New Content

Cats and Kids

by Andrea Carne "And in breaking news … a child was left scratched and in tears after a play session with his pet cat went horribly wrong …” Ever heard that on the nightly news bulletin? No, of course not. We may hear about dog bites from time to time and much has been written over ...

Tips for Ensuring Safe and Happy Holidays for People and Dogs

By Niki Tudge

With the holidays approaching, it’s time for planning family gatherings. However, for many dogs, family gatherings are stressful, and the result could be a bite to a child or an adult. This article provides tips for your clients on how to read dog body language, respect dogs’ boundaries and keep everyone safe and happy during holiday gatherings.

What Is Enrichment for Animals?

By Diane Garrod

by Diane Garrod When the term “enrichment” is verbalized, its meaning is often not clearly understood. When I’ve asked clients, “What enrichment does your dog get?” I’ve gotten answers ...

BARKS Podcast with the PPG Advocacy Panel: Discussion #4 – “Being Nicer” While Advocating

"Being Nicer" While Advocating Join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Advocacy Panel for a discussion on "Being Nicer" While Advocating. Pet guardians and pet professionals, listen as panel members share their expertise in a fun, free-flowing format. Your Moderator: PPG Advocacy Committee ...

Welcoming a New Puppy – Ensuring a Happy and Successful Future Together

Welcoming a new pup into your household should be a time of absolute pure joy - he or she is a new family member after all, but sometimes it just turns into something akin to pure chaos, which is a shame. In many cases, the reason for this is simply not enough planning, a rash decision, or ...

Dog Parks: The Good, the Bad, and the Reality

By Rachel Brix The Experimental Dog Park at Ohlone Park in Berkley, California, which is generally acknowledged as the first leash-free American dog park, was created in 1979. Since then dogs parks have grown exponentially in popularity. According to the most recent report issued by the ...

Why Counterconditioning “Doesn’t Work”

By Angelica Steinker A common criticism of counterconditioning is that it does not work. While there can be many reasons why a behavior modification protocol based on counterconditioning fails, it is, in fact, almost always user error. Here are four common reasons that cause ...

Examining Bird vs. Human Expectations

By Sheila S. Blanchette Anthropomorphism is quite a mouthful of a word, defined by Lexico (2021) as “the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object.” Anthropomorphism is commonly seen in our day-to-day lives through social media, television, cartoons, ...

BARKS Podcast with the PPG Advocacy Panel: Discussion #3 – Advocating to Let Dogs be Dogs, Cats be Cats, Equids Be Equids

Advocating to Let Dogs be Dogs, Cats be Cats, Equids Be Equids Join the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Advocacy Panel for a discussion on Advocating to Let Dogs be Dogs, Cats be Cats, Equids Be Equids. Pet guardians and pet professionals, listen as panel members share their expertise in a fun, ...

The Ever-Changing World of Service Dog Training

By Veronica Sanchez The service dog industry is ever growing and changing. With the expanding use of service dogs there has, unfortunately, also been abuse of laws pertaining to service animals and emotional support animals (ESA) in particular. Lawmakers have taken notice of this and, ...

BARKS Podcast with Geek Week Presenters Tasha Attwood, Dr. Jen Nesbitt-Hawes, Dr. Mindy Waite, Dr. Lisa Gunter and Dr. Melissa Starling

Join Niki Tudge and Denise O'Moore as they Chat and Chuckle with presenters Tasha Attwood, Dr. Jen Nesbitt-Hawes, Dr. Mindy Waite, Dr. Lisa Gunter and Dr. Melissa Starling about their planned sessions for Geek Week 2021. Listen as they explore their topics and what event attendees can expect ...

Saving Detainees and Dogs, One Life at a Time

By Lisa Waggoner “The rehabilitation of inmates requires a willing state of mind, a helpful attitude which insists upon finding something of value even in those who have devalued themselves beyond personal hope of redemption…guided by the philosophy of maximum value on human rights and ...