Podcast
PPG Podcast
Hosted by The Pet Professional Guild · EN
Bringing you news, interviews and discussions from some of the best in force-free and behavioral science-based animal training. We aim to create a fun, educational and informative podcast that is member focused, so come along and join us! Bring your questions, expertise and a dash of humor!
11episodes
Episodes
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Chat & Chuckle: The Ethics of Pet Shows
Jun 1401:07:52Tap to summarizeTune 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 Logistics3. The "Exhibitor's Blind Spot" to Environmental Stress4. Cosmetic Invasiveness and Forced Grooming Restraint5. Intrusive and Forceful Ring Handling6. Intrusive Physical Exams by Strangers7. Suppression of Natural Behaviors and Emotional Regulation8. Deprivation of Social and Behavioral Enrichment9. Lack of Standardized Veterinary Oversight During Events10. Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Functional BiomechanicsThe 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.
Transcribe →PPG Advocacy Panel: "Beyond Belly Rubs" with Niki Tudge and Louise Stapleton-Frappell
Apr 1701:05:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Niki Tudge & Louise Stapleton-Frappell Join Us to Discuss Their New Book, Beyond Belly Rubs: The Compassionate Pet GuardianHosted by: Don HansonPanelists: Dayle Pierce and Tasha AttwoodAbout Beyond Belly RubsThis 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.
Transcribe →Chat & Chuckle: Chatting About Behavior Acquisition
Apr 1001:05:46Tap to summarizeIn this episode Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline chat about behavior acquisition, training mechanics, and much more!
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Scholarly Circle – Professional dog trainers’ perspectives on training methods: ethical and evidentiary insights with Dr. Jamie DeLeeuw
Apr 701:03:53Tap to summarizeRecorded 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 AbstractThe 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.
Transcribe →March 2026 PPG Advocacy Panel: Guardians & Professionals Working Together to Help Pets
Mar 2001:02:02Tap to summarizeYour moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don HansonToday’s panelists: Tasha Attwood, Rebekah King, Kim Silver, &Jennifer Van Valkenburg
Transcribe →PPG Advocacy Panel: How Can Professionals Help Make a Kinder World for Pets?
Feb 1900:58:26Tap to summarizeThis 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 HansonYour panelists: Tasha Attwood, who runs Mutts and Mischief, Dayle Pierce, & PPG operations director, Rebekah KingRelax and enjoy the discussion!
Transcribe →Chat & Chuckle with Will Bangura About His Book Sniff to Soothe
Feb 1301:03:14Tap to summarizeFor our February 2026 Chat & Chuckle, we are joined by special guest Will Bangura to discuss his new book, “Sniff to Soothe” and the many applications of structured scent work. Your hosts are: Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline.The book is available for Kindle, in hardcover and paperback:SNIFF TO SOOTHE: Rewiring Neurobehavioral Patterns of Aggression, Anxiety, and Reactivity Through Structured Scent Work by Will Bangura, M.S., CAB-ICB, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, FDM, FFCPRecorded: February 12, 2026
Transcribe →PPG Advocacy Panel - How Can Guardians Help Make a Kinder World for Pets?
Jan 2200:59:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses how we, as pet guardians, can make a kinder world for our pets.Your host/moderator: PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don HansonYour panelists: Tasha Attwood, Dayle Pierce, Debbie Sheridan, Sam Wike, Kim Silver, Beth Adelman, and Michelle MartiyaRelax and enjoy the discussion!
Transcribe →Chat and Chuckle with Dr. Marci Koski About Paths to Becoming a Feline Behavior Consultant
Dec 2300:56:51Tap to summarizeJoin Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat with Dr. Marci Koski about paths to becoming a feline behavior consultant.
Transcribe →Chat & Chuckle: Exploring Research Design with Dr. Zazie Todd and Dr. Eduardo Fernandez
Dec 1701:05:26Tap to summarizeTune in as Niki Tudge chats with Dr. Zazie Todd and Dr. Eduardo Fernandez about research ethics and individual methodology.
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