12 minute read
NEWS
Geek Week Extends Early Bird Rates
PPG’s virtual event Geek Week, taking place online on November 1115, 2020, has extended its early bird rates to September 30, 2020 to give you more time to register. The same applies to exhibitor rates.
Advertisement
Early Bird (before September 30, 2020): Member* $200 / Public $380 Regular Registration: (post August 30, 2020): Member* $220 / Public $440
Geek Week Features:
• 85 globally respected presenters delivering education at less than $1.55 per hour (see full presenter list on p.64). • Sessions running 24 hours a day for five days to suit all time zones. • Live Q&A sessions. • More than 130 presentation sessions with access for 12 months to recorded content (see full schedule). • Daily competitions, fun sessions and sponsor spotlights, virtual exhibitor booths, virtual swag bags, competitions, prizes, networking, geek apparel and more... • Early bird discount till September 30, 2020 – register today!
*Members of APDT Australia, Canine Arthritis Management, INTODogs, PPG Australia, PPG British Isles and PPG – discount codes are available on your respective websites.
Want to find out more about Geek Week? Listen to Niki Tudge and Denise O'Moore, chair of INTO Dogs, discuss PPG's virtual November event in this BARKS Podcast. (See also p.2 and p.64 for more details.)
New Survey on Shelter Dogs’ In-Kennel Welfare
© Can Stock Photo / Kosobu
Are you an animal behaviorist? A trainer? Do you have experience and/or education in animal welfare or behavior? If so, Dr. Nathan Hall, assistant professor of companion animal science at Texas Tech University, and his PhD student Allie Andrukonis invite you to participate in a survey for a new study on the welfare of people and animals in the shelter environment.
If you agree to participate, you will be asked to answer a few questions about your experience and education in the field and then watch 10 videos of dogs in kennels and answer 14 questions about each video. It should take no more than 20 minutes. Ultimately the goal of this study is to use the data collected to create training programs and/or protocols to improve the inkennel welfare of dogs. Please share far and wide!
PPAB Gains CANZ Accreditation
Pet Rescue Resource Releases Playgroups Toolkit
The Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) is now an accredited organization with Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ). CANZ believes there should be legislation that ensures certain standards of welfare for animals and is a respected national organization representing a diverse range of animal welfare groups, including the SPCA, New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA), Dogs NZ, New Zealand Cat Fancy, the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association (NZVNA) and the New Zealand Institute of Animal Management (NZIAM).
There are currently three PPAB titles available: ● Canine Training Technician (Accredited) (CTTA). ● Professional Canine Trainer (Accredited) (PCTA). ● Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (Accredited) (PCBCA).
Special Notice:
Effective April 1 December 31, 2020, PPAB is waiving many of its application and submission fees for PPG members. Apply today and save: ● Canine Training Technician – All fees waived. Save $90. ● Professional Canine Trainer – All fees waived. Save $90. ● Professional Canine Behavior Consultant – All fees waived except the proctored online examination. Save $115.
If you hold an existing credential and are thinking twice about renewing, now is the time to transfer it! Save the application fee of $50 and all other submission fees until December 31, 2020. (See also ad on p.5). BARKS from the Guild Seeks New Contributors © Can Stock Photo/damedeeso sharing their individual knowledge and experience with others as we work to grow the forcefree community and spread the message. BARKS’ online audience is comprised tens of thousands of pet professionals and pet guardians all over the world; being featured in BARKS is great for your business, for your fellow pet professionals, and for the clients and pets we serve! Please read the BARKS FAQs page for more information on submitting articles or contact the editor for further details.
The Pet Rescue Resource (PRR) has released its much anticipated Dog Playgroups resource, which features indepth information on science based, data driven, positively inspired dog playgroups and explains why these are so important for shelter/rescue dogs.
The Academy for Dog Trainers and the PPG shelter and rescue committee went live earlier this month to discuss the project and to provide a glimpse of some of the top level content that will be available to the public at no cost.
PRR is an online toolkit for shelters and rescues designed to improve adoption and retention rates of homeless pets. The resource includes articles, stepbystep training plans and videos designed to support staff and volunteers in addressing common behavior and welfare issues. Its first project, Jumpy/Mouthy Dogs, launched earlier this year, with the Cat Project currently underway.
