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Tune in as Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline are joined by special guest, Maria Stouffer, to chat about people and their communication styles. With the creation of Full Potential Collective, Maria now educates and inspires pet professionals to better understand client personalities, improve communication, and create lasting buy-in that leads to real results. Mentioned in this episode: It’s People-ly Out There: Understanding Client Personalities to Improve Communication, Retention, and Results with Maria Stouffer This webinar explores how client personality types influence expectations, communication styles, compliance, and emotional responses throughout the client interactions. Attendees will learn how to quickly recognize different client personality styles and adapt their communication in a way that builds trust, improves follow-through, and strengthens long-term professional relationships, all while maintaining ethical, humane training standards for both people and dogs. On-Demand Webinar: Watch as soon as you register!

Tune in as host Dayle Pierce is joined by special guests Veronica Boutelle and Gina Phairas. The dog*biz coaches share tips to tackle some of the most common challenges of building a thriving dog training business: How to explain what you do in a compelling but non-salesy wayGetting your website to actually work to bring you clientsCrafting training services that sell easily and serve wellFinding the time to fit it all in without burning outRelax and enjoy the discussion! Recorded on October 7, 2026.

In this episode, Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison Chat & Chuckle with Alejandra López Irala, joining from Argentina, to talk about building a community that is focused on domestic feline well-being. Ale's new YouTube show, The B-Side of Cats, helps everyone learn about cats and highlight their welfare. Her life focuses on the domestic feline so she can help people better understand and relate to their pets, leading to a stronger bond and a more rewarding relationship between animal and human.  Enjoy listening as Laura, Joanna, and Alejandra share their expertise in a fun, free-flowing format! Recorded August 28, 2026.

In this episode, the panel discusses the new American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) position statement: How to Choose a Trainer. We also look at resources pet guardians can use to help select a trainer or behavior consultant, including a new Pets and Their People blog post, 'Looking for a Dog Trainer or Behavior Consultant? Here’s What You Need to Know,' by Niki Tudge, PPG founder and president. Your moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠  Chair Don Hanson Today’s panelists: Rebekah King, PPG Director of Operations| Jennifer Van Valkenburg, Natural Healthy Cats | Tasha Attwood, Mutts and Mischief | Dayle Pierce, co-leader of PPG's British Isles Chapter| Kim Silver, Building Bonds | & Michelle Martiya, Essential Animal Training Relax and enjoy the discussion! Recorded September 16, 2026.

Tune in as Dayle Pierce, Jenn Friedline, and Rebekah King are joined by special guest Dr. Dean Hart for a fascinating discussion about about heart rate variability (HRV) in dogs. Discover what HRV measures, how it reflects physiological stress and recovery, and why it's a game-changer for evaluating animal welfare. Come away with actionable low-stress strategies and practical, welfare-centered takeaways for groomers, trainers, and pet professionals to minimize arousal, prevent distress, and build true cooperative care. Recorded September 10, 2026. Mentioned in this episode: Dr. Hart presented a webinar on HRV in June. Register for the on demand here. Additionally, Dean will be the next guest for the PPG Scholarly Circle, PPG’s members-only academic paper reading group. Members, please join us to continue this discussion. If you're interested in learning more about practical ways to adapt training, environments and interactions to match how dogs experience the world, don't miss, Through a Dog’s Eyes, Ears and Nose: Sensory Biology for Better Communication and Learning with Dr. Dean Hart.

In this episode, the panel explores, "What Happens When We Offer Pets More Choices?" Your moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠  Chair Don Hanson Today’s panelists: Tasha Attwood, Dayle Pierce, Michelle Martiya, Kim Silver, and Debra Bell Recorded: August 19, 2026  We all know that sometimes we need to get our pets to do something that, even if it’s for their benefit, may be difficult for them if they are frightened. Cognitively and emotionally, they are no different than a human toddler, and it is necessary that we treat them with the same compassion and patience. Using force will only make it more difficult next time. Which is why today we discuss the concepts of cooperative care and consent testing as aids in helping our pets cope with difficult situations. Our discussion applies to all pets, regardless of age. Resources mentioned in this episode include: YouTube videos on Training a Chin Rest Programs to learn (and teach) dog body languageDogwise Streaming Video on demandTeach Your Cat to Like the Carrier (blog post)Find a PPG Training and Behavior Professional Eye Drops for Dogs, the Premack Principle, and Stationing on the Stairs (blog post)

