New Content
BARKS Podcast with Dr Robert and Karen Hewings
Join Niki Tudge and PPG Canine Committee Chair Judy Luther to Chat & Chuckle with Dr. Robert and Karen Hewings.
Learn all about the upcoming PPG Scent Fest events:
Your Scent & Scentability 3-Day Workshop Event - Scent Work for practical training and behavior solutions, Nov. ...
Stuck in the Mud
By Lara Joseph
Mini, pocket and teacup are all adjectives used to describe pigs and are specifically designed to impart a certain image to any potential pet pig owner. What might one think of ...
Happy Holidays…for Dogs too!
It can be so easy in all the madness and mayhem to overlook our dogs’ needs over the holiday period. Certainly, I always have an influx of inquiries at the beginning of a new year because a ...
Latest Articles
The Pet Professional Guild Position Statement on the Use of Shock in Animal Training
It is Pet Professional Guild’s (PPG) view that electric shock in the guise of training constitutes a form of abuse towards pets, and, given that there are highly effective, positive training alternatives, should no longer be a part of the current pet industry culture of accepted practices, ...
Encouraging Play and Activity with Newly Blind Dogs
By Debbie Bauer
When a dog loses his or her sense of sight, their whole world changes. There are many things that dogs can do without their sight, but dogs that started out sighted and are now blind are often confused and maybe even fearful when they can no longer see. They can't interact ...
Clicker Training for Cats (5/6)
By Paula Garber and Francine Miller
Introducing Cats to Each Other
In a nutshell, cats should be gradually introduced to each other one sense at a time: first by scent, then by sight, and then physically. Throughout the process, positive associations are built up with the scent, sight, and ...
The Neurological Benefits of Counter Conditioning Leash Reactive Dogs
Creating new and better associations for dogs on leash when exposed to fearful/stressful stimuli is crucial, as it is better for all involved for the dog to be less stressed and less fearful. The goal is potentially a positive association is created, or at least less stress. When this can be ...
A Plug for Play
By Julie Naismith
Just like humans, dogs need play time too. And one of the many beautiful things having dogs has taught me is that you’re never too old to play.
You might be asking: “But, where does play fit into separation anxiety training?”
I am all about fixing separation anxiety ...
Talking to Dogs
A newly published study finds that dogs pay attention to both the way we talk to them and to what we say. Alex Benjamin and Katie Slocombe's ‘Who’s a good boy?!’ Dogs prefer naturalistic dog‑directed speech looked at what they term "dog-directed speech," or DDS, which is similar in tone and ...
Added Brainpower!
Quite a 'buzzword' bandied around at the moment is 'enrichment', so here I'm going to take a look at what it actually means and involves.
Enrichment?
So lets start right there - what is enrichment? Put simply, enrichment is an all encompassing term referring to the addition of something ...
Does a Deaf (and Blind) Dog Need a Hearing Dog Buddy?
By Debbie Bauer
Many people think that a deaf (or blind/deaf) dog needs to have a hearing dog to follow around. This is usually not necessary. Although, if you do have a hearing dog, your deaf dog will watch him closely for cues to things that are important to him – mealtimes, going for a ...
Animal Abuse Harms People Too
If you are reading this blog then I may safely assume you are an animal lover, but sometimes love is not enough. Sometimes advocacy through direction action is required.
I post this as an urgent call to action to help pass animal abuse legislation which Humane Society of the United States ...