July 2020: Issue 55

Geek Week Opens for Early Bird Registration

Get your “geek on” and save your spot! “Geek Week,” taking place online on November 11-15, 2020, is now open for Early Bird registration:

Early Bird (before August 30, 2020): Member* $200 / Public $380

Regular Registration: (post August 30, 2020): Member* $220 / Public $440

Here are just a few of the presenters who are already confirmed - click here to see the full list. 

*Members of APDT Australia, Canine Arthritis Management, INTODogs, PPG Australia, PPG British Isles and PPG – discount codes are available on your respective websites.

PPAB Fee Waiver Extension

Effective April 1- December 31, 2020, the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) is waiving many of its application and submission fees for PPG members. 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 December 31, 2020.

Note too that the video skill requirements for all three levels of PPAB credentials have been updated and the three study guides amended. Any new applications will be expected to adhere to these new requirements. If applicants prior to July 13, 2020 wish to work through the credential using the new criteria, they may either choose to do so or continue as they are.

BARKS: July Issue Available

The July 2020 issue of BARKS from the Guild is now available online. In this issue PPG president Niki Tudge continues her examination of harassment in the workplace and outlines courses of action individuals can take when there is no official workplace or structured corporate accountability. Other articles include:

If you have not already registered for your free lifetime digital subscription to BARKS, you can do so here. Sign up today to get exclusive sneak previews of upcoming editions, download PDFs of individual articles, read back issues from 2014-2020, or order a print-on-demand copy. Already subscribed? Enter your BARKS Membership Zone here.

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.

          
PPG Reschedules Workshops

Reactive to Relaxed: Next Steps in Control Unleashed with Leslie McDevitt. New dates: Saturday, February 13 – Sunday, February 14, 2021.

Your PORTL to Shaping with Mary Hunter. New dates: Saturday, March 20, 2021 - Sunday, March 21, 2021.

Play is a Powerful Reinforcer with Craig Ogilvie. New dates: Saturday, October 9 – Sunday, October 10, 2021.

Advanced Agility Workshop with Marita Davies. New dates: Saturday, October 16  – Sunday, October 17, 2021.

Accredited Scent Instructor Program with Dr. Robert Hewings. New dates: Saturday, November 6 – Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

Canine Scent Advanced Handling 5-Day Program with Dr. Robert Hewings. New dates: Wednesday, November 17 – Sunday, November 21, 2021.

Learn How to Train Dogs to Detect Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Nightmares with Dr. Robert Hewings. New dates: Wednesday, November 24 – Thursday, November 25, 2021.

PPG Appoints Social Media Coordinator

PPG has appointed Warwick, New York-based veterinarian Pam Shultz DVM CVA (left, with her cat Tesla) as its social media coordinator with immediate effect. Dr. Shultz had already been assisting PPG as a proofreader on its bimonthly trade publication BARKS from the Guild, and now comes onboard in a more official capacity as the organization looks to ramp up its online presence across its social media platforms.

"I am proud to be part of a community that is so supportive, dedicated, insightful and compassionate to both pets and people," said Dr. Shultz. "In this new position, I hope to continue to learn, while assisting PPG in sharing information and resources that help pet professionals and guardians work together toward a world that is kinder to all species." Read press release.

PPG Cat Committee Call-In Lounge

The PPG Cat Committee Call-In Lounge takes place monthly, in the middle of the month (whichever week includes the 15^th and usually on a Wednesday or Thursday). Timings will alternate between late afternoons and evenings at around 8 p.m. (ET) and topics will include specific topics chosen by the group, case studies, and open discussions. The Lounges are open to all PPG members. Please check the PPG All About Cats Facebook group for further details.

PPG Community

PPG is still offering a range of services to support members and their businesses during the current pandemic. These include free member webinars, Facebook Live sessions offering business and marketing advice in the PPG members’ Facebook group, virtual PPG Social events, educational blogs, deferral of membership renewal fees, waiving of Pet Professional Accreditation Board application and transfer fees and more. Watch out for the regular Business Contingency Planning member email updates and keep an eye on the new Business Contingency Planning section in the members’ area of the PPG website for more details and ongoing updates.