Follow Blog via Email
The Pet Professional Guild
The Pet Professional Guild is a professional membership organization representing pet industry professionals who are committed to force-free training and pet care philosophies practices and methods. Pet Professional Guild Members Understand Force-Free to mean: No Shock, No Pain, No Choke, No Fear, No Physical Force, No physical Molding, No Compulsion Based Methods are employed to train or care for a pet.Find a recent Blog
-
Recent Blogs
- Expectations, Disappointment And Opportunities
- If You’re Loving It, Why Leave?
- Dog Food Safety Recalls
- What To Do If You Find a Lost Pet
- Thinking Outside the (Litter) Box
- Letting Go of Puppyhood Things …
- A Positive Outlook on Canine Aggression
- An Open Letter on Defining, Determining and Maintaining Best Practices within Our Force-Free Organization
- Is Calm Really Just Another Behavior?
- Electronic Containment System or Ambush Predator?
- How to Stop a Dog From Digging
- Getting It Right First Time
- Where Do You Stand on Raw Diets for Dogs?
- #iSpeakDog Campaign Aims to Bridge the Communication Gap Between People and Their Dogs
- The Right Touch
Social Media
Category Archives: Stuff
Expectations, Disappointment And Opportunities
When we get a puppy or a rescue dog, as a first time or an experienced dog owner or as a competitor in a dog sport, we have certain expectations. We hope for the perfect companion or the perfect agility … Continue reading
Dog Food Safety Recalls
Pet food safety is a big deal to me, and to my dogs. As my dog’s best advocate I want to know what is in the bag and whether it will harm my dogs. I would like to believe I … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Pet Care, Stuff, Uncategorized
Tagged dog food, dog food recall, dog food safety, pet food, pet food recall, pet food safety, safety recall
2 Comments
Is Calm Really Just Another Behavior?
What is the most difficult thing to teach our dogs? Coming back or a great recall? While I do agree that this is a difficult behavior, I do think teaching calm is much more difficult. Being calm is not the … Continue reading
Posted in Animal Behavior, Learning Theory, Pet Care, Stuff, Training
Tagged anxiety, body language, communication, Dog Behavior, Dog Behaviour, Dog Training, Dogs, Force Free, pet dogs, pets, positive reinforcement, socialization, training
1 Comment
Electronic Containment System or Ambush Predator?
Much has been written about electronic shock (training) devices in their various forms. With all models a dog wears a collar fitted with an electronic device with two metal rods touching the neck of the dog, delivering electric shock. Delivery … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Animal Behavior, Consulting, Learning Theory, Pet Care, Stuff, Training, Uncategorized
Tagged aggression, aggressive behavior, buried fence, dog aggression, ECS, electronic collar, electronic collars, Electronic Containment System, Electronic fence, Fear, hidden fence, positive punishment, PPG Project Trade, Project Trade, punishment
14 Comments
Transparency in Training and Behavior
Those in the world of canine training and behavior know there is a wide gap between philosophy and methods employed by professionals, and even some rifts between professional organizations. It can be confusing for those of us in the field, … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Animal Behavior, Consulting, Stuff, Training, Uncategorized
Tagged behavior consultant, Behaviorist, Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, Business Ethics, Canine Behaviorist, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Consumer Protection, Consumer Rights, Pet Professional Accreditation Board, PPAB, Professional Ethics, Professional Liability, Trainer Liability
5 Comments
Insecure Teenage Dogs at the Off Leash Park
Recently I got asked: “What should I do when my dog goes over to another dog, puts his head over the other dog’s shoulder and, depending on the other dog’s reaction, they will start squabbling?” So far no one got … Continue reading
Posted in Animal Behavior, Learning Theory, Pet Care, Stuff, Training
Tagged aggression, aversive, body language, communication, Dog Behavior, Dog Bites, Dog Training, fearful behavior, force-free training, humane, learning, management, pet dogs, positive reinforcement, Prevent Dog Bites, reactive dogs, socialization, training
1 Comment
Christmas Puppy – What a Great Idea?
Do not get me wrong, I am not talking about giving someone a puppy for Christmas or buying a puppy on impulse. I am talking about a long awaited puppy who, for no other reason but the mother coming into … Continue reading
Posted in Animal Behavior, Pet Care, Stuff, Training
Tagged communication, desensitization, Dog Training, education, Force Free, force-free training, humane, pet dogs, positive reinforcement, puppy, puppy hood, puppy pre school, puppy socialization, puppy training, socialization, what to teach a puppy
Leave a comment
Ad Hoc Advocacy
Advocacy opportunities sometimes pop up unexpectedly, as happened to me in November 2016. I contribute a column to a local weekly newspaper and while perusing an issue I found an interview with the public works director of a nearby village. … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Pet Care, Stuff, Uncategorized
Tagged 2, 4-D herbicide, Canine cancer, Childhood cancer, Health and safety, Herbicide, Lawn chemicals
7 Comments
Jekyll and Hyde – Social off Leash but Reactive on Leash?
It might be a coincidence but over the last few weeks I have met a lot of dogs who are reactive on leash. They bark, lunge, whine and pull towards other dogs on walks. Some will aggress if given a … Continue reading
Posted in Animal Behavior, Pet Care, Stuff, Training
Tagged aggression, body language, Dog Behavior, Dog Training, DS/CC, empathy, Fear, fearful dogs, force-free training, humane, learning, pet dogs, positive reinforcement, socialization
1 Comment
A Bit on the Nose
When you’re teaching people to use luring, it can be hard for them to actually find their dog’s nose. And then it can be hard for them to put that tasty treat that they’re using to lure the behaviour right up close to the … Continue reading
Posted in Learning Theory, Stuff, Training
Tagged Dog Behavior, Dog Behaviour, Dog Training, lure, people training skills, pet dogs, positive reinforcement, prompt, training, training class
Leave a comment