PPG Supports Be Kind to Animals Week with ongoing commitment to force-free, humane training methods

TAMPA, Fla. - May 5, 2014 - PRLog -- Tampa, FL – With the American Humane Association celebrating its 99th Be Kind to Animals Week nationwide from 5-12 May, 2014, the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) is taking the opportunity the reiterate its goal of force-free, humane training for all companion animals.

Be Kind to Animals Week acknowledges the role animals play in our lives and promotes ways to treat them more humanely. The American Humane Association encourages supporters to speak out against animal cruelty and abuse, to appreciate and respect wildlife and – where possible - to rescue a cat or dog, with the aim of reducing the number of animals euthanized in US shelters which currently stands at approximately 3.7 million annually. A large component of the program involves providing people with the tools to help them be responsible pet owners, with a special emphasis on educating children and rewarding them for making the world a better place for animals.

“As far as the humane treatment of companion animals is concerned, there is still much work to be done to bring the national dog training industry into the 21st century,” said Niki Tudge, President and Founder of the PPG. “Many trainers still favor so-called traditional, aversive training methods and many pet owners are unaware of the damage these can cause, both physically and psychologically. The same goes for aversive devices such as choke, prong, chain and shock collars, which have absolutely no place in modern dog training. In this week where we promote kindness to animals, it is a timely reminder that science-based, positive training methods are the only option for enlightened, empathetic and educated dog trainers.”

The Pet Professional Guild is a 501(c)6 a member organization founded on the principles of force-free training and pet care. Its membership represents pet industry professionals who are committed to force-free training, 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, and that no compulsion-based methods are employed to train or care for a pet.

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Photo attached: A woman trains her dog using force-free methods. She has an upbeat expression on her face and is making soft, non-threatening eye contact with the dog at the dog’s level. There is no need for aversive devices and, in this case, not even a standard collar and leash, which shows just how easy it is to train a dog without using force.