February 2020: Issue 50

PPG Announces Virtual Summit to Celebrate Launch of New Pet Rescue Resource

PPG has announced an educational Virtual Summit taking place on Thursday, April 2 - Friday, April 3, 2020 to mark the launch of its new program, the PPG Pet Rescue Resource – A Behavior and Welfare Toolkit. The Pet Rescue Resource Behavior and Welfare Toolkit is a comprehensive educational product, designed by PPG’s Shelter and Rescue Division, that features a broad range of programs and modules aimed at helping improve the prospects of pets in a shelter or rescue environment by increasing adoption and retention rates. It consists of articles, training plans and videos that cover a broad range of essential topics pertinent to the world of shelter and rescue (e.g. dogs that jump up and canine play groups), as well as individual modules that focus on topics of a smaller scope. Each resource fulfills a specific issue that has been identified by PPG’s Shelter and Rescue Division as something that commonly occurs and needs to be addressed to aid in the management, behavior modification, training, and enrichment of animals in shelters and foster homes.

In support of the rollout of the Toolkit, the Virtual Summit will feature two full days of educational webinar sessions that can be implemented by animal rescue and/or shelter organizations to help better assimilate rescue pets into homes. The 1-hour sessions, followed by an interactive question and answer session lasting up to 30 minutes, will run from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m./3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. (GMT) on consecutive days.

Virtual Summit Schedule

Thursday, April 2

Dr. Kathy Murphy 9 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. ET

Dr. Nick Thompson - 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET

Malena DeMartini & Casey McGee - 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET

Dr. Zazie Todd - 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Friday, April 3

Dr. Karolina Westlund - 9 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. ET

Dr. Morag Heirs - 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET

Dr. Robert Hewings - 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET

Dr. Juliane Kaminski - 4: 30 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET

Registration for the Virtual Summit is now open through both the PPG and PPGBI websites. Once you register, you will gain access to the live event and also receive audio session recordings available for 12 months. For a sneak peek at what’s to come, see Management and Behavior Modification: Developing a Force-Free Toolbox for Rescues and Shelters, BARKS from the Guild, May 2019, pp.14-21. Read news release for more details.

PPG Summit 2020 Writers' Competition

How would you like to win a FREE ticket worth $500 to PPG’s sixth annual summit in Phoenix, Arizona on September 18-22, 2020? We are looking for blog posts or short features on the topic of animal shelter and rescue to publish on the BARKS Blog or in BARKS from the Guild. We may publish snippets on our social media platforms too.

Do you have, for example, a specific training tip or enrichment idea that you have successfully implemented in a shelter or rescue environment? Perhaps your tale is more personal, of one special rescue animal who has taught you something special, or changed your life forever?

Whatever it is, if it’s related to shelter and/or rescue animals, we want to know about it! Don’t consider yourself a writer? No problem. Just do the best you can, and if we choose your article for its content, we will help you knock it into shape. Photos, if you have them, are welcome. The author of the winning blog post or article will win a FREE ticket to Phoenix 2020! Please read the terms and conditions before entering, then submit your article here.

Deadline for entries: April 5, 2020 / Winner announced: April 20, 2020.
Photo: © Can Stock Photo/damedeeso

Attend the PPG Summit 2020 with Your Best Friend!

If you bring your dog with you to PPG Summit 2020, you will have the opportunity to attend a variety of lecture/labs where you can work with your pup under the guidance of some fantastic trainers. All you have to do is register, choose your preferred program, add on any hotel rooms or food and beverage events, select your working labs, and choose your payment option to secure your spot. There are no hidden or extra charges when you attend a lecture/lab and learn with your dog!

#PPGValentine Competition Winner

Congratulations to Eva Perrigo of Star Dog Training in Jackson Hole Valley, Wyoming who is the winner of our Valentine’s Day Competition. She has been awarded a free entry ticket to PPG Summit 2020 for her photo of Beau B. Bunny.

“I love my Beau B. Bunny more than life itself,” she says. “This boy has taught me patience, unconditional love and a more thorough understanding of the complexities of an individual dog’s personality. He’s a goofball, a great brother to his furry sister, and the love of my life.”

