February 2022: Issue 74

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PPG Announces Geek Week Grand Prize Winner

Geek Week grand prize winner Kira Klawitter with Jack, one of the dogs she works with at the Friends for Life shelter in Houston, Texas

PPG has announced the Grand Prize winner of its virtual educational event Geek Week, held in November 2021. The Grand Prize, co-sponsored by PPG and PocketSuite, comprises a total of $1,500 in credit toward an approved educational program, or programs, as selected by the winner.

Kira Klawitter of Friends for Life Animal Shelter (FFL) in Houston, Texas has been named as the lucky winner. She has selected Michael Shikashio's Master Course - Aggression in Dogs and DogNostics’ Dog Behavior Consulting Diploma as the educational programs she would like to participate in.

Klawitter is a behavior technician at FFL and is responsible for care, training, behavior modification, and enrichment for the dogs in the shelter’s program. She also provides behavior consults for adopters and participates in FFL’s Thinking Outside the Shelter, an initiative that provides free pet food, wellness care, and behavior training to the public as an alternative to surrendering animals to a shelter. 

“I am very passionate about education and want to express my gratitude and thanks to PPG and PocketSuite and everyone involved in making this prize possible. I also wanted to give a special thanks to Mélissa Taylor at FFL who made this all possible by giving me a ticket to Geek Week. Without her, none of this would have happened.”

Read full press release.

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New Orientation Event for PPG Members

Attention PPG members old and new, PPG is hosting a new series of member orientation events – and you’re invited!

When: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 / 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET

Where: Online – register here

Starting this month and continuing every other month, the meetings, hosted by the PPG inclusivity Committee, will start with a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation on a variety of topics followed by a live Q&A.

Topics will include:

1. Welcome to PPG
2. Meet Your Inclusivity Committee
3. PPG Guiding Principles
4. PPG Code of Conduct
5. Fly Your Flag: Your Membership Certificate
6. Fly Your Flag: Your Member Badge
7. A brief review of your Membership Benefits
8. How to setup your Directory Listing
9. How to setup your Member Profile
10. Navigating your Member Area
11. The PPG Divisions explained
12. The ‘ins and outs’ of PPG webinars and events
13. PPG Program Overview: Project Trade
14. PPG Program Overview: The PPG Scholarship Program
15. PPG Program Overview: Pet Dog Ambassador
16. Meet your Membership Team
17. Q&A

So come and join us to say hello, get better acquainted with the benefits of your membership, meet your peers, or just enjoy a chat! Register for the February 23 event here.

Save the Dates for Upcoming Events!

• February 23, 2022 / 1 p.m. ET
• April 27, 2022 / 5 p.m. ET
• June 22, 2022 / 9 a.m. ET
• August 24, 2022 / Noon ET
• October 26, 2022 / 5 p.m. ET
• January 25, 2023 / 9 a.m. ET
  
  

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New-Look PPG Member Discounts Area

Have you seen the new-look member discount area on the PPG website? PPG has a host of amazing supporting vendors who have a wide range of great offers for members. Don’t miss out, check them out today!

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PPG Welcomes Three New Corporate Partners

PPG is delighted to welcome Adolescent Dogs Ltd., Sniffspot, and Tech for Trainers as new corporate partners.

Check your Member Vendor Discount Programs for details of their special introductory offers for PPG members plus the respective discount codes.

About Adolescent Dogs Ltd.

Adolescent Dogs provides force free dog training to pet owners and dog trainers all over the world, offering webinars, online video tutorials, instructors workshops via UK Sniffer dogs, and classes.

PPG Member Offer:

30% discount to the Adolescent Dogs Online Academy.

About Sniffspot

Sniffspot is a simple app for finding and renting spots - dog parks and off leash areas hosted by locals. Sniffspot provides the best experiences and fun for you and your dog.

Sniffspot dog parks are designed for the ultimate safe dog exercise and provide distraction free dog time - its safe, private spaces help you minimize distractions or triggers and maximize time with your dog. Sniffspot provides off-leash enrichment with opportunities for exploration and activities, as well as safe playdates where you can socialize your pup in a controlled, private spot.

PPG Member Offer: $5 off your first visit.

