PPG Podcast

PPG Podcast

By The Pet Professional Guild

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 memb... more
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Best of PPG Podcast

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

  1. Number 1: Scholarly Circle – Professional dog trainers’ perspectives on training methods: ethical and evidentiary insights with Dr. Jamie DeLeeuw

    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.

    1h 4min
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  2. Number 2: March 2026 PPG Advocacy Panel: Guardians & Professionals Working Together to Help Pets

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

    1h 3min
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  3. Number 3: PPG Advocacy Panel: How Can Professionals Help Make a Kinder World for Pets?

    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!

    59min
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  4. Number 4: PPG Advocacy Panel: No! to Electronic Containment Systems for Dogs and Cats

    In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses electronic containment systems for dogs and cats. Your moderator is PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hanson, and the panelists are Laura Donaldson, Sandra Machado, and Pat Miller. Relax and enjoy the discussion!

    57min
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  5. Number 5: PPG Advocacy Panel: Unrealistic Expectations—Where Do They Come From and How Do We Diffuse Them?

    It's time to get real! Listen as the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses unrealistic expectations for pets, where those expectations come from, and how to diffuse them. Your moderator for this discussion is Don Hanson and the panelists are Dr. Kristina Spaulding, Daniel Antolec, Kristi Benson, Kim Silver, and Sam Wike.

    1h 4min
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The podcast currently has 197 episodes available.

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