We had so many great entries for this competition and will be featuring many of the photos in the May issue of BARKS from the Guild. Subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss out!

Special Pet Dog Ambassador/Summit 2020 Offer

Register for PPG Summit 2020 and get a Pet Dog Ambassador program for FREE! Simply register for the Summit THIS MONTH*, then email Rebekah King to receive your 100% discount code. *Offer valid from February 1-29, 2020 ONLY.

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Updates to Pet Dog Ambassador Instructor/Assessor Guide

PPG has revised a couple of sections in The Pet Dog Ambassador Instructor/Assessor Guide as follows:

#1. Long distance assessment – p.10

Level 3 Exercise 8:  This exercise requires the assessor to question the guardian about the local laws in the candidate’s area.  If the assessment is being undertaken by video, it is incumbent upon the candidate to arrange with the assessor a mutually suitable time for the assessor to ask the questions of the candidate.  If the assessor does not live within the area, he/she will need to learn about the local dog rules for the candidate’s area.  This would be best done by the candidate sending information to the assessor regarding his/her local dog laws.  Alternatively, the assessor could independently find out about the candidate’s local laws.

#2. Reasonable adjustment for disability or special needs – p.16

N.B. Should the laws of the land dictate that it is illegal for a dog to be off leash, any exercise that requires off leash work may be undertaken on a light, long line.  Wherever possible, however, off leash work should be undertaken where nominated.

The manuals on the website have been updated for your files.

PPG Scholarships

Once again, a limited number of full and partial scholarships will be offered this year to eligible PPG members to further their education in force-free training and/or pet care. The scholarships are intended for participation in suitable programs offered by organizations that support PPG’s Guiding Principles and goals. See current providers. PPG must receive applications for the Scholarship Program between April 5 - May 5. Download the full Candidate Scholarship Application Guide. Complete the Scholarship Application Form.

New PPG Workshop on Canine Neuroscience
 

PPG will host a two-day workshop, an Introduction to the Neuroscience of Dog Training and Behavior presented by Dr. Kathy Murphy, on Saturday, June 13 - Sunday, June 14, 2020. Understanding what’s happening in the dog’s brain can impact how you train. This lecture series will provide an introductory overview of neuroscientific principles and how they apply to various aspects of training and behavior. CEUs and 4-month payment plan available.

Leslie McDevitt Workshop

PPG is hosting a two-day workshop with Leslie McDevitt titled Reactive to Relaxed: Next Steps in Control Unleashed. Taking place in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, April 18, 2020 - Sunday, April 19, 2020 McDevitt will teach material from her newest book Control Unleashed: Reactive to Relaxed.

BARKS: Order March 2020 Print Edition

The PRINT EDITION of the March 2020 issue of BARKS from the Guild (above left) is now available to order! Reserve your copy by Monday, February 24 and get it delivered directly to your door! In our cover feature, Morag Heirs draws from her experience of 20 years running her own businesses to offer advice on helping canine training and behavior professionals enjoy — and become more efficient at — running the business side of their work.

More Great Content in the March 2020 Issue:
Training: How to ensure communication is effective for both handlers and dogs / E-fence fallout – featuring labradoodle, Charlee / positive reinforcement vs. bribery.
Canine: The importance of triggers and the environment in a stress reduction protocol.
Interview: Dr. Gregory Berns on the significance of olfactory and visual stimuli in a dog’s universe.
Rescue: Guidelines to help select rescue dogs to set them up for success to train as service dogs.
Feline: Reading cats’ minds / human-directed play aggression.
Case Study: Best feline friends who became enemies.
Behavior: Lessons from exotics (featuring a pair of ring-tailed lemurs).
Equine: Helping clients adapt to a new perspective in terms of training philosophy.
Business: Streamlining your businesses / speaking to the media.

Read January 2020 BARKS (above right) online.

Note: the digital edition of BARKS will remain FREE but you must subscribe as of the March 2020 issue to gain access.

Don’t forget to subscribe to BARKS to ensure you maintain access to all the great, FREE educational content!
BARKS will be available by subscription only from the March 2020 issue so sign up today!