Tune in as Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, Jenn Friedline, and Rebekah King are joined by special guest Jenn Gavin of A Pleasant Dog. Today's topic is Separation Anxiety. There is a need for a simple, easy-to-follow method for treating separation-related behaviors that can be employed in conjunction with real-life departures that necessitate situational medications. Jenn Gavin has developed a method for treating separation anxiety that does not just rely on gradual exposure therapy. This method, outlined in her ⁠⁠book⁠⁠ and two scientific studies, has helped thousands of clients help their dogs overcome separation anxieties.Recorded: August 13, 2026 You can find information about Jenn's webinar on August 31, 2026, Pleasantly Independent – A New Approach to Separation Related Behaviors, on the PPG website.

Learn About the new Assistance Animal Accreditation Program with Niki Tudge Host: Niki TudgeGuests: Christina de Juan, Ph.D. and ⁠Tracey Hagan⁠ Topic: Assistance Animal Accreditation Recorded: July 30, 2026

In this episode, the panel highlights some of PPG's most useful resources for pet guardians. Your moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠  Chair Don Hanson Today’s panelists: Tasha Attwood, Dayle Pierce, Kim Silver, and Rebekah King Recorded July 15, 2026. Relax and enjoy the discussion! If you are a pet guardian visiting the PPG website, here are some helpful features that are explored in this episode: Find a PPG training and behavior professional: Trainer and behavior consultant listings (a global database) Find a PPG pet care professional: Listings for groomers, dog walkers, pet sitters, boarding and day care Find a PPAB credentialed professional: These individuals have met specific criteria of skills and knowledge. Find a Behavior Team: A collaborative referral network of pet professionals in your geographic area. Like a "one-stop shop" for guardians. Subscribe for FREE to the Pets and Their People blog for practical tips for pet people. FREE Junior Membership - We offer membership to children (8-12 years of age), teenagers (13-17 years of age) and young adults (18-20 years of age) as a way of helping them to learn about and understand pet care and give them insight into the possibility of working with animals in the future in a force-free, fear-free way. The Pet Dog Ambassador (PDA) Program to learn and grow using positive reinforcement protocols. This isn’t about stiff, robotic drills in a sterile environment; it’s about celebrating the “Real Life” skills that make a dog a joy to live with. Two ways to become your community dog bite prevention expert: 1. The Dog Bite Prevention Educator Certification Program - This program prepares you to stay safe and provides the resources to help educate others on how to advocate for the importance of Dog Bite Prevention. 2. Be a Tree Presenter- This program focuses on fun and interactive activities to teach children how to read dog body language and act safely around their dogs and strange dogs.

Tune in as Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, Jenn Friedline, and Erika Liljefelt chat about pet shows and conformation. How ethical are they, and what needs to change? Recorded June 11, 2026. The Price of the Ribbon: While the public often sees the polished glamour of major conformation dog shows, there is also another side to the conversation - one that focuses on animal welfare, health, and quality of life. It is important to acknowledge that many exhibitors care deeply about their dogs, provide excellent care, and genuinely enjoy participating in shows with their canine companions. Many dogs also appear to enjoy aspects of the experience and are not subjected to all of the concerns discussed below. Nevertheless, critics of the conformation show world continue to raise important questions about how some dogs are housed, transported, handled, groomed, and judged. The following are ten of the most commonly cited welfare concerns associated with major conformation events: 1. Extreme and Prolonged Confinement ("Warehousing") 2. High-Stress Transport Logistics 3. The "Exhibitor's Blind Spot" to Environmental Stress 4. Cosmetic Invasiveness and Forced Grooming Restraint 5. Intrusive and Forceful Ring Handling 6. Intrusive Physical Exams by Strangers 7. Suppression of Natural Behaviors and Emotional Regulation 8. Deprivation of Social and Behavioral Enrichment 9. Lack of Standardized Veterinary Oversight During Events 10. Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Functional Biomechanics The Core Ethical Conflict: The future of conformation showing does not have to be a choice between celebrating breeds and protecting welfare. Many people within the show community are already advocating for healthier breed standards, improved welfare practices, and greater recognition of the emotional and physical well-being of the dogs involved. Meaningful progress is most likely to come through open discussion, ongoing research, thoughtful breeding practices, welfare-focused judging criteria, and a willingness to continually re-evaluate traditions in light of what we now know about canine health and behavior. Whether you agree with all, some, or none of the concerns discussed above, one principle should unite everyone involved: every dog deserves a life that prioritizes health, welfare, choice, enrichment, and quality of life alongside any competitive achievements.

