The Pet Professional Guild

May 2022: Issue 77

Learn How You Can Help the Fundraiser for Ukrainian Animal Shelters

Sotnitskoe Animal Shelter in Ukraine recently purchased water buckets with donations from Dr. Bayeva’s fundraiser © Olga Kravchenko-Reva

PPG is delighted to support the efforts of Dr. Marina Bayeva and colleagues as they work to help the animals left behind in Ukraine as their owners had no option but to flee.

Find out more about their amazing work in our article by PPG Shelter and Rescue Committee chair K. Holden Svirsky, The Pets Left Behind in Ukraine Need You – Here’s How You Can Help Today!

New BARKS Podcast

We also spoke to Dr. Bayeva, as well as supporting veterinarian Dr. Paula Klek and K. Holden Svirsky, about some of the inspiring stories of animals left behind who are now benefiting from the generous support of donors in our recent BARKS Podcast.

If you’d like to donate to help rescue efforts directly, you can do so here: Help Animals Survive the War in Ukraine

"Up Your Business Game" – Schedule Now Available

PPG’s annual virtual business event "Up Your Business Game" is taking place on Monday, May 23 – Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Join us so we can all learn and grow together, thereby taking more market share and helping more pets to reach the trainers they deserve!

How Does It Work?

Access to the event via the PPG event platform link
12 x 1-hour presentations for JUST $60.00
Live Q&A sessions
Raffle prizes
And more

Register for Up Your Business Game today.

PPG Announces Two New Scent Workshops

PPG has announced two scent events with Dr. Robert Hewings and Karen Hewings of the UK College of Scent Dogs, taking place this November in Crystal River on the Nature Coast of Florida. S

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Event 1: Scent and Scentability

Wednesday, November 2 - Friday, November 4, 2022

Program includes an introduction to the canine olfactory system, an introduction to scent and its many disciplines, teaching scent skills (plus equipment and environment), scent searches (patterns, duration, and handling), and how you can incorporate scent work into your training and behavior business.

Event 2: Advanced Instructor Handling Skills

Saturday, November 5 – Sunday, November 6, 2022

Program includes how to hone your active search skills, more complex techniques and search systems, strategic searching of difficult hides, searching with more distractions and increased distance from your dog, how to manage and navigate complex search patterns, becoming more competent with a variety of hide locations, heights, distance and ease of access, and advanced leash handling skills around large objects, locations and equipment.

Auditor and limited working spots are available. Early bird rates and payment plans are available.

Register for both events to receive a 25% discount. Please use this form for registering if you choose both events.

Virtual June Workshop with Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws

PPG is hosting a new online workshop, How to Improve the Accessibility of Your Dog Training Services for Clients with Disabilities, to be instructed by Veronica Sanchez (above) of Cooperative Paws.

When: Three sessions on Wednesday June 22, Thursday, June 23, and Friday, June 24, 2022 / 6 p.m. ET.

Learning Objectives:

How to better communicate with clients with disabilities.
You will explore challenges clients with disabilities encounter in dog training and learn strategies to accommodate training so they can be successful working with their dogs.
You will also review different instructional techniques to help clients with various kinds of disabilities best benefit from your training services.

Recordings available if you cannot attend live. CEUs and payment plan options also available.

Register for How to Improve the Accessibility of Your Dog Training Services for Clients with Disabilities

UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter Badge

All PPGBI professional members (i.e. those paying for membership as a professional) can display the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter badge. This is the only UK based umbrella organization for dog trainers that bases membership on positive methodology, along with inclusive, ethical, accountable business practices.

By displaying the Charter logo, you are showing that you have chosen to belong to an organization who will only accept members who do not use aversive equipment or methods, and that you publicly support and align yourself with that objective.

You can find the badge in your member area of the website. All PPGBI members who are paying dues and are active may display this. Note: This does not include pet owner members.

PPG’s Advocacy Panel held its latest virtual event last month, featuring a host of experts discussing the topic, What Key Skills Should Pet Professionals Be Able to Demonstrate and Why?

Listen to our BARKS Podcast with the PPG Advocacy Panel: Discussion #9 – What Key Skills Should Pet Professionals Be Able to Demonstrate and Why?

