Chat & Chuckle with Joey Lusvardi of Class Act Cats
Join PPG Feline Division Chair Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison, also with PPG’s Feline Division, as they chat and chuckle with Joey Lusvardi of Class Act Cats. Topics covered include: đ How they each got started as cat behavior consultants đ What sparked their career changes đ Getting experience volunteering with rescues and shelters đ Different courses available to help gain knowledge đ The importance of networking and being a member of professional organizations like PPG đ How to get your business set up and start taking your first clients… 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 wonât link to the diagram. I hate vague-posting, but I canât 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
Chat & Chuckle with Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Education
Join PPG Founder and President Niki Tudge and Canine Division Chair Judy Luther as they chat and chuckle with Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Education, a PPG Corporate Partner. Veronica shares information about her Service Dog Coach certificate program that is opening for enrollment on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Enrollment for this program opens only twice per year, so don’t miss your opportunity to apply now! Other topics covered in this episode include: How Veronica got started training service dogs Options for acquiring a service dog or training a… Continued
Why Horses With Voices!
Equids are cognitive, intelligent creatures that experience emotions such as fear, anxiety, and joy. All animals are subject to the same laws of applied behavior analysis (ABA.)  While tactile cues and safety equipment are a realistic necessity of caring for and training animals, any stimulus not paired with a positive stimulus is, at best, neutral and, at worst, frightening and/or painful to the animal. Animals who learn to exhibit behaviors to escape or avoid fear or pain have by definition been subjected to an aversive stimulus. Avoidance learning is very real,… Continued
PPG Advocacy Panel: What Do You Do When You’re the Only Force-Free Professional in Town?
Join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Advocacy Panel for a discussion on What Do You Do When You’re the Only Force-Free Professional in Town? Pet guardians and pet professionals, listen as panel members share their expertise in a fun, free-flowing format. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Division Chair Don Hanson  Your Advocacy Panel for this discussion: PPG Founder and President Niki Tudge, Debbie Sheridan, Kim Silver, Sue Kocher, Judy Luther and Beth Adelman.   Mentioned links: Advocating Together (article) PPG’s Guiding Principles Listen to the Podcast here on… Continued
The PPG 2023 Summit Save The Date!
Homeward Bound – Transitioning Pets into Their New Homes Save The Dates Fun & Enriching Education for Pets & Their People Dates Nov 1-5, 2023, Arizona Humane Society 2023  Presentation Topics Homeward Bound Matchmaking 101: Pairing the Right Pet With the Best Home Welcoming a New Pet: Reality, NOT “Reality TV” Look, Listen and Learn: Teaching People What Their Pets Are Telling Them Animal Husbandry: Top 10 Important Skills & Knowledge for Clients From Cautious to Confident: Fun and Games for Shy Pets AND Their People Simplifying Shaping Skills… Continued
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Growling at Kids
Growling at the Kids -Never punish your dog for growling. This may seem counter-intuitive and may even go against the advice of your dog trainer or dog trainers you have seen on TV. If your dog growls at your child he is sending a clear warning that he is very uncomfortable with the actions or proximity of the child. Be grateful that your dog chose to warn with a growl rather than going straight to a bite. If you punish the growling, you may inhibit the warning growl the next… Continued
Tips for Ensuring Safe and Happy Holidays for People and Dogs
By Niki Tudge All behaviors that dogs exhibit are designed either to access pleasurable situations and desirable objects or to avoid and escape unpleasant situations and undesirable objects. (Note: This is based on what each individual dog considers to pleasant or unpleasant, not the human, and it is important to be aware that the canine and human opinions may differ in any given situation!) A dogâs communication systems are greatly ritualized, and have evolved specifically to avoid or cut off conflict. This has made dogs, as a species, very successful… Continued
What Is Enrichment for Animals?
by Diane Garrod When the term âenrichmentâ is verbalized, its meaning is often not clearly understood. When Iâve asked clients, âWhat enrichment does your dog get?â Iâve gotten answers like ball play or a walk, or a long pause of nothing because the client is not sure what enrichment is or means. This got me thinking about the differing categories of enrichment for animals and led me to dig deeper into the science and definition of enrichment. Is it the same for dogs as it is for horses and… Continued
Cat Introductions – One Step at a Time
Since starting my cat behavior consulting business in 2019, the issue that I have been most often contacted about is that of cat introductions. While there are some cats that will roll out the welcome mat almost immediately for a newcomer, most need a more structured approach. 1. SAFE ROOM The first introduction step is to start your new cat in a safe room. This room should have all the major resources that a cat needs: feeding station, litter box, scratching post, bedding, and toys. One benefit of a safe… Continued
Let’s Talk About Our Dogs’ Feelings
Anthropomorphism, a word that I canât even pronounce!! The New Oxford American Dictionary helps us out here: An-thro-po-mor-phism – the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal or object.  A Shift in Perspective You may have noticed recently that there has been a lot more talk about the welfare and âthe feelingsâ of our dogs. (Thank goodness!) Years ago, I volunteered at a shelter for a period of three years. I admit that I would sit in my car after leaving on those Fridays and cry! … Continued
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What Is Shock Training?