The PPG shelter and rescue committee welcomes any feedback to the new resources. Please contact them via their Facebook page and let
BARKS from the Guildis looking for new writers to contribute on both a regular and an ad hoc basis. BARKS is all about pet professionals them know what you think!
PPG Signs Four New Corporate Partners: The Gundog Trainers Academy, 2 Hounds Design, TheDoGenius Ltd. and The International School for Canine Psychology & Behaviour Ltd. - All Join with Special Member Offers
PPG is proud and delighted to welcome TheDoGenius Ltd., The Gundog Trainers Academy, 2 Hounds Design, and The International School for Canine Psychology & Behaviour Ltd. as new corporate partners.
TheDoGenius Ltd. 2 Hounds Design
TheDoGenius Ltd. offers online, selfpaced courses, learning anytime, anywhere. All DoGenius online dog courses have been written by highly qualified professionals with indepth knowledge and years of experience on their chosen subject. Care has been taken to create a course collection that is based on only the most uptodate dogcentric science, taking into account both human and canine perspectives and that advocate for canine wellbeing. Courses will only ever follow the science of positive reinforcement and rewardbased training. CEUs are available from PPG, CCPDT and IAABC.
Special Offer: 10% discount on course prices for PPG Members (ex‐cludes sale or discounted prices).
The Gundog Trainers Academy
2Hounds Design makes the Freedom NoPull Harness with double connection leash as well as fun and flashy martingale collars, buckle collars, and leashes.
Special Offer: Try the Freedom No‐Pull Harness for FREE! And send your feedback for 25% off your first order at wholesale pricing!
The Gundog Trainers Academy (GTA) is run by Helen Phillips and Jules Morgan (who are also presenting at Geek Week). Its mission is to support, nurture and encourage high standards of ethical, science T he International School for Canine Psychology & Behaviour Ltd. (ISCP) provides distance learning courses, webinars, and inperson backed, noncoercive and effective methods of training for gundogs in practical study days in rewardbased dog behavior, training, nutrition, the U.K. It aims to build an extensive network of likeminded, qualified handling and other related aspects. Currently, the ICSP has students in gundog trainers to fulfil the demand for ethical gundog training for 60 countries. shooting, for competition and for pleasure. The ISCP is the only education provider that offers a 50% discount
GTA offers educational courses in practical and theoretical formats for members involved in dog rescues and in any charities which involve with a final assessment process which accredits teachers to become dogs (such as guide and service dogs, veterans with dogs, emotional GTA instructors. Handler only courses are devised to improve and exsupport dogs, etc.) on its most popular behavior course which enables tend upon gundog handling skills to owners and trainers by delving graduates to work professionally with dogs. deeper into the learning process and applying it to field work. Special Offer: 10% discount on all ISCP courses. To take advantage of Special Offers: 10% discount on 2021 Teachers Course for PPG mem‐this offer, please use the PPG member discount code in the coupon bers / 5% discount on 2021 Handlers Course for PPG members. code box in the course enrollment form. For more details on all available offers, see Vendor Discount Programs in the Members’ Area of the PPG website. Note: You must be logged in.
PPG Names June, July Project Trade Ambassador
Congratulations to Emily Blythe of Homeward Bound Animal Behavior & Training, LLC in Wisconsin, USA for trading three shock collars and who was named Project Trade Ambassador for June 2020. She was also named Project Trade Ambassador for July 2020 for trading one choke chain. Congratulations too to Daniel Antolec of Happy Buddha Dog Training in Wisconsin, USA for trading one shock collar in July.
Emily Blythe exchanged three shock collars (left) and one choke chain (inset) for service discounts and has been named Project Trade Ambassador for June and July 2020 Now Available on
Anchor Platform load. 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: July 31, 2020: Denise O'Moore of INTODogs discussing Geek Week. July 24, 2020: Kelly Duggan of Kelly Duggan Design discussing marketing and websites, and how you can best leverage your site to service more clients and help more pets. July 17, 2020: PPG Summit 2017 keynote speaker Dr. Eduardo Fernandez talking all about science, ethics and data collection.