In this episode, Niki Tudge & Louise Stapleton-Frappell Join Us to Discuss Their New Book, Beyond Belly Rubs: The Compassionate Pet Guardian Hosted by: Don Hanson Panelists: Dayle Pierce and Tasha Attwood About Beyond Belly Rubs This book was written because love, while essential, is often asked to do too much work on its own. ·    Love does not automatically teach us how fear works in the brain. ·    Love does not explain why a dog can know a cue at home and seem to forget it outside. ·    Love does not tell us how to respond when kindness alone doesn’t seem to help. That isn’t a failure of love. It’s a gap in guidance.  This book exists to help bridge that gap. You don’t need to be a trainer, behaviorist, or expert in learning theory. You don’t need to memorize terminology or follow rigid rules. What you do need is a way to understand what your dog is communicating, how learning actually happens, and how to make choices that protect both emotional and physical well-being - without fear, force, or guilt. At its heart, this book is about turning care into clarity. It offers a calm, science-based framework to help you make sense of your dog’s behavior, respond with confidence rather than frustration, and build a relationship rooted not just in love, but in understanding, safety, and trust.  ·    You are not behind. ·    You are not failing. You are here - and that already tells us a great deal about the kind of guardian you are.

In this episode Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline chat about behavior acquisition, training mechanics, and much more!

Recorded April 7, 2026.    You can download the research paper ⁠here⁠.  This research was funded by the Pet Professional Guild’s Pet Training Science Alliance Program. The APC was funded by Grand Valley State University. Academic Mentor: Jamie DeLeeuw, PhD, is a community psychologist and evaluation leader specializing in animal welfare systems. She is the Founder of Community Research Plus, where she leads mixed-method research and evaluation initiatives grounded in ecological systems theory and an implementation science lens. Her work examines professional decision-making, governance structures, stakeholder attitudes, and policy-to-practice gaps shaping humane outcomes for animals. She previously served as Director of Evaluation and Impact for Austin/American Pets Alive!, leading national performance measurement and data initiatives across shelter networks. Academic Paper Abstract The professional dog training field sits at the intersection of applied behavioral science, ethics, and lived experience. Despite its significant animal welfare implications, it remains largely unregulated. This primarily qualitative study, complemented by quantitative analyses, examined how professional trainers with differing methodological orientations conceptualize humane and effective practice. Using stratified sampling, 35 trainers affiliated with independent certification directories (17 reward-based; 18 mixed methods) completed a pre-screen survey and semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed to explore associations among training approach, certification, and demographics, as well as differences in ethical reasoning, evidentiary interpretation, and views on industry regulation. Across orientations, trainers consistently identified positive reinforcement as their most frequently used and effective method, expressed strong commitments to canine emotional well-being and owner education, and voiced concern over the industry’s lack of professional regulation. However, ethical and epistemic orientations diverged. While both groups evaluated methods in relation to canine welfare and behavioral outcomes, reward-based trainers more often grounded their practice in behavioral science and articulated deontological concerns regarding the intentional use of fear or pain. Mixed methods trainers more frequently employed consequentialist reasoning, supporting conditional use of aversive methods in specific contexts and placing comparatively greater emphasis on practitioner-based expertise when interpreting evidence. Although mixed methods trainers reported using positive reinforcement most often, they rated positive punishment and positive reinforcement as equally effective in independent assessments. Overall, the findings depict a profession characterized by ethical pluralism and epistemic tension, yet marked by sustained reflection and adaptive learning. To strengthen professional cohesion and enhance the practical relevance of future research and ethical frameworks, we recommend structured adversarial collaboration embedded within a community-based participatory research approach.

Your moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠  Chair Don Hanson Today’s panelists: Tasha Attwood, Rebekah King, Kim Silver, &Jennifer Van Valkenburg

This episode is the February 2026 PPG Advocacy Panel discussion and the topic is: How do we, as pet professionals, make a kinder world for pets? Your host/moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠  Chair Don Hanson Your panelists: Tasha Attwood, who runs Mutts and Mischief, Dayle Pierce, & PPG operations director, Rebekah King Relax and enjoy the discussion!