August 2021: Issue 68

A Podcast of this issue of BARKS News will soon be available here.

PPG has established an Advocacy Panel as part of its key mission to support pet guardian education and make it accessible to a wider audience.

The Advocacy Panel will host a series of live Expert Panel Discussions on Zoom, eventually on a bimonthly basis. During the sessions, the panel will focus on topical issues important to pet professionals and pet owners. After the live session, a recording will be released as a podcast via PPG’s media platform, BARKS Podcasts.

The first Expert Panel Discussion is scheduled for Friday, August 27, 2021 at 3 p.m. ET with the topic, How To Best Advocate for Positive Reinforcement Training.

The second event will take place on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 3 p.m. ET and feature the topic How To Reach and Work With Your Local Veterinarians.

Zoom links will be posted on the Advocacy Panel website and announced on social media prior to each event.

Panel members to date include Dr. Laura Donaldson, Dr. Eduardo Fernandez, Dr. Robert Hewings, Judy Luther, Linda Michaels, Pat Miller, Helen Phillips, Kim Silver, Dr. Kristina Spaulding, Claire Staines, K. Holden Svirsky, Dr. Zazie Todd, Dr. Karolina Westlund, and Sam Wike. Sessions will be moderated by Shock-Free Coalition chairman Don Hanson and PPG president Niki Tudge, with discussion topics announced at least four weeks before the scheduled air date.

PPG is currently planning to we will build a dedicated Advocacy Panel webpage to efficiently share session topics, dates and times, as well as provide information on individual panel members.

Read full press release.

Congratulations to Diane Podolsky and Schel Harris for winning the Shock-Free Coalition ‘Tag It’ competition. The winners have each been awarded a FREE ticket to Geek Week 2021.

The new tagline is a combination of the top two entries, as submitted by Podolsky and Harris: Informed by Science, Guided by Empathy, Governed by Ethics™.

The key purpose of the Shock-Free Coalition is to build a strong and broad movement committed to the belief that pets 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. PPG would like to thank all those who participated in the ‘Tag It’ competition for sharing their creativity and passion for creating a kinder world for pets.

Geek Week Releases Updated Presenter List

You can now split your Geek Week registration invoice into four parts. Simply register for the event but don’t pay the full invoice you will receive by email. Instead, upon receipt of the invoice, email Rebekah King and she will be happy to split your registration invoice into four parts.

Register today - Early Bird discount available till August 31, 2021!

Geek Week 2021 Awards Second Scholarship Tickets

Congratulations to Geek Week 2021 scholarship ticket recipients Desiree Lomer-Clarke, Elizabeth Ashley, Kitty Lee, and Monica Hanna! Scholarship tickets are awarded by PPG’s Inclusivity Committee to the BIPOC community.

Apply for your Geek Week Scholarship

Application Submission Dates (submit your application between these date ranges)

August 12-25, 2021 / September 12-25, 2021 / October 12-25, 2021

Scholarship Notification Dates (successful applicants will be notified by these dates)

August 30, 2021 / September 30, 2021 / October 30, 2021

PPG Announces Un-Chase!® as New Corporate Partner

PPG has welcomed Un-Chase!® as a new corporate partner. The Un-Chase!® program utilizes only positive reinforcement training guided by the latest scientific understanding of dog behavior and training. The goal of the program is to stop chase behavior by effectively motivating dogs to prefer not to chase. This approach removes stress from the training process for both animal and trainer and achieves more reliable results.

Un-Chase!® offers a series of online courses for dog lovers to learn how to stop their dogs chasing. The courses are fun, self-paced classes that can be taken anytime from anywhere. Professional trainers can undertake the Pro Trainer Course to gain additional skills in addressing chase behaviors and become licensed Un-Chase!® instructors.

PPG Dog Lounge

The PPG Dog Lounge is a virtual get together to discuss and share ideas, and each session will have a different topic. Join the PPG Dog Lounge Facebook group for more details. Note: You will be asked for a passcode when you first join. You can find the passcode here in the PPG members’ Facebook group.

The next Dog Lounge will take place on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 / 2 p.m. EST. Topic: Preparing for back to school (crate use, safe chews and toys).

PPG Calls for Volunteers for Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals Committee

PPG is working to develop a new committee to focus on Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals (ESA). The move has been initiated by PPG member Peggy Moran. If you have experience in this sector of the industry and are interested in helping create resources to advocate for scientific and humane approaches to training and care, then please complete our volunteer form.

PPG Expands Board of Directors

PPG has appointed long-time PPG associate Don Hanson to its board of directors with immediate effect.

