Chat & Chuckle with Dr. Mary Gardner About Senior Cats
Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Dr. Mary Gardner about all things senior cats! There is nothing better to Dr. Gardner than a dog with a grey muzzle or a skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for the geriatric veterinary patient and to help make the final life stage as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved. A University of Florida graduate, Dr. Gardner discovered her niche in end-of-life care and is a… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Melissa Millett About Getting Cats Ready to Perform
Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle about performing cats and how to get them ready to do their thing! Melissa Millett is the founder and head trainer of In Dogs We Trust and The Ultimutts, and Ultimutt Animal Actors. She has trained thousands of family pets and is recognized globally as an animal expert. Melissa has been featured on major Canadian TV networks, including Breakfast Television (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary), CP24, Global News, CTV (Toronto, Vancouver), Animal Planet, The Pet Network, and more. She is the host of the popular television… Continued
Owner vs. Guardian
*Do you consider yourself a pet owner or a guardian? Blouin (2013) studied the variations in dog owners’ attitudes toward their pets in terms of interactions and their treatment. He concludes that the relationship pet owners have with their pets is one of three orientations: Blouin’s study reflects a wide variation in how owners consider and value their pets, ranging from having functional value to being seen as a companion who deserves to have his or her own interests protected. Indeed, if one were to ask pet owners how they… Continued
How Can We Help? PPG Member Meetings
You don’t have access to this content. Username or E-mail Password Remember Me Forgot Password
Chat & Chuckle with Dr. Sarah Brown About The Hidden Language of Cats
Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Dr. Sarah Brown about her book, The Hidden Language of Cats—How They Have Us at Meow! Sarah Brown gained her PhD on the social behavior of neutered domestic cats while working at the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. She has since worked as an independent cat behavior counselor and a consultant for the cat-toy industry, and has conducted research for and worked with several UK animal charities. She has authored and co-authored… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Veronica Boutelle About How to Make Your R+ Training Business Thrive
Join Niki Tudge as she chats and chuckles with Veronica Boutelle of dogbiz about the five steps to a thriving R+ training business! Veronica Boutelle, MA, CTC is the co-founder of dogbiz, whose business is to help you love yours. Learn all the ways dogbiz can support your success at dogbizsuccess.com . Listen to the podcast on a choice of platforms here. Recorded November 12, 2024
Chat & Chuckle with Alice Chau-Ginguene About Comparing Attitudes of Cat Ownership in Ireland and the U.S.
Join Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison and Krista Schulte as they chat and chuckle with Alice Chau-Ginguene about comparing attitudes of cat ownership in Ireland and the U.S.! Alice Chau-Ginguene is a clinical animal behaviorist with 15 years of experience specializing in cat behavior. Passionate about making animal science accessible and engaging, she is dedicated to enhancing the enjoyment between cats and humans, and improving feline mental health. Through her private practice Alice supports cat lovers worldwide. Her expertise and insights have made her a regular feature in media across Ireland, the U.S.,… Continued
Six Ways a Newsletter Can Help You Bark Up the Right Tree
by Veronica Boutelle As a dog trainer, you want a reliable way to connect with your clients, attract new ones, and promote your work. In our experience, there is no better marketing staple to achieve this than the humble newsletter. While social media platforms offer quick bursts of information, newsletters provide a unique opportunity to build deeper relationships, share expertise, and nurture a loyal client base. Here are six reasons to add a newsletter to your marketing toolkit: 1. The Personal Touch Most dog trainers today spend a lot of… Continued
Common Mistakes People Make When Training Their Animals
Have you ever thought, “Why aren’t they getting this?” You are not alone. Many people get stuck while training their animals. Whether it’s with clients or a post on social media asking for help, I see animal caretakers making the same mistakes over and over while training their animals. Professionals like us frequently make them too! In this multipart article, I’ll list mistakes I commonly see and how you can fix them. Mistake #1 –Training without a Plan Are you using a training plan to train your animal? If not,… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Dr. Zazie Todd About the Five Pillars of Feline Wellness
Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Dr. Zazie Todd, author of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, about the five pillars of feline wellness! Zazie Todd PhD is an animal behaviour expert and award-winning author. She got the world talking about happiness for pets with her first two books Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. Her third book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, will be published in October 2024.… Continued
Let’s Go on Sniffari!
Should people allow their dogs to sniff during walks, or is it all about marching forward in lockstep? I suppose the tone of the question predicts my response. I suggest that dogs not only be allowed to sniff but should be encouraged and empowered to do so…and here is why. As a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, I enjoy educating the public about dogs. My motivation is to help others avoid the many mistakes I made with my puppy in 1983, when I knew nothing about raising a puppy. Note to… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Sassafras Patterdale (Lowrey) About Play and Enrichment for Cats
Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Sassafras Patterdale (Lowrey) about tricks, games, and enrichment for cats! Sassafras Patterdale (Lowrey) CPDT-KA is an award-winning author whose books have been honored by organizations ranging from the American Library Association to the Dog Writers Association of America. Sassafras’ books include Tricks In The City, Healing/Heeling, and Chew This Journal: An Activity Book For You And Your Dog. Sassafras is also the author of the Cat Writers Association Finalist book, Claw This Journal: An Activity Book for Cat Lovers. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog… Continued
Escape-Proof Crates: If They Sound Cruel, It’s Because They Are
by Gwendy Williams Many of us have been taught to embrace the benefits provided by crating dogs. It is why many animal caregivers avoid reading articles like this one. We don’t want to question something that has become customary and acceptable, even when we know instinctively that it’s not. Crates for dogs are, indeed, needed. However, the times that they are truly necessary account for a tiny fraction of how pervasively crates are used. When we force our dogs into isolation for extended periods of time, the discomfort we cause them is clear. They let us know. Their scratching and howling are signs of emotional states that are difficult to misinterpret, even for first-time pet owners. Dogs crying and clawing at the walls of… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Laura Monaco Torelli About Cooperative Care With Cats
Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Laura Monaco Torelli about cooperative care with cats. Laura Monaco Torelli is the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois. Her career began in 1991 with Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, where she was part of the animal care team for beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, river otters, and penguins. After nearly a decade at the Shedd, she moved on to the San Diego Zoo and then Brookfield Zoo as a lead supervisory trainer. During her time in the… Continued
Why Is Advocating for Our Pets So Important?
