17 minute read
NEWS
PPG Postpones Phoenix Summit to 2021; Announces 2020 Virtual Summit
Given the current situation with COVID19 and our industry, PPG, opposite page). after much deliberation and based on feedback from its members If you had planned to attend PPG Summit 2020, then you should and the industry community, has decided the following: have already received a personal email communication detailing the 1. We are 100% committed to our Summit 2020 format and all it engreat alternatives available to you. We are happy to discuss these furcompasses with the Arizona Humane Society. So, rather than cancel the ther if you have any questions, so please do not hesitate to reach out to event, we are moving the program to next year. Registration will take the PPG admin peeps, Rebekah King and Sharon Nettles. You can find place on September 17, 2021 with the fourday program to follow on their contact information here: petprofessionalguild.com/contactPPG. September 1821, 2021. Further details will be released in due course. (See petprofessionalguild.com/PPG‐2021‐Summit‐&‐Workshops and also ad on p.63). 2. To replace our inperson Summit this year, PPG will host a special event on November 1115, 2020, titled Geek Week: For the Love of Science (petprofessionalguild.com/GeekWeekNovember2020). Geek Week will be a unique, fun and educational virtual experience to include funfilled activities, competitions and prizewinning opportunities plus three days of virtual ‘Science & Skill’ sessions presented by industry leaders. A 50% discount will be available for members! (See also ad on
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Pet Professional Guild Joins Six Leading Organizations to Support UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter
PPG has signed up to be one of seven foundbers who are committed to the pet's welfare ing organizations to support the UK Dog Beand consider this to be their top priority at all haviour and Training Charter (ukdogcharter.org) times. PPG members pledge to focus on the imlaunched on June 8. The initiative aims to proplementation and practice of a holistic, "forcevide clarity regarding the future direction of free" approach to pet training and care by dog behavior and training throughout the UK in attending to the physical, emotional and envirelation to professional standards, tools and ronmental wellbeing of every animal in their methodologies, with canine welfare at the care, founded specifically on the principle of heart of its mandate. doing no harm given that there are perfectly
The Charter evolved of a recognition by the humane and positive alternatives that are not founding industry bodies (comprising PPG, the packaged with problematic emotional conseCOAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and quences such as fear, anxiety and pain. An esTrainers, International Canine Behaviourists sential part of this forcefree philosophy is to (ICB), the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers avoid any training methods or equipment that (IMDT), the Association of INTODogs, the UK are aversive and/or punitive and that work by College of Scent Dogs, and the Victoria Stilwell inflicting pain, force or fear. PPG members unAcademy for Dog Training and Behaviour) of derstand this to mean that any equipment the need for a collaborative approach to the challenges that lie ahead and/or methods involving the use of shock, pain, choke, force or fear for the industry, including regulation, canine welfare, and support of inare never employed to train or care for any pet under their charge. dividual practitioners. "PPG's key goal is to drive and bring about change in the pet serv
By setting out common values of welfare and professional conduct, ices industry, specifically the fields of training, behavior consulting and the Charter aims to provide assurance to the public, other professional pet care," said PPG president Niki Tudge. "This soughtafter change probodies, and government agencies that signatory organizations are commotes scientific, humane and positive reinforcementbased methods mitted to transparent complaints and grievance procedures that can be and skill application in order to reach training, behavior modification, supported by independent arbitration if needed. As such, signatory orand pet care goals for both pets and their owners. ganizations have agreed on a set of minimum standards of animal wel"To enact, promote and manage this scope of change, PPG needs to fare and professional conduct to ensure practitioners use the most be at the forefront of shaping the industry. This means, as an organizauptodate and humane methodologies and tools. These include pubtion, it must help guide, manage and, when necessary, reinforce small licly pledging "not to endorse correctionbased remote training devices approximations of cultural shifts, behavior change or attitude adjustor aversive stimuli that work through eliciting a withdraw reflex/rements towards the end goal when organizations, associations and indisponse and/or an alarm reaction, and/or that cause pain and/or fear" viduals who are operating within the industry present them. By aligning (including shock collars, citronella collars, antibark collars, choke chains with likeminded professional bodies under the UK Dog Behaviour and and prong collars). These stipulations must be referenced in the organiTraining Charter, PPG has great confidence that both pets and their zation's code of practice with clear guidance to members. To help proguardians can now look forward to greater transparency from the provide assurance and accountability to the public and other bodies, fessionals they elect to work with while remaining assured that their members of Charter organizations will be able to display the Charter pet's welfare will always be the top priority. The strong and visionary symbol to show they have been checked, and are monitored and supfoundation brought about by this unified approach is sure to be a posiported by a reputable organization, and have aligned themselves to the tive force in the United Kingdom as the pet industry evolves, and one ethical, welfare and conduct obligations stated in the Charter. which may, in time, inspire other countries to follow."
