Calling ALL People with Pets Who Wish to Raise
Awareness About Humane & Ethical Care
Muppy and I try to do something fun that we both enjoy at least once a day, and I encourage my students and clients to do the same. This is why I am thrilled to tell you about the Pets & Their People Celebrating Life Together event. If you and your pet enjoy having fun together, this is an opportunity to share your story with the world via social media and potentially win some great prizes.
How can you participate? — Pet owners/parents can participate in one of the following three categories:
1. Quality Time with Your Pet—Show us how you spend quality time with your pet in a photo or video. For example, play with your pet indoors or outdoors, snuggle with your pet, read to your pet, and more!
2. Your Enriched Pet—Use a photo or video to show us how you enrich your pet's life. Examples could include socializing your pet with people or other pets or people, playing with a puzzle toy, or allowing your pet to sniff and discover treats and toys you’ve hidden for him.
3. Train A Fun Behavior—Take a video of your pet demonstrating a fun behavior you have trained him to do on cue.
• Dog behavior examples: spin, tidy up (put something in basket or toy box/bin), press something (like a bell or button), roll over, peekaboo (dog comes between your legs from behind and sits), hand touch (no tongue or paw involved; nose or mouth or cheek/ear), go or stay on a mat/bed while being read or talked to, open a door/cupboard/closet using a string or similar.
• Cat behavior examples: nose or paw target, high five, sit pretty (front paws in the air), spin, go to a mat or bed or a chair/perch, come when called.
• Equid behavior examples: walk around an object, stand (front feet) on a pedestal, back up, targeting (nose to target, cheek to target, shoulder to target)
No matter which of the three categories you choose, we encourage you to be creative and do an activity you and your pet will enjoy!
• Register by July 31st at https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/your-pet-approved-event/registration-options/
• There are three registration options; the first includes the competition and full access to a three-day virtual education event, which you can attend live or access the recordings for 12 months! The latter two options allow you to choose the competition or the educational event. In all cases, you will receive the official event t-shirt sent to your home address.
• Review the submission guidelines in the email you receive after registration and make sure you comply with them. The welfare and comfort of every participant (both humans and pets) is paramount. Pets and people must feel happy and safe to participate at all times.
Please check out this event, submit an entry, and promote it to show others how to make life fun for themselves and their pets!
Prizes Awarded by Pets & Their People
• Winners will receive a $250 gift certificate toward pet care, grooming, training, or other pet-related services from an approved provider in their area.
• Runners-up will receive a $150 pet enrichment package.
More than just a competition, Celebrating Life Together is a community-driven initiative that aims to raise awareness for humane, ethical, and effective pet training and
care. It's a celebration of the unique bond between you and your pets and a platform to inspire others. While there are exciting prizes to be won, the real reward is knowing that your participation will make a difference in the lives of pets by encouraging everyone with a pet to celebrate life by making it fun!
Pets and Their People is a free online publication of The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and refutes the adage “You get what you pay for.” It is a digitally accessible resource filled with pet-related tips, tools, and resources that will be an excellent addition to the handouts you receive from your professional dog trainer. The articles and blogs will empower you to make informed and ethical decisions regarding your pets' care. Each issue will deliver accessible, friendly, practical, and fun topics from a wide array of professionals committed to supporting your pets' emotional, physical, and environmental well-being. I encourage you to subscribe at https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/pet-owners/pets-and-their-people/
Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) and the founder of ForceFreePets.com, an online educational resource for people with dogs and cats. He is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB)and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP). Don is a member of thePet Professional Guild (PPG), where he serves on the Board of Directors and Steering Committee and chairs the Advocacy Committee. He is also a founding director of Pet Advocacy International (PIAI). In addition, Don produces and co-hosts The Woof Meow Showpodcast, available at http://bit.ly/WfMwPodcasts/,the Apple Podcast app, and Don's blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com.The opinions in this post are those of Don Hanson.