Action Needed! The U.K. Shock Collar Ban
Your action is urgently needed. PPG British Isles members, please take immediate action and follow the instructions below. If you are not in the United Kingdom but have friends, family or colleagues there, please pass this email along to them so they can take action as well. As anticipated, the supporters of electric shock collars have come out in force to lobby Defra, insisting that e-collars are necessary for training dogs and modifying behavior. There is a real danger that this may sway the government, which is currently listening to… Continued
Feline Guiding Principles
Below in the embedded PDF you can review the PPG Professional Member Guiding Principles. Recognizing that Felines are different to Canines, the Feline Division has made some minor tweaks to this. The Feline Guiding Principles are posted as text below. The Pet Professional Guild Guiding Principles Section One – Non-Negotiables for Cats To be in any way affiliated with the Pet Professional Guild, all members must adhere to a strict code of conduct. Pet Professional Guild Feline Professional Members understand Force-Free to mean that: No shock, no choke, no pain, no… Continued
Shock Talking Points
IMPORTANT TALKING POINTS REGARDING SHOCK COLLAR TRAINING. These are compiled from a collection of PPG Position Statements. If any of these bullet points are used, then please also include the link back to the corresponding PPG Position Statement. Copyright 2023 The Pet Professional Guild. Equipment-Used-for-the-Management-Training-and-Care-of-Pets Open-letter-to-veterinarians-on-referrals-to-training-and-behavior-professionals Position on shock collars
Pet Owners Say No
Renowned Canine Training and Behavior Experts Interviews We asked a group of renowned canine training and behavior experts how they would persuade pet owners that electric shock has no place in their toolbox for the training, care or behavior modification of any pet. Interviews by Susan Nilson & Louise Stapleton-Frappell. (2016, November 8 – 9). How to Convince Owners that the Use of Electric Shock Needs to Be off the Table in their Pet’s Training, Care and/or Behavior Modification. Pet Professional Guild Annual Summit, Tampa, FL. Here are their responses: Jennifer Arnold:… Continued
Shock-Free Coalition
Coalition Purpose and Function The Shock-Free Coalition has been developed purposely to bring together parties that have mutual business interests and a personal investment in the welfare of pets. The Coalition embraces stakeholders of similar values and interests, enabling all parties to combine their resources and become more successful in achieving the stated goals. Strategic Approach The key purpose of the Shock-Free Coalition is to build a strong and broad movement committed to eliminating shock devices from the supply and demand chain. This goal will be reached when shock tools… Continued
Members-Only Programs & Events
Divisional Meetups Divisional meetups are informal members-only gatherings that are hosted by the individual divisions. They feature guest speakers and provide PPG members opportunities to meet, chat and learn about specific topics pertinent to that division. Meetups are held via Zoom to enable the use of Closed Captioning. The events are recorded for members to watch after the fact. The Positive Bookworm The Positive Bookworm The Positive Bookworm is PPG’s official members-only book club and reads four books per year. The selected books are relevant to the animal training and… Continued
Shock-Free Snake Safety
Warm weather might bring on thoughts of outdoor adventures with our dogs. However, something that may not be enticing for outdoor adventures is that venomous snakes share our outdoor spaces! If you live in an area with venomous snakes, a snake safety protocol for your dog is critical. What should be in a snake safety protocol for your dog? PET: Prepare. Educate. Train. Prepare for Peak Snake Season Keep your dog on a leash on hiking trails and other habitat areas for snakes or avoid these areas altogether during peak… Continued
How To Prepare Your Pet for Smoother Vet Visits
There’s no doubt about it, a trip to the vet’s office can be pretty daunting for both us and our pets. Whether it’s worrying over a busy waiting room with other animals around or stress about what might happen in the consultation room, anxiety for all involved can often run high. Top Tips for Ensuring Smoother Vet Visits So how can you make the whole experience more relaxing for yourself and your pet? Stay calm yourself The first thing you must try and do is reduce your own worry… Continued
Meet LT Taylor, Whose “Hyperfixation” on Dogs Led to a Career in Animal Training
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you first get into animal behavior and training, and what you are doing now? My mother is a dog breeder, so our house always had several dogs growing up, from Jack Russell terriers to Old English mastiffs. I became interested in behavior and training as a teenager, but then veered toward humane education and spent several years working at the San Francisco SPCA after graduating college. I loved working in sheltering but wanted to be more involved with the operations… Continued
Questions to Ask About That Bizarre Prong Collar Diagram
An excerpt from a blog by Eileen Anderson. Posted on October 6, 2021 by Eileen Anderson Questions to Ask About That Bizarre Prong Collar Diagram The Diagram I am going to critique a certain diagram (and a few other arguments about prong collars) I have seen online. But I won’t link to the diagram. I hate vague-posting, but I can’t see another ethical way through this swamp. I feel bound to say something about the misinformation, but I know that linking to it, even for criticism, will promulgate it. So I am… Continued
France Bans “Training” Devices That Cause Pain to Animals
On January 16, 2023, Members of Parliament in France voted to ban the “use on cats or dogs of any device that has an electrical charge, a looping collar which tightens without a restriction or which has spikes turned in towards the animal’s body.” Click here to read the full story.