Since its inception in 2012, PPG has attracted and retained memRead full press release: bit.ly/2XSHM8J.
PPG Creates Advisory Group to Move Industry Forward in More Fully Inclusive Manner
On June 4, 2020, PPG released a statement affirming its commitment "As members of PPG, to Stand in Solidarity against Racism in support of #BlackLivesMatwe are committed to the ter. It was important to our organization not just to make this statement, humane, fair and compasbut to commit to action both in the short and longterm. And, as promsionate training and treatised, we have already been working with our membership “to develop an ment of animals, therefore advisory group that can identify and develop tangible, actionable proit only makes sense that we grams to help us move our industry forward in a more fully inclusive should extend these same manner.” (Pet Professional Guild, 2020). As such, we are pleased to anprinciples to the treatment nounce that we have appointed Connecticutbased dog trainer Christina of our fellow human beings Horne and Virginiabased dog trainer Laurie C. Williams(pictured, right) and fervently stand up to help us formulate, establish and oversee this advisory team to support against racism, discriminaour goals in this endeavor. Christina and Laurie will report directly to PPG tion and bigotry, both in our president Niki Tudge. Together, they will ensure we establish enduring industry and the world practices that hold us accountable to the commitment we have made around us,” added Laurie C. and that both PPG and the pet services industry at large represent the diWilliams. versity of our population. As a first step in this
“I am delighted that Christina and Laurie have accepted our invitanew initiative, PPG will form tion to steer us forward in this important role and guide our organization as we work towards our goals,” said PPG president Niki Tudge. “I have worked with Christina over the last 12 years on multiple projects in the the advisory group committee and facilitate dialogue so we may listen and learn Laurie C. Williams will head up PPG’s new advisory committee with Christina Horne and report directly to PPG president Niki Tudge field of shelter and rescue and also in private dog training. I have interas to what we need to do acted with Laurie on social media for years and, more recently, had the and how we can best move forward to support the BIPOC training compleasure of spending some time getting to know her better. I look formunity. To our membership and our community, we see you, we will lisward to working together with them both to bring about change and deten to you and hear you, and we are with you. We must do better, and liver tangible results in the areas where we can be the most effective.” we will.
