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Pet Owner Members – Get Your $35 Discount on the Celebrating Life Together Event!

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That’s right! PPG Pet Owner Members get a $35 discount on registration options 1 and 3 for the Celebrating Life Together advocacy event! To get your discount code, log in and go to the Pet Owner Member Area. Click on the “Pet Owner Discounts” link in the right sidebar, then click on the discount card called “Celebrating Life Together – PPG Member $35 Discount Code.” After you grab your discount code, click here to register for the event. We can’t wait for you to join the fun!

PPG Appoints Maria Karunuñgan as Vice Chair of Its Shelter & Rescue Division

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Please join us in congratulating Maria Karunuñgan as the new vice chair of PPG’s Shelter and Rescue Division! “I am excited to help support Division Chair Holden Svirsky and the PPG in this new role, and continue the volunteer efforts and collaboration that I have been a part of since this division was formed in 2017.”  Maria Karunuñgan, PhD, CTC, CSAT, has spent nearly 10 years working in different behavior and training capacities for various shelters and rescues in the Northern California Bay Area, including the East Bay SPCA, Joybound… Continued

PPG Appoints Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as Feline Division Vice Chair

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Please join us in congratulating Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as the new vice chair of PPG’s Feline Division! “I am thrilled to accept the role of vice chair of the Feline Division at the Pet Professional Guild,” said Joanna. “In this position, I will be dedicated to advancing feline welfare through education, advocacy, and support for other cat professionals. Together we will strive to improve the lives of cats and strengthen the bond between pets and their guardians.” Joanna is a Houston-based dog and cat trainer and behavior consultant. She started on… Continued

“A Dog’s View” by Kristy and Jamie Spencer

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PPG member Kristy Spencer and her son Jamie have made a short film called, “A Dog’s View.” Jamie is doing a filmmaking degree at the Film School in Manchester.   “The aim of the film is to hopefully help people develop a better understanding of how dogs see their world around them, including all sensory inputs,” said Kristy. “It’s going to be the start of a mini series of films to help express how a dog perceives its world and develop a deeper understanding of why dogs struggle with certain aspects… Continued

Take Part in Groundbreaking Puppy Research Run by University of Lincoln and Zigzag

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Did you know? There has been minimal research surrounding puppy development since the 1960s, with huge gaps existing in our knowledge—particularly in relation to specific breed behaviours and traits. Crazy, isn’t it? Zigzag has joined forces with the University of Lincoln, and we want you to join us and be a pioneer in new, modern research—research that could prove crucial to puppy development. Through this research, you and your clients could be a direct reason for people to gain a better understanding of puppy behaviour that would ultimately help improve… Continued

Call to Action! Please Speak Out Against Abusive Dog Training Methods

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It is extremely unusual for PPG to name individuals we disagree with. Normally, we speak to methods, philosophy and approach using facts. THIS IS DIFFERENT. Augusto DeOliveira (aka “the Dog Daddy”) is not training pets—he is inflicting pain and fear. This is not dog training; this is abuse. Some of the abusive practices the Dog Daddy exhibits in his videos are: Since its inception, PPG’s mission has been to combat cruel and abusive dog training methods like those used by the Dog Daddy, while simultaneously promoting its Guiding Principles and… Continued

Update on Radio Systems Corporation Class-Action Lawsuit

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On May 10, the judge denied the defendant’s second motion to dismiss the case. This order is even better than the one before. It expands the number of PetSafe products subject to the case to 24. Click here to read the minutes from the May 10 court hearing.

Michelle Martiya Returns as Chair of the Equid Division

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Join us in welcoming back Michelle Martiya as chair of PPG’s Equid Division! Michelle helped found the Equid Division in 2018 and owns Essential Animal Training in Boca Raton, Florida. She takes the reins from Dorothy Heffernan, who served as chair of the division for two years. Click here to read the news release.

England Bans Shock Collars

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Great news! England has banned the use of remote-controlled electric collars on dogs, effective February 1, 2024. The Kennel Club, which led the decade-long effort, made the announcement on Friday, April 28. Please help keep the momentum going! If you haven’t already done so, sign the Shock-Free Pledge today and encourage your friends, clients and colleagues to sign as well.

Welcome K. Holden Svirsky, New Chair of the Shelter & Rescue Division

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K. Holden Svirsky of HoldenK9 LLC has stepped up as chair of PPG’s Shelter & Rescue Division. Holden is a dog behavior consultant with a certificate in training and counseling from the Academy for Dog Trainers. She is also a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer through Malena DeMartini’s certification program. She has been with PPG’s Shelter & Rescue Division since 2019 and helped author and develop the Pet Rescue Resource, an online toolkit for shelters and rescues to improve the adoption and retention rates of homeless pets, launched by the division in 2020. Read the full news… Continued

Give a Warm Welcome to Your New Chairs of the Assistance Animal Division

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  Give a Warm Welcome to Your New Chairs of the Assistance Animal Division Christina de Juan is the owner of CreScent Service Dogs in Central Florida, which helps people with disabilities train their service dogs for their individualized needs. She specializes in scent training for gluten and allergens, and also offers private lessons for scent detection dog sports. Natasha Attwood is the owner of Miyagi’s Dog Training and Behaviourist Services in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, through which she provides holistic dog-centered training and behavior modification services, and specializes in reactivity and aggression. Read the full news… Continued

Welcome to Pets & Their People

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Welcome to Pets and Their People – Your online tips, tools and resources! You’re busy. You really, really love your pets. So, where do you turn with day-to-day pet care challenges and questions: Can I feed this to my dog? Why does my horse do that? How do I find a reliable pet sitter? Why does my cat think that’s the litter box?? It’s okay – you got this and we’re here to help. We’re on a mission to provide resources and practical tips to pet people…with a dose of encouragement and humor! Our… Continued

PPG Member and Her Assistance Dog Let Down by Taxi Services

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Uber is a taxi service that is accessible through an app. Within the app, you can book your driver and also let them know if you have an assistance dog. The idea is to help people easily access the most local driver and be assured that they can get to their destination, with their assistance dogs, in peace. However, some Uber drivers over the last five years have been refusing access to Ruby Welsford, a member of the Pet Professional Guild, and others (see below). It is illegal for Uber… Continued

The Roles of Assistance Animals

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The three types of assistance animals are Service animals: Dogs and miniature horses are trained to aid their handlers who have been diagnosed with medical or psychiatric disabilities and have received a prescription for a service animal. Therapy animals: Therapy animals (with their handlers) are trained to provide comfort and therapeutic interactions to people in need in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private therapy practices, retirement and nursing homes, schools and in the aftermath of disasters. Emotional support animals: Emotional support animals provide their handlers with comfort and support within their… Continued

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