New Content
Exotic Animals and Shelter Awareness
By Lara Joseph
As animal trainers and behavior consultants, our work can appear very appealing to pet owners and those who work with and take care of animals. What we demonstrate in our training is a very important tool we can use to educate the public about how our work is ...
BARKS Podcast with Geek Week Presenters Dr. Laura Donaldson, Simone Mueller, and Dr. Holly Tett
Join Niki Tudge as she Chats and Chuckles with Dr. Laura Donaldson, Simone Mueller, and Dr. Holly Tett about their planned sessions for Geek Week 2021. Listen as they explore their topics and ...
An Open Letter to Animal Shelters and Rescues
By the Pet Professional Guild
Geek Week 2021 "For the Love of Rescue":
Supporting Shelter and Rescue Continued Professional Development
A day does not go by where we, the Pet Professional ...
Latest Articles
Choke Collar Pathology
Recently I persuaded a local pet supply store owner to sell me all his choke collars (at cost) and refrain from restocking them, in return for recommendations for safe body harnesses such as Perfect Fit and Balance. He was persuaded by data I presented to him about the pathology of choke ...
A Change of Lifestyle
By Marilyn Krieger
According to a study by the Humane Society of the United States, based on data collected from 600 veterinarians, two out of three veterinarians recommend keeping cats indoors, citing vehicles and transmittable diseases as the two greatest potential dangers (HSUS ...
News Release: Pet Professional Guild debuts event app for 2017 Orlando summit
App will provide convention attendees with an easily accessible and up-to-date interactive experience
Tampa, FL - May 31, 2017 – The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) is debuting a free downloadable mobile app at its third annual educational summit, taking place in Orlando, Florida from November ...
Do Dogs Use Tools?
More than fifty years ago, Jane Goodall made a discovery that shook some scientists — particularly those that had long lists of all the things that made humans unique and superior to nonhumans. She saw Chimpanzees using tools.
Since then, other researchers have found other nonhumans using ...
Food – Just Cupboard Love?
The Power of Motivation
As a behaviour consultant meeting with clients who are seeking to alter their dog's behaviour, I am always asking owners to think about their dog's motivation - what is it for that individual dog that will assist in initiating positive change and creating a more ...
Expectations, Disappointment And Opportunities
When we get a puppy or a rescue dog, as a first time or an experienced dog owner or as a competitor in a dog sport, we have certain expectations. We hope for the perfect companion or the perfect agility dog.
Depending on our level of experience we try to make sure we get it right. We might ...
If You’re Loving It, Why Leave?
Is “choice” a code word for negative reinforcement?
It can be. Seems like that’s the context where I see it pop up the most.
I’ve written a lot about choice. Two of my major points are:
Many people are confused about using choice as an antecedent vs. a consequence; and
People are rarely ...
Dog Food Safety Recalls
Pet food safety is a big deal to me, and to my dogs. As my dog’s best advocate I want to know what is in the bag and whether it will harm my dogs.
I would like to believe I can depend upon news media to inform me of safety recalls in pet food and training treats so I can keep my pets safe, ...
What To Do If You Find a Lost Pet
What To Do If You Find a Lost Dog or Cat
Have you ever been out and about and found a lost dog or cat? I'm sure if you have, your heart started to race thinking about how you would feel if your pet was lost. I just can't imagine what I would do if Dexter the dog got out of the house and was ...