actually use and recommend both, not at the same time as this weakens the conditioning effect through either blocking or overshadowing, but for different applications they can both have their place. When I work with my dogs I can either use ’yes’ as a conditioned reinforcer or a clicker. What is important when using either of these tools is that the conditioning has… Continued
A Dirty Big Secret – Get With The Program
A basic strategic marketing plan is paramount as a small business owner, no matter how good you are at what you do, says Niki Tudge First published in “Barks From The Guild” (Spring 2014), the official publication of The Pet Professional Guild. For many small business owners, taking the time to develop a marketing strategy can seem so overwhelming that it never even makes it onto their to-do list. In fact, one’s marketing strategy may never even emerge from being a thought or a remote possibility. But let me share… Continued
If They Could March
re blogged from Your Pit Bull and You If They Could March by Jean Donaldson If dogs could march on Washington, what would they march about? Adequate food, shelter, veterinary care? Big ticket stuff, but I doubt it. When people march, it’s never for something everybody already agrees on and for which there are laws on the books. Everybody gets it that it’s Wrong and Bad and Illegal to starve dogs. It’d be like people marching on Washington against burglary. What about dog fighting? It’s a hellish scourge, which the… Continued
Got Voice? Can Sing! The PPG Force-Free Boogie
Get into the force-free boogie. Sing along to the upbeat, toe- tapping, music about force-free training and PPG. On a serious note PPG is looking for some vocal talent to record this song for us. Contact Niki Tudge by email if you are interested Lyrics by Melissa Hagood Music and Recording by Ted Performed by Puppy Breath featuring Ted and SoWal Steve What’s the fun way to train? Force free! What’s the loving way to train? Force free! Make it the only way you train! Force free! Force… Continued
Choke, prong and shock collars can irreversibly damage your dog.
by Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM Read the full blog here Why can collars cause hypothyroidism and other health problems Learn about better alternatives. Before you start reading the following lines, I invite you to do a little test. Open your hands with your thumbs touching each other. Place the thumbs at the base of the throat and with the fingers pointing back and surrounding the neck. Now, take a deep breath, squeeze and pull back with all your force keeping your thumbs connected. This is how many dogs feel when… Continued
Why Would We Want to Be Pack Leaders?
By Niki Tudge There are so many inaccurate facts that need to be dispelled about dogs and the dog training industry. The use of dominance theory and the necessity to be a pack leader using this dominance theory is one of the more concerning inaccurate facts that as professionals we have an obligation to educate pet owners about. Using powerful, engaging and educational messages we need to encourage pet owners to reconsider these outdated facts and misconceptions about their dogs and their relationship with their dogs and look toward more… Continued
The PPG Ethics Review Process
The Ethics Committee The ethics committee at The Pet Professional Guild consists of a committee Chair and three other PPG members. The key role of the Ethics Committee is to investigate all reported ethics violations. Your Pet Professional Guild Ethics Committee are: Chair – Catherine Zehner. Committee Members are Robert A King, Diane Garrod and Debra Millikan. How To Report an Ethics Violation The following is how a report of an alleged violation of the Pet Professional Guild’s Guiding Principles is handled. Reports of alleged membership violations will be handled… Continued
The PPG Position Statement On Reality Dog Training
In recent years, much creditable scientific study has been given to dog training and behavior modification methods and their respective efficacy and consequences. The preponderance of the evidence shown by these studies indicates that the implementation of training and/or behavior modification protocols predicated upon “dominance theory” and social structures (“alpha,” or “leader of pack”), usage of physical or mental force, intimidation, coercion or fear are empirically less effective and often create as a consequence “fallout” behaviors – behaviors which may be dangerous to the human and animal involved. Some of… Continued
Choke and Prong Collars: Health Concerns Call for Equipment Change in Dog Training
By Angelica Steinker and Niki Tudge © 2012 Effective training procedures lay the foundation for an animal’s healthy socialization, capacity for learning and will help prevent behavior problems. Since a wide variety of equipment and tools are commonly used when training pets and in their daily activities, the pet-owning public needs to be aware of the potential problems and dangers some equipment may pose. Specifically, the use of collars and leads that are intended to apply constriction, pressure, pain or force around a dog’s neck (such as ‘choke chains’ and… Continued
PPG World Services Podcast February 2014
Nando and Donna interview Victoria Stilwell and Pat Miller. February 2014 [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tziZeilGh8Q]
Take the Choke Out of Walking Your Dog!
by Niki Tudge April is designated Pet First Aid Awareness Month™ so I started thinking about the things that pet dog owners may be doing on a daily basis that could be risking the long term health of their dogs without their knowledge. The practice of using choke collars and jerking the lead as a “correction” that many people still use when training and handling their dog can do so much physical and mental damage to the dog. The most common ‘use’ of the ‘jerk’ correction I have noticed is… Continued
Coercion in Pet Dog Training Leads Dogs To a “Life of Quiet Desperation”
by Niki Tudge Scientifically we all acknowledge that negative and positive reinforcement in the scientific sense can develop and strengthen behaviors. The question is, at what cost? I make this statement very loosely as one must consider the meaning of “teach.” As Murray Sidman states in his book, “Coercion and Its Fallout,” if you want to do studies on escape or avoidance behaviors then present negative reinforcers (Sidman 2000). When training your pet dog, if you want to turn them into a creature devoid of personality then approach your teaching… Continued
How To Transfer Stimulus Control in Dog Training
Henry Ford Did It, You Should Too
Operant Learning Illustrated by Examples
A great blog by Eileen Andeson
The International Day of Celebration for Force Free Training and Pet Care
Join us for PPG’s ICFF Day. A great celebration of Force Free Training and Pet Care programs. Great prizes to win while you have fun with your pets
Treat Training Trinity – Why positive reinforcement did not work for my dog.
Defining, Determining and Maintaining Best Practices within Our Force Free Organization.
Defining, Determining and Maintaining Best Practices within Our Force Free Organization. Written by Debra Milikan, Dip.ABST, Dip.DTBC, PABC. The question of how one defines determines and maintains best practice is one that troubles individuals, organisations and professions alike. In the fledgling, unregulated industry of animal training, the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has worked in conjunction with James O’Heare (President of the Companion Animal Sciences Institute and Director of the Association of Animal Behaviour Professionals) to deliver to its members a guided delivery system for best practice. Read the full article here… Continued
ICFF Day – Wow Look At The Prizes!
For some time now you have been hearing all about the Pet Professional Guild’s Virtual Event to celebrate force free training. What has not been so easy to find out about are the prizes!!! Well, look no further. For simply registering for the event you will automatically receive * A special canine competitor medal (which we hope will become an annual collectors’ item) * A completion certificate * Access to enter the PPG photograph Competition And the prizes for the photograph competition are beyond belief!!!!! Just for showing us a… Continued
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