A key mission of the Pet Professional Guild is to build an international coalition of competent and ethical pet service professionals who can
create widespread industry transparency regarding the use and purpose of commercially available pet training and care tools and equipment.
Pet Professional Guild
Events
Positive Bookworm Club – The Animals’ Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age by Marc Bekoff Ph.D. & Jessica Pierce
April 24, 2026
The Positive Bookworm is PPG’s official members-only book club and reads four books per year. The selected books are relevant to the animal [...]
Scholarly Circle – Professional dog trainers’ perspectives on training methods: ethical and evidentiary insights with Jamie Deleeuw
April 7, 2026
Scholarly Circle - PPGF Members use your coupon code to access this for free How These Events Work The Scholarly Circle is [...]
Shelter & Rescue Division Membership Meetup – with Colleen Pelar
May 4, 2026
After the live event this will be available to enjoy on the PPG Podcast page.
Equid Division Membership Meetup – How to Catch Your Equid
March 17, 2026
After the live event this will be available to enjoy on the PPG Podcast page.
Compassionate Housing: Integrating People & Pets in Transitional Shelters for Unhoused Communities with Sabrina Mignacca
September 15, 2026
Your Webinar Description: This presentation explores why pet-friendly transitional housing matters, especially during a growing housing crisis. Many people experiencing homelessness or fleeing [...]
Dogs, People and Society Have Changed: Understanding the current challenges in the animal rehoming sector with Heather Wren
October 12, 2026
Your Webinar Description: Animal rehoming organisations across the UK are facing pressures unlike anything seen before. The combined impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic, [...]
Hear For You – Your PPG eCPR Session March 15
March 15, 2026
Support for the Hearts Behind the Pets At the Pet Professional Guild, we understand that caring for animals is as emotionally demanding as it [...]
Hear For You – Your PPG eCPR Session March 5
March 5, 2026
Support for the Hearts Behind the Pets At the Pet Professional Guild, we understand that caring for animals is as emotionally demanding as it [...]
When Behaviour Isn’t What It Says on the Tin: How HRV Gives Dogs a Voice in Grooming, Stress and Welfare with Dean Hart
June 8, 2026
A welfare‑centred look at how physiological data can reveal the emotional truth behind grooming‑related behaviour. Your Webinar Description: Dogs communicate stress long before [...]
The Trainer’s Heart: A Clear Lens for Designing a Sustainable Dog Training Business with Derek Snow
April 21, 2026
This is the PPG FREE member webinar for April 2026. Please use your PPG Member Discount Code to get FREE access to the [...]
Movement Matters in Canine Reactivity and Aggression: Putting the Whole Dog in the Picture for Better Case Outcomes with Natalie Turton
October 6, 2026
Your Webinar Description: Fear-related Reactivity and aggression are never isolated “training problems”. They are behaviour patterns shaped by a dog’s affective state, physical [...]
Moving to a New Home with Cats with Misty Hampton
August 6, 2026
Your Webinar Description: Moving is a lot of work and it can be stressful, especially if you have pets! In this presentation, we'll [...]
Foundations of Canine Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with Brigitte Junge
October 15, 2026
Your Webinar Description: Before we begin our exploration of these ancient traditions, it is important to establish the scope of this session. This [...]
They Just Won’t Do It!” – Beyond the Myth of the Non-Compliant Client Tag: Transforming client frustration into collaborative success with Kay Williams
July 2, 2026
Your Webinar Description: Stop Pulling Your Hair Out and Start Moving the Needle. As a dog trainer, you know the recipe for success. [...]
Children and Dogs… Education at the Crossroads of Ethology and Psychology with Margherita Gaspari
September 22, 2026
Your Webinar Description: For many years, both children and dogs were believed to be born with a tabula rasa mind—a blank slate to [...]
Why Become A Member
PPG’s guiding principles provide a direct path forward for the industry while supporting professional autonomy,
encouraging its members to approach training and care as they wish while working within PPG’s guiding principles.
PPG is a great educational resource for pet owners
Pet owners are very important to us here at PPG. Our goal is to help pet owners provide the best life possible for their furry family members. Members focus on the pets and owners' physical, emotional, and behavioral welfare.
compassionate, ethical and humane pet professionals
PPG promotes the use of positive training methods, both personally and professionally, and holds that all training should be conducted in a manner that encourages pets and their owners to enjoy the process, leading to more confident and well-adjusted families.
specific, measurable and forward-thinking
PPG members optimize the use of applied behavior analysis to systematically identify and resolve problem behaviors using the least aversive and intrusive training methods, tools and equipment. The key focus is on ensuring pets are relaxed and happy during training and care procedures.
members actively discourage using fear, force or pain
PPG members actively recommend against the use of any training tools and equipment whose purpose or intent is to interrupt or redirect behavior using fear, force or pain. Overwhelming scientific evidence presented through our Position Statements supports our Guiding Principles.
providing information at the forefront of science and ethics
PPG promotes scientifically researched methods of training and behavior modification that are the least intrusive and most effective, both to its members and the pet-owning community at large.
Informed by Science, Guided by Empathy, Governed by Ethics
PPG members are committed to demonstrating integrity, compassion and an uncompromising commitment to excellence in the care and support of clients and their pets.
Divisions
Under each division, you will find some great resources, events, and other division-specific information and resources.
The Pet Professional Guild Programs
Members are eligible to join these programs at a substantial discount. The Pet Professional Accreditation Boad offers several options for accreditation.
