Behavior Teams

A New Program to Help and Support You

Working with pets can be one of the most pleasurable and fun careers, but it can also be lonely, challenging, and emotionally draining.

Coordinating with clients, veterinarians, and other pet professionals can leave you feeling like you have run the gamut of an assault course. And it can be challenging for both pet guardians and pet professionals to gain access to competent and qualified training and behavior professionals.

Let’s stop, think, and change the way we work with our colleagues and clients. 

No More Burnout!

Behavior Teams was developed to facilitate teams of behavior experts and pet professionals who work together to support pets and their people with behavior and training programs.

Why We Need Behavior Teams

• Working in isolation can be a hindrance: Behavior professionals often work in isolation from tactical support groups, such as those available to other professionals. For example, a trainer or behavior consultant may not have access to or a positive working relationship with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, which may hinder case management progress.
• Limited number of board-certified VBs: Currently, there are a limited number of board-certified veterinary behaviorists; on average, fewer than three operate in each state.
• Lack of industry regulation: The training and behavior industry is not regulated and does not require licensing or formal education. Due to a lack of confidence and trust, professionals are hindered in their ability to recruit, network, and refer cases to other professionals.
• Nonexistent collaboration tools: There is no working model for behavior professionals to network, refer to, and work on cases together based on a hierarchy of education and skills.
• Disconnect between diagnosis and treatment plan: There is a disconnect between the academic side of diagnosing behavior cases and the tactical implementation of relevant behavior and training modification programs.
• Less experienced professionals need more support: There is a need for case management support and supervision for less experienced behavior professionals, rather than professionals “going it alone” working outside their competency areas.

Watch This Short Introductory Video

How You Can Get Involved

We are looking for behavior professionals to participate in launching the pilot program for this new initiative. You’ll be helping us test the four Best Practice Systems of the program:

• Best Practice #1: How Do Behavior Teams Work Together?
• Best Practice #2: Communication and Feedback Model
• Best Practice #3: Client Intake and Procedures, and Functional Assessment Flowchart
• Best Practice #4: The Credential Matrix

Learn More

We invite you to learn more about Behavior Teams and how you can help us launch the pilot program. Click below to access free informational sessions about the program.

When you register, you get immediate access to an on-demand presentation that you can watch now. You also get a Zoom link to attend one of the live sessions where you will have the opportunity to ask questions. (You’ll find the Zoom link in your confirmation email after you register.)

Live Session Schedule

The Zoom link for these sessions can be found in your confirmation email after you register.

**You do not need to be a PPG member to learn more about Behavior Teams. If you are interested in joining a team to help pilot the program, you will be asked to commit to the PPG Guiding Principles. There are limited spaces and priority will be given to PPG Professional Members**