New Content
BARKS Podcast with Valarie Ross from Sits ‘n Wiggles R+ Dog Training: February 18, 2022
Join Niki Tudge and PPG Canine Committee chair Judy Luther as they Chat and Chuckle with Valarie Ross of Sits 'n Wiggles - Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Cleveland, Ohio.
Listen as they discuss gear, reactive behavior in dogs, inclusivity and diversity in pet-related professions, ...
A Positive Strategy
By Tamsin Durston
As I set up my dog on the start line of an agility course, I want her to feel excited and exhilarated. At the same time, I also want her to feel relaxed within the ...
BARKS Podcast: Expert Panel Discusses Growing Your Pet Business
Join pet industry experts (above, left to right) Niki Tudge, founder and president of the Pet Professional Guild and DogNostics Career Center, Veronica Boutelle, founder, consultant lead, ...
Latest Articles
Quick Fix or Never Fix
When someone first calls me for help, they usually hope their pet behavior problem will be resolved in a couple of weeks. They have tried everything they can think of for themselves, watched TV trainers and scoured the internet. Now they have decided there is nothing for it but to pay for ...
What’s in the Bag?
What you don’t know could kill your pet.
Like all dog owners I want my pets to be healthy and enjoy a long life as members of our family. My first puppy, Samanatha, was the joy of my life and it came as a painful shock when she died abruptly at just over 12 years of age.
It was not long ...
To Prompt or to Reinforce
Click – treat, click – treat, click – treat. As trainers, we all know what is going on here; someone is conditioning a clicker. But the lines can get blurred from here.
First we click and treat until the animal alerts to the click. Then we use the click to indicate to the animal that they ...
Teaching Your Dog to Eliminate on Cue
Teaching your dog how to eliminate on cue (when asked) can be very helpful. I often think back to my service dog training days when discussing the benefits of a dog knowing how to poop on cue. For example, you may know that you are going on a 12-hour car ride and going potty now will help ...
Teaching Your Dog to Be Alone
Dogs are naturally social, enjoying the company of other dogs and people. As a result, when you leave them, they may panic that they are alone, or they can simply get bored. Even if you are there all the time, teaching your dog to accept being by himself can be very useful.
Start with ...
The Perfect Dog
I have the perfect dog. He doesn’t bark, “potty” in the house, chew on furniture, or do ANY undesirable dog behaviors. Perhaps you have one too; mine is called Fido, and he’s a big stuffed dog!
Real dogs bark, dig in the yard, eliminate in the house, whine, chew on furniture and other ...
“Just” – Another Magic Word
Of course we all want well-behaved dogs. Come when called, walk happily on a loose lead, sit to be greeted rather than jump up on people, know when to stop barking. These are all things dog owners want their dogs to do: for the dogs’ benefit as well as the benefit of other people.
So, yes, I ...
Pet Professional Guild Launches Worldwide Advocacy Program
Project Trade encourages pet owners to exchange aversive training devices for discounted force-free training services provided by PPG members
Tampa, FL – The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has launched Project Trade, an international advocacy program that encourages pet owners to trade aversive ...
Getting to Know You …
I’ve worked in the service dog field for a long time — as a trainer and as an educator, teaching future trainers. The burning question is and has always been: How do we choose appropriate dogs for training? This post is not going to discuss the merits and disadvantages of breeding for service ...