Some dogs spend so much of their relatively short time with us hoping to be noticed…hoping that the door may open, or the cookie cabinet will open, hoping for even a short massage. I see many dogs daily, weekly, yearly who are trying their best to live in our modern world, a world of rushing, Zoom calls, humans with good intentions but not much time… We need to help dogs to feel accomplished, happy, cared for and heard. But in this crazy busy world, we might instead tend to push… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Education
Join PPG Founder and President Niki Tudge as she chats and chuckles with Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Education, a PPG Corporate Partner, about her service dog coaching program. Veronica shares information about her Service Dog Coach certificate program that is opening for enrollment on July 30, 2024, and is only open for two weeks. Get your application in by August 1 to get the early-bird discount! The course begins August 27, 2024. Enrollment for this program opens only twice per year, so don’t miss your opportunity to… Continued
Welcome to Hotel Bruno: How I Transformed the Space Beneath Our Basement Stairs into a Storm Shelter
This spring has brought frequent severe weather, requiring us to take shelter in the basement due to tornadic activity. I was motivated to create a storm shelter beneath the basement stairs and described how to plan ahead for people, and their pets. I describe how I built and stocked the shelter. Considering the nearly daily severe weather events all across the nation, this may help families stay safe. Meteorologists just a few years ago hesitated to link local weather catastrophes with climate change, but now it is common for them… Continued
What Do the Boy Scouts of America and U.S. Dog Trainers Have in Common?
A Lot, the Fox Is in the Henhouse By Annie Phenix and Pilley Bianchi Best-selling authors Annie Phenix and Pilley Bianchi have teamed up to write a compelling, fact-based news article that examines how family dogs are living in a time of major transition as they become more and more embedded in our families. More is expected of them, and more often than not, people expect their dogs to inherently know the rules of order. Sit, stay, come, chew this, not that. But despite 40,000 years by our side, dogs… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Dr. Kristina Spaulding of Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior
Join Niki Tudge and Judy Luther as they chat and chuckle with Dr. Kristina Spaulding about her new classes and courses! Dr. Spaulding’s educational offerings can be found on her website, Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior. Listen to the podcast on a choice of platforms here. Or simply click on the “play” button below. Recorded July 1, 2024
Chat & Chuckle with Grace Taylor About Collaborating with Cat Sitters
Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Grace Taylor about collaborating with cat sitters to promote your business. Grace Taylor is the owner of Furever Friends Catsitting in Baltimore, Maryland. With a deep passion for animal welfare, she has been actively involved in cat rescue and fostering for many years, specializing in neonates. Grace has fostered over 180 cats and kittens, dedicating her life to providing loving homes and care for the most vulnerable felines. Listen to the podcast on a choice of platforms here.… Continued
Learn All About Celebrating Life Together—PPG’s 2024 Advocacy Event!
Listen to this fun-filled discussion about PPG’s upcoming advocacy event, Celebrating Life Together, taking place in August and September 2024! Learn how you can help raise awareness for humane, ethical, and effective pet training and care, and win amazing prizes! Listen to the podcast on a choice of platforms here. Or simply click on the “play” button below. Recorded June 4, 2024
Win a Great Prize
The Votes Are In! Winners in the public vote part of the Community Outreach Competition will be announced Oct. 21. Best in Show and Best on the Block winners to be announced Oct. 28. Stay tuned for the results! How You Can Win a Great Prize Pet Professional Activities & Submissions Pet Owner Activities & Submissions Great Prizes to Win! Public Vote Prizewinners First-Place Winner and Runner-up Prizes! Pet Professional Prizes Pet Owner Prizes Winners – One FREE ticket to any PPG or PPGBI Summit and a selection of books… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Michelle Martiya About Working With Hybrid Cats
Savannahs and Bengals (and spraying) … oh my! Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Michelle Martiya about working with hybrid cats! Michelle Martiya is an ABI certified exotic animal trainer who works with canines, equids, and exotic species. Michelle specializes in connecting and building relationships with fearful and feral equids, combining her natural ”way” with animals and her many years of experience, with a robust education in animal behavior and training. Michelle’s animal experience includes both domestic and exotic species, and she currently coaches… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Katlyn Grayson About Making Modifications for Cats With Mobility Issues
Cats with limited mobility need an environment that accommodates their need. Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Katlyn Grayson about making modifications for cats with mobility issues. Katlyn Grayson is a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP), Licensed Family Dog Mediator (LFDM), CertifiedProfessional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC). She is the owner of Pets Knead Peace in Northeast Ohio providing in-person and virtual behavior assistance for dogs, cats and their guardians. She began her behavior journey when she started working in animal shelters in 2009. Since then, she… Continued