Is It Really Just A Tap? Shock Collar Training Explained Written by Eileen Anderson. Sourced from Eileen and Dogs This question is answered below in this article written by Eileen Anderson. Thank you to Eileen for kindly allowing us to use her wonderfully written articles as part of our Shock Free Coalition. Shock collar trainers have several names for the shocks that they administer through the collar. A tap. A stim. A nick. A page. Static. Application of pressure.  It sounds like something short and relatively benign. Even the word… Continued
Do You Love Someone Who is Afraid of Dogs?
Most of us know a child who is afraid of dogs. My own daughter, at the age of 4, became so afraid of dogs that she refused to go on playdates or family outings because she was afraid that she might see a dog. The fear of dogs, aka cynophobia, affects millions of people, many of them children. When it is not addressed, it can significantly impact the childâs social and emotional health. The fear of heights or spiders does not impact kids the same way. It is possible to… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Dr. Lisa Radosta of Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
Join Niki Tudge, PPG Canine Committee chair Judy Luther and BARKS Magazine editor-in-chief Paula Garber as they Chat and Chuckle with Dr. Lisa Radosta, owner of Florida Veterinary Behavior Service and co-owner of The Real Dog Nerds, about pets with behavior problems requiring a veterinary behaviorist, and what pet guardians can look for and do in preparation for and support of a veterinary behavior program for their pet. Listen to the Podcast with Dr. Lisa Radosta here on your choice of platforms. Or just stay on this page and… Continued
Ask the Experts: How to Break Up With a Client
by Veronica Boutelle Dear dogbiz, I pride myself on being able to work effectively with my clients, even when itâs tough. And generally, thatâs what happens. Recently, however, Iâve been working with a new client and itâs become increasingly challenging. There have been some scheduling issues, which Iâm happy to accommodate (within reason). But after canceling the last three sessions, theyâve also decided to return to punitive measures and equipment I donât use or recommend. Despite recurring conversations, I just donât feel they are able to get on board with… Continued
BARKS Podcast with Annie Phenix of Phenix Dogs
Join Niki Tudge as she Chats and Chuckles with Annie Phenix of Phenix Dogs about using emotion and connection in training, and much more! Annieâs new book, Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs: Proven Techniques to Help Your Dog Recover from Fear and Anxiety and Enjoy Walks Calmly, will be available in November 2022. Annie is also the author of The Midnight Dog Walkers, published in 2016, and is a Certified Behaviourist and Family Dog Mediator.  Listen to the Podcast with Annie Phenix here on your choice of platforms. Or just stay on… Continued
BARKS Podcast with Dr. Kristina Spaulding of Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior
Join Niki Tudge and PPG Canine Committee chair Judy Luther as they Chat and Chuckle with Dr. Kristina Spaulding of PPG corporate partner, Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior about her new book, The Stress Factor in Dogs: Unlocking Resiliency and Enhancing Well-Being. Listen to the Podcast with Dr. Kristina Spaulding here on your choice of platforms. Or just stay on this page and click âPlayâ below. Recorded September 9, 2022. About Dr. Kristina Spaulding Dr. Kristina Spaulding operates Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior, which opened its doors in 2001 and quickly… 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, shouldnât 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 dogâs neck so why are they still being used? Letâs Take a Look… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Irith Bloom of The Sophisticated Dog
Join Niki Tudge and PPG Canine Division Chair Judy Luther to Chat & Chuckle with Irith Bloom. Irith is the owner of The Sophisticated Dog and offers virtual, online training for dogs and other pets. Listen to the Podcast with Irith Bloom here on your choice of platforms. Or just stay on this page and click on the “Play” icon below. Â Recorded on August 12, 2022 Irith (âee-reet”) Bloom CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CSAT, KPA CTP, VSPDT, CBATI, FFCP (Trainer), VSDTA Faculty, DWA Faculty, Co-founder of Porter Labs… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Irith Bloom of The Sophisticated Dog
Join Niki Tudge and PPG Canine Division Chair Judy Luther to Chat & Chuckle with Irith Bloom. Irith is the owner of The Sophisticated Dog and offers virtual, online training for dogs and other pets. Enjoy listening as Niki, Judy and Irith share their expertise in a fun, free-flowing format! Listen to the podcast on a choice of platforms here. Or simply click on the “play” button below. Recorded August 22, 2022
Shared Blog Post – The Proper Use of Food in Dog Training
The following article was originally written by Niki Tudge, Leah Roberts and Carole Byrnes in 2013 for the Pet Professional Guild and updated by Niki Tudge in January 2022 for The DogSmith. An excerpt: You choose if you want to motivate your dog with something he likes and will work to attain, or something he dislikes and will work to avoid. NOTE. WE ALWAYS USE FOOD because we want our dogs to feel safe and happy and not afraid of a consequence! Wait! What? “Always use food”??? We are sharing this post because… Continued