Hanson is a Bangor, Maine-based canine and feline trainer and behavior consultant of some 25 years, who has been co-chair of PPG's Advocacy Committee since 2016 (and, as of 2021, chairman), and chairman of the Shock-Free Coalition since 2017.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to serve PPG and its members on the board of directors," said Hanson. "I've been a pet care professional since 1995 and have been active in industry associations since 1998. It has always been my goal to help people care for their pets in a kind and gentle manner, fostering a life-long bond based on mutual trust. Unfortunately, either due to ignorance or intentional malice, pain, force, and fear are still used in the training and management of pets far too often. I believe that PPG's emphasis on science, empathy, and ethics and its members' passion can bring about the positive changes we need in this industry. To be part of that will be a capstone to my career."

Read full press release

Other PPG Staff Changes

Rebekah King has moved into an operations director position to enable PPG president Niki Tudge to extract herself from the daily operation and focus more on her role with the board of directors and the long term strategy and goals for PPG. Sharon Nettles will remain as PPG event coordinator while Emily Conde has been appointed as membership manager. Conde will focus on the continued review and improvements to PPG’s membership benefit programs and the corporate partner program.

PPAB Application Fee Waiver Extended

Don't forget, the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) has extended its application and submissions fee waiver until August 31, 2021.

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 July 31, 2021.

Discount codes are available in your member area.

Upcoming Facebook Live Sessions

Chat Chuckle and Learn Sessions with PPG president Niki Tudge - save the dates!

Tuesday, August 17, 2021 / 8 a.m. (ET)

Niki Tudge chats to Laura Donaldson, Simone Mueller, and Holly Tett about their planned sessions for Geek Week 2021.

Friday, August 20, 2021 / 3 p.m. (ET)

Niki Tudge chats with Irith Bloom, Paula Garber, Suzanne Clothier, Julie Naismith, and Simon Gadbois about their planned sessions for Geek Week 2021.

Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / 4 p.m. (ET)

Niki Tudge chats with Emily Tronetti, Tracey Lee Davis, Michael Shikashio, Nancy Tucker, and Rain Jordan about their planned sessions for Geek Week 2021.

Friday, September 17, 2021 / 3 p.m. (ET)

Niki Tudge chats with Emily Wolf, director of Summit Dog Rescue and creator of the podcast, Pod to the Rescue. Wolf, who has worked in rescue for over 15 years, will provide us with an inside look at her newly created podcast. Whether you are fostering or adopting, the podcast was created with the goal of providing the rescue community with up-to-date information on dogs' behavior and how to set your dog up for success.

Do you have something you’d like to share? Join Niki Tudge in one of our Facebook Live sessions! Just fill out this short form to get it scheduled and share your knowledge and experience with PPG members and supporters.

Check the PPG Facebook group for all live events and to join live sessions.

Take a Sneak Peek at September BARKS

We’ve added the highlights of the upcoming September 2021 issue of BARKS (left) in the member zone on the BARKS website. Check them out here in the BARKS Member Zone.

If you’re not yet a member, get your free lifetime digital membership and subscription today!

Read the July 2021 issue (right) of BARKS.

BARKS from the Guild, PPG’s bimonthly official trade publication, is looking for new writers to contribute on both a regular and an ad hoc basis. BARKS is all about pet professionals sharing their individual knowledge and experience with others as we work to grow the force-free 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.

BARKS Podcasts are now available on Anchor, 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.

Latest Podcasts:
BARKS Podcast with Zazie Todd (July 16, 2021). PPG president Niki Tudge chats to Zazie Todd, animal behavior expert and award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, and creator of the Companion Animal Psychology blog.

BARKS News – July 2021 edition

Do you have something you’d like to share? Join Niki Tudge as a guest on one of our BARKS Podcasts! You too can share your knowledge and experience with PPG members and supporters!

Listen to earlier BARKS podcasts.

Upcoming Live Webinars:

Scentwork Solutions for Common Behavioral Problems. Presented by Dr. Morag Heirs - Tuesday, August 17 / 12 p.m. EDT

How To Best Advocate for Positive Reinforcement Training. Presented by PPG Advocacy Panel - Friday, August 27 / 3 p.m. EDT

It Takes a Village: Cases. Presented by Dr. Lisa Radosta - Monday, August 30 / 4 p.m. EDT

To Yield or Not to Yield, That Is the Question. Presented by Niki Tudge -Wednesday, September 8 / 1:30 p.m. EDT

Imagination and Creativity. Presented by Dr. Robert Hewings -Monday, September 13 / 2 p.m. EDT

Using Behavior Analysis to Analyze Behavior Part I. Presented by Dr. Eduardo Fernandez - On Demand - Access the Recording as Soon as You Register.

Discounted Webinars:

PPG is offering the following selected webinars at a discount this month - each webinar is just $15:

There’s No Place Like Home: Easing The Transition To Inside Life For Outside Dogs.

Kristi Benson

Total Recall

Gosia Wozniak

"But My Dog Isn't Food-Motivated."

Kathy Sdao

Thinking Outside the Box: Marketing for Pet Care Pros.

Kimberly Burgan

Puppy Vaccines Explained: The Biology Behind the Complicated Schedule.

Dr. Jessica Hekman