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 pet care industry and, ideally, also authored by members of PPG and available as audiobooks. Participants who would like a reading partner are paired up. Meetings are held via Zoom with Closed Captioning and, when possible, the book’s author joins meetings to explain difficult concepts and answer questions.
Scholarly Circle
Scholarly Circle
The Scholarly Circle is PPG’s members-only academic paper reading group. The group reads one academic paper that is relevant to the animal training and pet care industry per month, as available. Participants who would like a reading partner are paired up. Meetings are held via Zoom with Closed Captioning, and an academic mentor joins the meetings to explain difficult concepts and answer questions.
Project tRade
A PPG Advocacy Program
Project tRade is the Pet Professional Guild’s international advocacy program that promotes the use of force-free equipment for pets by asking pet owners to relinquish choke, prong and shock collars, and any other devices that are designed or function to reduce behavior through pain or fear. As incentive and a reward, PPG members offer a selection of tools and/or discounts in exchange, thus the name tRade.
Project tRade is designed to incentivize pet owners to seek pet professionals who will exchange aversive training and pet care equipment for alternative, more appropriate tools and educational support.
PPG’s Annual Scholarship Program
Professional competency is critical to PPG’s mission, vision and values. That’s why each year PPG invests several thousand dollars into its Scholarship Program to award a limited number of full and partial scholarships to eligible candidates to further their education in force-free training and/or pet care. PPG scholarships are intended for PPG members to participate in suitable programs offered by organizations that support PPG’s Guiding Principles and goals, and meet the necessary criteria as an education provides.
The PPG Annual Scholarship Program accepts applications each year from October 1-31. Only applications from candidates who are current PPG members in good standing for the last 12 months are considered.