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Pet Professional Guild Appoints New Editor of BARKS from the Guild
INVERNESS, Fla. - Aug. 3, 2022 - PRLog -- The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has appointed New York-based cat behavior consultant Paula Garber as editor of its trade publication BARKS from the Guild effective August 5, 2022. She replaces Susan Nilson, who served as editor and was a member of the ...
BARKS Podcast with Molly Kelsey of The Cat Counsellor: December 10, 2021
Join Niki Tudge as she chats with Molly Kelsey of The Cat Counsellor about feline enrichment and socialization...and much more!
Listen to the Podcast here on a choice of platforms. Or simply ...
The Bigger Picture
By Morag Heirs
Within my day to day life as a canine professional, I am regularly asked for advice on cases where standard training approaches seem to be failing. In some of these cases, ...
Latest Articles
The Opposite of Force
I think I’ve figured something out.
I continue to see the concept of choice bandied about the positive reinforcement-based training world. It can be a code word for a setup that includes negative reinforcement. “I’m going to do something physically unfamiliar or unpleasant to you and you have ...
Zoophilia*: A Hidden Horror for Animals
I entered law enforcement at 20 years of age. When I retired 30 years later I thought I had seen the full spectrum of human abuse, violence and degradation. The cruelty of humankind no longer shocked me, though it wore me down.
Through the years I never investigated a single case of sexual ...
An Open Letter to Veterinarians on Referrals to Training and Behavior Professionals: Recommended Best Practices
Dear Veterinarian,
There are numerous professional organizations that offer membership and credentials in the field of animal training and behavior. Few, however, hold their members to a strict code of conduct which involves the application of their trade through scientific protocols and the ...
New Puppy – What Now?
We're getting a puppy! How amazingly, brilliantly, wonderfully exciting.... then puppy arrives! No, really - having a puppy is an incredibly enriching period of our lives and we are indeed privileged to share our lives with these wondrous, funny, all absorbing beings.
Truth is though that ...
Clicker Training for Cats (3/6)
By Paula Garber and Francine Miller
Cats learn best when they are comfortable and free from distractions. They are sensitive and will flee from any threat or uncertainty (and we don’t work with them on a leash!) The best place to teach a cat is somewhere he finds quiet and familiar. This ...
The High and (Sometimes) Woes Of Puppy Parenting: What They Don’t Tell You!
By Joy Matthews
So you’re getting a new puppy! More exciting than all your birthdays put together; such cuteness that your insides turn to warm caramel; a huggable, kissable, wriggling snuggle-chum! But wait, there are a few other things you need to know about becoming a puppy parent. ...
Tracking Training
By Jane Bowers
Tracking is a fun activity many dogs can do and that most enjoy. Generally if a dog enjoys retrieving, has some prey drive, shows persistence in finding things and is in good health, they will do well in tracking. Success in tracking is also dependent on the skill of the ...
Did you cause your dog’s separation anxiety?
By Julie Naismith
“Is it my fault my dog has separation anxiety?” That’s the most common question dog owners have when they first find out their dog has separation anxiety.
It can be hard to ignore the suggestion that you caused your dog’s separation anxiety. But, I’m here to tell you ...
How to Make Medicating Your Cat Easy
By Dr. Lynn Bahr
Cats may look like cuddly little balls of fuzz, but as soon as the time comes to administer medication, all cat people know that they turn into lean fighting machines capable of inflicting serious damage to hands, clothes, and more. The last time we had to give medication ...