Before You Get a New Puppy
Are you planning on acquiring a new puppy? It’s a good thing you are reading this! We will guide you through essential information you need to make an informed decision. Whether you are a new dog owner or an experienced dog guardian, getting a new puppy is very exciting. It also comes with many responsibilities, such as research on: The breed that would best suit your household Finding an ethical breeder OR Choosing the right puppy from a rescue A qualified professional’s school to enroll your puppy for early socialization… Continued
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Maker of Shock Collar Products
By Niki Tudge Good news! A class-action lawsuit has been filed in California against Radio Systems, maker of shock collar products. The story has been picked up by Bloomberg Law and several other sites. Excerpt from the filing: “This is a consumer class action arising out of misrepresentations and omissions by Radio Systems in connection with its manufacture, sale, marketing, and advertising of shock collar products under the brand name PetSafe® (the “Shock Collar Products”). Shock Collar Products are devices that deliver electric shocks to household pets via a collar worn… Continued
Enjoy Loose Leash Walking Your Dog – Part 2: Your Leash Walking Tools for Success
Let’s Look at Leash Walking Equipment What We Recommend: A well-fitting, non-restrictive harness. For larger dogs and those dogs who tend to pull, we recommend a harness that has both front and back rings as, if needed, the leash can be attached at both points. Alternatively, a front-ring only harness is a good choice. Using the front attachment will assist you while you and your dog are working on your leash walking skills as, if your dog pulls towards something, the front leash attachment point will cause them… Continued
Why We Should Think Twice About How We Are Training Our (Service) Dogs
Service dogs have up to two years of training under their belt. This is so they can be prepared for doing their very important job for their handler. With all that training and the continued work they do throughout their lives, shouldn’t we be careful not to do anything to cause any medical problems or physical issues in the future if we can prevent it? Most people now know that dog collars can do harm to the dog’s neck so why are they still being used? Let’s Take a Look… Continued
The Harness Is Coming – Run for the Hills!
I often wonder why some of us expect our dogs to miraculously accept collars, harnesses, leashes, and the like. After all, dogs are not born with these alien contraptions attached to their person! But some of this gear must feel restrictive, worrying, anxiety-provoking, or even potentially painful. Especially without careful prior desensitization. Which Dog Gear and Why? There are many different bits of paraphernalia available out there right now, so think seriously about what you need and why you need it. Most importantly, think how it benefits your… Continued
Naughty Dog Syndrome? Say What?!
This article discusses reasons why owners may think that their dog is being ‘naughty’ when, in fact, a better understanding of the dog’s emotional state, breed instincts, and motivation is required By Anna Bradley I’m sure there are lots of dog training professionals have heard the phrase ‘Naughty Dog Syndrome’ many times, only to take a deep breath before calmly explaining the inaccuracies of such a statement. The word ‘naughty’ suggests that behavior is negative, inappropriate, willfully disobedient, bad, certainly undesirable, or noncompliant. It’s a label that is very easily… Continued
Why Do Deaf Dogs Bark?
By Morag Heirs Barking is a form of communication for all dogs so it is important that we spend some time thinking about why our dogs might be barking. Are they anxious, over-excited, upset, fearful, thrilled, frustrated? Something else? Avoid concentrating on stopping the barking (particularly through the use of ‘aversives,’ e.g. telling off, harsh signals, water spray or air sprays, exclusion from the room or crating on a regular basis) as this gets in the way of understanding why the barking is happening. Without understanding why our dog is… Continued
Pets & Automobiles – Part 1: Safety
Cars, trucks, mini-vans, basically any automobile are often as much a part of our pets’ lives as they are ours. It’s how we brought them home the first time and how we transport them to all types of activities. We have all known someone who has a dog that the mere mention of “car ride” has the dog leaping in ecstasy. However, some dogs are or become terrified of riding in a moving vehicle. Some cats enjoy car rides, but many find the crate and car a predictor of getting… Continued
Punishment in Animal Training
This article examines the growing body of research indicating that reward-based training, and the subsequent absence of stress, anxiety, pain, force, and fear, may improve an animal’s ability to learn; and that aversive training techniques can have adverse effects on a dog’s behavior By Susan Nilson and Niki Tudge The United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child (2006), defines corporal or physical punishment as “any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light…Physical punishment… Continued
Pups and the Power of Positive Touch
Don’t you just love being able to have that closeness with your dog? The snuggling in, the mutual touch, and just really enjoying each other’s affection? But sadly it’s not always like this. Not all dogs enjoy or are comfortable with our advances or attempts to hug, stroke, pet, or cuddle them. This can be distressing, upsetting and frustrating for both parties, especially as many people love having a dog in their lives so they can benefit from that mutual affection. The Right to Interact? ‘Consent’ is a… Continued
The Pets Left Behind in Ukraine Need You – Here’s How You Can Help Today!
By K. Holden Svirsky This article looks behind the scenes to find out how the animals left behind in Ukraine are being cared for by a dedicated and devoted network of animal lovers and professionals (including photos and video footage). It also explains why they urgently need donations from the international community, shows how the funds donated so far are being utilized, and if you want to make a contribution, tells you exactly how you can do it. Quick Links Help Animals Survive the War in Ukraine (Direct link to… Continued
The Benefits of Using Food Rewards
This article addresses some of pet owners’ common concerns and criticisms surrounding the use of treats in dog training By Diane Garrod In some circles, using treats in training has gotten something of a bad rap. But I have to ask myself, why is there even hesitation about this? Using food in positive reinforcement for results IS science. It is a proven, highly productive technique that involves pairing good things with triggers, or reinforcing behavior so it is repeated, or giving a “paycheck” for a job well… Continued
The Cornerstones of PPG: Engaging, Educating, and Empowering
An interview with PPG founder and president Niki Tudge about why she started a member organization for force-free training pet professionals, what members and pet owners can expect from PPG, and what sets PPG apart. PPG founder and president of PPG Niki Tudge started formulating the idea of establishing an organization for force-free pet training professionals in November 2011, after she had witnessed a trainer in a pet supplies store hanging a screaming dog in the air with a choke chain while shouting “No!” Upon complaining to the store’s… Continued