“As the daughter of a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, I grew up observing the different ways my father was able to directly and positively imRead full statement: petprofessionalguild.com/As‐An‐Industry‐We‐Must‐pact each community he led,” said Christina Horne. “I am excited to now Do‐Better be in a position where I will be able to effect positive changes in our Volunteer to be on the advisory team: training community. It's a legacy I'm eager to continue.” emailmeform.com/builder/form/G08wUidHfcS5q2T3Y
PPG Summit Writers’ Competition Winner and Runners-Up Announced
© Can Stock Photo/ damedeeso
Congratulations to Kim Geisert of Dynamite Dog Training (dynamitedogtraining.com) in Deerfield Beach, Florida, who is the winner of our PPG Blog Competition, and has been awarded a free entry ticket to PPG Summit 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona on September 1721, 2021. Congratulations too to Heddie Leger of Hero's Hope Pet Assist (facebook.com/HeroToTheRescue) in Waverly, Tennessee and Métis Riley of Positive Effects Training (positiveeffectstraining.com) in Fritz Creek, Alaska who are the runnersup and have both won a free recording of PPG’s April 2020 Virtual Summit. All three articles have also been published on the BARKS Blog. There were so many more great entries and we will soon be featuring some of our favorites on the BARKS Blog and in the September issue of BARKS. A big thank you to everyone who entered and for sharing their inspiring stories about their work and experiences with shelter and rescue pets. Read the winning and runner‐up entries on pp.28‐34. Note: You can still register for your April 2020 Virtual Summit recordings, featuring eight exceptional educational experiences with 12 hours of recordings + Q&A sessions: petprofessionalguild.com/2020‐Virtual‐Summit Cat Committee Launches Call-In Lounge
The PPG Cat Committee has launched its PPG Cat Group CallIn Lounges, with great success. The Lounges are currently taking place on a bimonthly basis and discussion topics so far have included working with veterinarians, and DS/CC from the cat's perspective and the client's. The Lounges are open to all PPG members. To register, simply message PPG Cat Committee member Beth Adelman on Facebook with your name and email. The events start with a 30minute discussion among a smaller group of people ("the fishbowl") and everyone else on mute. During that time, those on mute can make comments and ask written questions via the Chat function, then it will be opened up for 30 minutes of wider discussion among the whole group. The Lounges are held on an online platform, which can be used on smartphones, iPads, and desktop/laptop computers. Participants will be sent an invitation and instructions on how to join. Please check the PPG All About Cats Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/512499695617190) for further details of dates and discussion topics.
Business Contingency Planning
PPG is still offering a range of services to support members and their businesses during the current pandemic. These include free member webinars, Facebook Live sessions offering business and marketing advice in the PPG members’ Facebook group, virtual PPG Social events, educational blogs, deferral of membership renewal fees, waiving of Pet Professional Accreditation Board application and transfer fees and more. Watch out for the regular member email updates and see also the new Business Contingency Planning section in the members’ area of the PPG website: petprofessionalguild.com/BusinessContingencyPlanning.
PPG Names March, May Project Trade Ambassadors
Congratulations to Daniel Antolec of Happy Buddha Dog Training (happybuddhadogtraining.com) in Wisconsin, USA for trading two prong collars and who has been named Project Trade Ambassador for March 2020. Congratulations, too, to Holly Tedor of Howling Peaks Dog Training, LLC (howlingpeaks.com) in Alaska, USA for trading three prong collars and who has been named Project Trade Ambassador for May 2020. Daniel Antolec (left) and Holly Tedor (right) exchanged these prong collars for service discounts and were named Project Trade Ambassadors for March and May 2020 respectively
Find out more about how Project Trade can help your business in ‘Helping Dogs, Helping Families,’ BARKS from the Guild, March 2017, pp.20‐25 (bit.ly/HelpingDogs). Project Trade (projecttrade.org) is an international opt‐in advocacy program for PPG members that promotes the use of force‐free training equipment by asking pet guardians to swap choke, prong and shock collars (and any other devices that are designed to change behavior or care for pets through pain or fear) for service discounts. Join today!