The key purpose of the ShockFree Coalition is to build a strong and broad movement committed to eliminating shock devices from the supply and demand chain. This goal will be reached when shock tools and equipment are universally unavailable and not permitted for the training, management and care of pets. The ShockFree Coalition believes that pets
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. Project Trade 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
BARKS Podcasts are now available on the Anchor platform from where you can select your preferred app to listen any time or down
New Dates for Shock-Free Pledge Drive
The ShockFree Coalition has announced new dates for its Pledge Drive. The event will now take place March 1 May 31, 2021 (see below).
through pain or fear) for service discounts. Join today!
have an intrinsic right to be treated humanely, to have each of their individual needs met, and to live in a safe, enriched environment free from force, pain and fear. Members of the ShockFree Coalition consider it to be their responsibility and utmost obligation to be vigilant, to educate, to remain engaged and work toward eliminating shock as a permissible tool so it is never considered a viable option in the training, management and care of pets. Sign the Shock‐Free Pledge (see also ad on p.7).
PPG Appoints Social Media Coordinator
PPG has appointed Warwick, New Yorkbased veterinarian Pam Shultz times. I am proud to be part of DVM CVA (right, with her cat Tesla) as its social media coordinator a community that is so supwith immediate effect. Dr. Shultz had already been assisting PPG as a portive, dedicated, insightful proofreader on its bimonthly trade publication BARKS from the Guild, and compassionate to both and now comes onboard in a more official capacity as the organization pets and people. In this new looks to ramp up its online presence across its social media platforms. position, I hope to continue to "Perhaps many training and behavior professionals will be able to learn, while assisting PPG in relate when I say that there were times when it was lonely and exhaustsharing information and reing being a forcefree proponent in the pet industry," said Dr. Shultz. sources that help pet profes"Then I discovered PPG. Ever since getting involved, first as a ShockFree sionals and guardians work Coalition regional coordinator for New York, then as proofreader for together toward a world that is BARKS, I have met the most inspiring people and thoroughly enjoyed kinder to all species." every opportunity to share ideas – and I'll be honest – commiserate at Read press release.
SPECIAL NOTICE: 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, and more. Check listings in the PPG Members' Facebook group for event dates and times. See also Business Contingency Planning section in the Members’ Area of the PPG website.
Earn Your CEUs via PPG’s Webinars, Workshops and Educational Summits!
Webinars Stressed Out: Dogs, Hormones, and Stress Presented by Dr. Jessica Hekman
Friday, October 2, 2020 1 p.m. (EDT)
The Role of Habit in Behavior Presented by Dr. Kristina Spaulding,
Monday, October 12, 2020 2 p.m. (EDT)
How to Recognize Signs of Pain in Dogs Presented by Catarina Santos
Saturday, October 24, 2020 1 p.m. (EDT)
Revisiting Respondent Techniques Change the Behavior by Changing the Emotions Presented by Alexandra Santos
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 1 p.m. (EST)
Educational Summits PPG Geek Week 2020 (Virtual)
(see also ads on p.2, p.6 and p.64) Wednesday, November 11 Sunday, November 15, 2020
PPG Summit 2021 (Phoenix, Arizona)
Friday, September 17 Tuesday, September 21, 2021 For a full, up‐to‐date list of webinar listings, see: petprofessionalguild.com/Webinars
PPG Webinars On Demand
Listen any time!: petprofessionalguild.com/RecordedWebinars
Residential Workshops (Tampa, Florida) Reactive to Relaxed: Next Steps in Control Unleashed with Leslie McDevitt
(see also ad on p.37) Saturday, February 13, 2021 Sunday, February 14, 2021
Your PORTL to Shaping with Mary Hunter
(see also ad on p.55) Saturday, March 20, 2021 Sunday, March 21, 2021
Interactive Play Skills Instructor Course with Craig Ogilvie
(see also ad on p.59) Saturday, October 9, 2021 Sunday, October 10, 2021
Advanced Agility Workshop with Marita Davies
(see also ad on p.51) Saturday, October 16, 2021
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Canine Scent Instructor Program with Dr. Robert Hewings
Saturday, November 6, 2021 Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Canine Scent Advanced Handling Program with Dr. Robert Hewings
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Sunday, November 21, 2021
Learn How to Train Dogs to Detect Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Nightmareswith Dr. Robert Hewings
Wednesday, November 24, 2020 Thursday, November 25, 2020
For a full, up‐to‐date list of all upcoming summits and workshops, see: petprofessionalguild.com/Educational‐Summits