About Tech For Trainers

Tech for Trainers is an annual membership helping ethical, force-free trainers harness the power of technology. The monthly bite-size tutorials, clicker training classes, get 'sit' done sessions, and private 121s have all been designed to help trainers spend less time on admin and be more strategic with marketing so that they can make an impact and build a training business they love without having to spend $1,000s on outsourcing. From social media to project management tools, SOPs and automations, Tech For Trainers streamlines and simplifies admin and marketing implementation so that trainers can spend less time staring at a screen and more time training.

PPG Member Offer: Get a £120 (approx.. US$160) discount on your first year's membership please. If you would like to join when the membership is closed for enrollment, please email Victoria Rose quoting the discount code listed in the PPG member area for a special back door entry link.

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2022 Membership Certificates 

Don't forget, you can download your new PPG Certificate of Membership in the member area of the PPG website.
 

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PPG’s Advocacy Panel held its latest virtual event last month, featuring a host of experts discussing the topic What Does Pet Industry Licensing Look Like?

Listen to our BARKS Podcast with the PPG Advocacy Panel: Discussion #6 – What Does Pet Industry Licensing Look Like?

The Advocacy Panel’s key mission to support pet guardian education and make it accessible to a wider audience. 

Upcoming discussion topics:

Catch up with all the Advocacy Panel discussions to date:

Advocacy Panel Discussion #1 (August 27, 2021): How To Best Advocate for Positive Reinforcement Methods

Listen to the podcast / Watch the video

Discussion #2 (September 24, 2021): How to Reach and Work with Your Local Veterinarians

Listen to the podcast / Watch the video

Discussion #3 (October 22, 2021): Your PPG Advocacy Panel at Work! Advocating to Let Dogs be Dogs, Cats be Cats, Equids Be Equids

Listen to the podcast / Watch the video

Discussion #4 (November 26, 2021): “Being Nicer” While Advocating

Listen to the podcast / Watch the video

Discussion #5 (Friday, December 17, 2021): Meeting People Where They Are To Facilitate Change

Listen to the podcast / Watch the video

Discussion #6 (Friday, January 28, 2022): What Does Pet Industry Licensing Look Like?

Listen to the podcast / Watch the video

Special Business Opportunity for PPG Members

Do you sell Business to Business? Would you like to increase your impact on our industry by offering your products and services to fellow PPG members?

If you’re thinking, “Yes!” then look no further. Take advantage today of PPG’s Vendor Discount Program and attract like-minded professionals, with like-minded goals, to your special offer. All you have to do is complete PPG’s Vendor Discount Form to get started.

Please contact membership manager Emily Conde support@petprofessionalguild.com if you have any questions.

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PPG Business Referrals

Do you get referrals from your PPG member listing? PPG fields several inquiries each day that we send in your direction. BUT it helps if your profile is correctly set up. Please visit the website and log in, then click ‘view,’ ‘edit profile,’ and make sure of the following:

GPS systems need a full address set up to ensure you will come up in the PPG Zip Code search, so if your listing is missing a street, a number, a zip code, or a town you will not show. You can make your address private in your profile by editing your settings, but it does need to be there to help find you in the database.

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Upcoming Live Webinars:

Thursday, February 17 / 2 p.m. ET

Understanding & Preventing Separation Anxiety. Presented by Shannon Riley-Coyner

Wednesday, February 23 / 1 p.m. ET

For PPG Members New and Old - Catch Up on All Things PPG with our New Member Orientation – PPG Advocacy Committee

Wednesday, February 23 / 2 p.m. ET

Working Successfully with Clients. Presented by Irith Bloom

Monday, February 28 / 1 p.m. ET

Which Reinforcement Schedule: When and How? Presented by Alexandra Santos

Thursday, March 3 / 2 p.m. ET

Do You Have Compassion Fatigue? Presented by Shannon Riley-Coyner

Wednesday, March 9 / 1 p.m. ET

The REALLY REAL RELAXATION Protocol. Presented by Suzanne Clothier

Discounted Webinars:

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Looking for something? The PPG Archive holds over 4,100 articles, blogs and videos. View the complete PPG Archive.

In Memoriam

PPG is sad to note the passing of members Jennifer Mauger and Jane Bowers. We thank them both for their tireless efforts to make the world a better place for animals.  

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