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

Upcoming discussion topics:

When: Friday, May 27, 2022 / 3 p.m. ET

Topic: Recognizing Micro-Aggressions So They Can Be Managed and Avoided

Join our experts as they explore topical issues important to our members, our audience and our mission.

BARKS and PETS Available Online

You are invited to read BARKS from the Guild, PPG’s bimonthly official trade publication, and Pets and Their People, a new PPG publication specifically at pet owners on their respective new web platforms.

Write for BARKS

BARKS is always 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 Submissions page for more information or contact editor Susan Nilson for further details.

Upcoming PPG Member Event

Monday, May 16, 2022 / Noon ET

Where: Zoom and PPG Member Facebook Group

For PPG Members only - come and learn about each other and from each other! One of PPG’s Inclusivity Committee key goals is to help create a cohesive feeling of community so all members feel welcome and valued across the organization. Each session focuses on a particular topic relevant to us all as pet industry professionals.

The first five people to register for the event get the opportunity to participate in a Member Focus Session where they can introduce themselves and their business. Get a PPG webinar credit if you choose this option and are selected.

Register for Your Membership Community Learn and Grow Together Meetup, hosted by PPG.

Upcoming Facebook Live Events (for Members and Non-Members)

Friday, May 13, 2022 / 3 p.m. ET: Chat & Chuckle with Atlas Assistance Dogs.

Friday, May 27 / 3 p.m. ET: Recognizing Microaggressions So They Can Be Managed and Avoided with the PPG Advocacy Panel.

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 Dr. Marina Bayeva: How You Can Help the Fundraiser for Ukrainian Animal Shelters (May 4, 2022)

BARKS Podcast with Claire Staines of Lothlorien Dog Services (March 18, 2022)

The Chat & Chuckle format for PPG’s BARKS Podcasts and PPG Facebook Live sessions is purposely casual to create a free-flowing conversation between the host and the guest.

There are no staged questions! This ensures we have a fun and natural dialogue to support the concept of Chatting & Chuckling. Hosts Niki Tudge and Judy Luther simply guide the discussions around the guest, their areas of specialty, and their business interests.

Do you have something you’d like to share? Join Niki Tudge and Judy Luther 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:

Monday, May 16 / Noon ET

Your Membership Community Learn and Grow Together Meetup. Hosted by PPG for PPG Members only.

Monday, May 23 / 9 a.m. ET

Up Your Business Game - Your Tips, Tools & Resources To Support Your Growing Business

Tuesday, May 24 / 2 p.m. ET

Did Behaviorism Die? A Comparison Between What Dog Trainers Do and What Is Taught in University. Presented by Yvette Van Veen

Tuesday, May 31 / 2 p.m. ET

Dominance - How It Impacts Dog Training and Why It’s Not an Argument for Force. Presented by Yvette Van Veen

Monday, June 6 / 3 p.m. ET

Managing a Multi-Dog Household: The Lazy Dog Trainer Edition. Presented by Kristi Benson

Discounted Webinars:

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

Become The Center of Your Dog's World Using Canine Interactive Play.	Craig Ogilvie
Positive Veterinary Visits	Dr. Amy Pike
Predatory Behavior - What is it and can it be stopped?	Dr. Tiffani Howell
"But My Dog Isn't Food-Motivated."	Kathy Sdao
Epigenetics and Puppies	Dr. Lynn Honeckman

New on the BARKS blog:

Training a Blind Dog - Miki Saito

I Pushed My Friend off the Sofa! Whoops… [How to deal with undesirable guest/animal interactions] – Ryan Cartlidge

The Aftermath of “Boot Camp” - Amanda Ballard

New Bird on the Block - Vicki Ronchette

Compulsive Eating in Dogs - Maureen Tay

Looking for something? The PPG Archive holds over 4,100 articles, blogs and videos. View the complete PPG Archive. Here's a selection of the latest additions:

Animals also victims of war in Ukraine - American Veterinary Medical Association

Your dog’s breed doesn’t determine its personality, study suggests - David Grimm

PTSD Service Dog Training and Symptoms of PTSD - Erin P. Neill