Now Available on Anchor Platform
BARKS Podcasts are now available on the Anchor platform (anchor.fm/petprofessionalguild), from where you can select your preferred app to listen any time or download. Make sure you follow BARKS Podcasts on whichever app you choose so you can stay updated with new releases. In the most recent podcasts, join PPG president Niki Tudge as she chats to:
June 12, 2020: Dr. Karolina Westlund of Illis Animal Behavior Consulting talks punishment, the ethics construct as a side model to science and the humane hierarchy: bit.ly/2C9zRM2 June 5, 2020: Dr. Kristina Spaulding of Smart Dog Training and Behavior discusses how stress impacts our fourlegged family members: bit.ly/2YsPMwf May 21, 2020: Gina Phairas and Veronica Boutelle of dog*biz talk about the FREE sixweek group coaching program, Survive & Thrive, they launched in April 2020 to help R+ dog trainers and small petrelated business owners navigate through the COVID19 crisis: bit.ly/2XWLpug May 8, 2020: Coleen Ellis of Coleen Rocks discussing how to get your business “Future Ready.”: bit.ly/2YHEoNt April 28, 2020: Dr. Zazie Todd of Companion Animal Psychology discussing her new book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy: bit.ly/3gcG6yb April 27, 2020: Dr. Hannah Capon of Canine Arthritis Management discussing canine arthritis, a disease that can affect four out of five older dogs: bit.ly/3d2VHh7 April 22, 2020: Dr. Kristina Spaulding of Smart Dog Training and Behavior discussing science and its role in informing practitioners: bit.ly/2XW1qAX April 6, 2020: Joan Hunter Mayer of Transpaw Gear discussing training methods and gear: bit.ly/3d2W5fz March 25, 2020: Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach™ discussing the role of service dogs, service dog training and instructor certification programs: bit.ly/2UCWmhT
PPG is delighted to welcome Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) (caninearthritis.co.uk) as a new corporate partner. CAM was developed by Dr. Hannah Capon, a veterinary surgeon with wideranging experience of working with arthritic dogs, their guardians and fellow professionals to create effective longterm management plans. CAM is committed to promoting better care of our aging canine friends and believes that, through education, the disease can be better tackled to give our dogs longer, healthier lives free from pain. CAM aims to challenge arthritis as the major cause of elective euthanasia in the UK.
Osteoarthritis, a leading cause of premature elective euthanasia, is a complex and common disease that is often overlooked as simply aging or slowing down. It frequently underlies unwanted behaviors and results in a poor quality of life for dog and guardian. CAM believes that education is key to changing this and has made a special discount available to PPG members to get 10% off all its shop products. Find the discount code in your PPG member area (petprofessionalguild.com/PPGMemberArea) under vendor discount programs.
PPG Launches Sponsored Membership Program
PPG has announced a new initiative designed to support and reward 10 of its longstanding, loyal members with a 12month sponsored PPG membership. In addition, PPG will invite 10 representative organizations from the worldwide shelter and rescue community to apply for a sponsored PPG membership, again for a 12month period.
Known as the PPG Sponsored Membership Program, the initiative was born of the generosity and kindness of longtime professional member, Frances Dauster of Sunpaws Pet Services (sunpaws.com) in Mobile, Alabama, who recently reached out to PPG and presented the idea of sponsoring a number of memberships for the next 12month period. PPG then matched her offer with 10 free memberships for the shelter and rescue community. "I have benefited so much as an individual from the forcefree community that I felt passionate about giving back to it, and now seemed a better time than any," said Dauster. "When I chatted to Niki [Tudge, PPG founder and president] and offered to sponsor 10 Individual professional memberships, she was immediately enthusiastic and offered to match my donation."
The criteria for the 10 sponsored individual professional memberships state simply that the candidate must have been a professional PPG member of PPG for three years or longer. For the initial 12month period, starting immediately, names have been selected randomly from memberships that were currently up for renewal across different states in the U.S. and/or different regions in the British Isles. For the 10 sponsored shelter and rescue community memberships, eligibility criteria require that the organization is philosophically aligned with PPG in terms of its Guiding Principles. Read full press release: bit.ly/30tRFLX
Due to the current health and financial crisis, PPG has postponed the following workshops (see also box below): PPG Postpones 2020 Workshops
Reactive to Relaxed: Next Steps in Control Unleashed with Leslie McDevitt (petprofessionalguild.com/ReactivetoRelaxedNextStepsinControlUnleashed). New dates: Saturday, February 13 – Sunday, February 14, 2021. (See also ad on p.60).
Your PORTL to Shaping with Mary Hunter (petprofessionalguild.com /event3799309). New dates: Saturday, March 20, 2021 Sunday, March 21, 2021. (See also ad on p.51).
