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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







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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