Play is a Powerful Reinforcer with Craig Ogilvie (petprofessionalguild.com/October2021PlayInstructorWorkshop). New dates: Saturday, October 9 – Sunday, October 10, 2021.
Advanced Agility Workshop with Marita Davies (petprofessionalguild.com/event3800248). New dates: Saturday, October 16 – Sunday, October 17, 2021.
Introduction to the Neuroscience of Dog Training and Behavior with Dr. Kathy Murphy. New dates to be confirmed.
Please contact membership manager Rebekah King (membership@petprofessionalguild.com) for further clarification. and Educational Summits!
Webinars
Schedules of Reinforcement and Animal Behavior Presented by
Eduardo Fernandez PhD
Wednesday, July 1, 2020 1 p.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event3780970
To Spay or Not to Spay – That is the Question Presented by
Dr. Jessica Hekman
Friday, August 7, 2020 1 p.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event3702927
Can Dogs Have ADHD? A Look at Recent Research on Impulsivity, Hyperactivity, and Inattention in Dogs Presented by Dr. Kristina
Spaulding
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 10 a.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event3815663
Stressed Out: Dogs, Hormones, and Stress Presented by Dr. Jessica
Hekman
Friday, October 2, 2020 1 p.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event3702930
The Role of Habit in Behavior Presented by Dr. Kristina Spaulding,
Monday, October 12, 2020 2 p.m. (EDT) petprofessionalguild.com/event3846686
For a full, up‐to‐date list of webinar listings, see: petprofessionalguild.com/Webinars
PPG Webinars On Demand
Listen any time!: petprofessionalguild.com/RecordedWebinars Business Contingency Planning D uring the pandemic, PPG is offering a series of free webinars for its members. At the time of publication, recordings of the following webinars were available: • Taking Your Services Virtual with Niki Tudge and Kate LaSala: petprofessionalguild.com/event3804957. • Marketing in Times of Difficulty with Niki Tudge and Dr. Robert King: petprofessionalguild.com/event3812622. • Take Your Local Dog Training Classes and Clients Online with Mychelle Blake: petprofessionalguild.com/event3830384 • Puppy Socialization During a Pandemic with Jessica Ring: petprofessionalguild.com/event3817509 • The COVID‐19 Lockdown and Your Dog: Tips to help you get ahead of separation anxiety issues before they start with Tracy Krulik: petprofessionalguild.com/event3823599 • Business Contingency Planning – Need Help? with Niki Tudge, Veronica Boutelle and Gina Phairas: petprofessionalguild.com/event3794382 • Setting Up to Survive & Thrive with dog*biz: petprofessional
Earn Your CEUs via PPG’s Webinars, Workshops
guild.com/event3817418
Educational Summits PPG Geek Week 2020 (Virtual)
(see also ad on p.7) Wednesday, November 11 Sunday, November 15, 2020 petprofessionalguild.com/GeekWeekNovember2020
PPG Summit 2021 (Phoenix, Arizona)
(see also ad on p.63) Friday, September 17 Tuesday, September 21, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/PPG2021Summit&Workshops
Residential Workshops (Tampa, Florida) Reactive to Relaxed: Next Steps in Control Unleashed with Leslie McDevitt
(see also ad on p.60) Saturday, February 13, 2021 Sunday, February 14, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/event3597687
Your PORTL to Shaping with Mary Hunter
(see also ad on p.51) Saturday, March 20, 2021 Sunday, March 21, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/event3799309
Interactive Play Skills Instructor Course with Craig Ogilvie
Saturday, October 9, 2021 Sunday, October 10, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/event3772315
Advanced Agility Workshop with Marita Davies
Saturday, October 16, 2021 Sunday, October 17, 2021 petprofessionalguild.com/event3800248 For a full, up‐to‐date list of all upcoming summits and workshops, see: petprofessionalguild.com/Educational‐Summits
